TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Does social media cause more harm than good?
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4 user-submitted samples available
Start Free PracticeTask Overview
Professor
Today, we’re going to discuss the impact of social media on society. On one hand, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have connected people from all over the world. However, there are concerns about the negative effects of social media, such as the spread of misinformation, the rise of cyberbullying, and addiction to social media use. What do you think? Does social media cause more harm than good?
Student A
I think that social media has caused more harm than good. While it’s true that social media platforms have connected people in unprecedented ways, they have also caused real harm to individuals and societies. Additionally, social media platforms have been linked to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, particularly among young people. This is probably because they allow people to anonymously bully and harass other users.
Student B
I disagree with Sara. I think that social media has mostly improved society. For instance, it has given a voice to people that previously were ignored. Moreover, it has provided a platform for political activism that has led to positive change. And, of course, social media has made it easy for everyone to stay connected to family and friends who are far away. In the past we had to make expensive phone calls to contact our loved ones, now we can talk to them and send them pictures for free on social networks. While there are negative aspects of social media, they are far outweighed by the benefits.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
I contend that social media brings more benefits than harm since it provides a convenient platform for us to obtain information. To elaborate, unlike traditional media such as newspapers, the internet is capable of delivering messages rapidly and is accessible to everyone, thus facilitating the spread of news and linking us to the whole society closely. For example, during my period of studying abroad, social applications like Weibo and TikTok allowed me to know current events and new trends in China. Thanks to these apps, I could discuss them with my friends and relatives, therefore staying at the same pace and strengthing our relationships. Nevertheless, some are worrying about the addiction and possible mental issues caused by social media; however, the key to former problems is rooted in individual traits, as people without self-control will rely on alternatives like computer games.
Evaluation Result
1. 子项得分
-
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5
-
Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0
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Language Use and Grammar: 4.0
2. 预估分数
26. 3 任务完成度
这篇文章在回答问题方面做得不错,但还有一些可以改进的地方。首先,你需要更全面地讨论社交媒体的利弊,而不仅仅是关注其传播信息的便捷性。此外,你可以引用更多具体的例子来支持你的观点。最后,在文章中提到其他学生的观点时,请使用他们在对话中的名字,以增加互动性。
示例1(英文):Instead of only mentioning the convenience of obtaining information, you could also discuss how social media has provided a platform for political activism, as mentioned by Student B.
示例2(英文):When referring to the negative aspects of social media, you could directly address Student A's concerns about mental health problems and cyberbullying, providing counterarguments or additional perspectives.
4. 文章结构与组织
文章整体结构清晰,但仍有改进空间。建议在引言部分简要介绍社交媒体的利弊,并在正文部分详细讨论各个方面。此外,请确保每段落都集中讨论一个特定主题,并使用恰当的过渡词汇连接段落和观点。
示例1(英文):In the introduction, you could write, "In this essay, I will discuss both the positive and negative aspects of social media, addressing the concerns raised by Student A and the benefits highlighted by Student B."
示例2(英文):To improve transitions between paragraphs, you could use phrases like "On the other hand," "Furthermore," or "In contrast" to connect your ideas and maintain a smooth flow throughout the essay.
5. 语法批改
I contend that social media brings more benefits than harmharm, since it provides a convenient platform for us to obtain information. To elaborate, unlike traditional media such as newspapers, the internet is capable of delivering messages rapidly and is accessible to everyone, thus facilitatingeveryone. Thus, it facilitates the spread of news and linkinglinks us to the whole society closely. For example, during my period of studying abroad, social applications like Weibo and TikTok allowed me to know current events and new trends in China. Thanks to these apps, I could discuss them with my friends and relatives, therefore staying at the same paceup-to-date and strengthingstrengthening our relationships. Nevertheless, some are worrying about the addiction and possible mental issues caused by social media; however, the key to former problems is rooted in individual traits, as people without self-control will rely on alternatives like computer games.
Title: 6 文章修订
While acknowledging the potential drawbacks of social media, I argue that it brings more benefits than harm, primarily by offering a convenient platform for information dissemination. Unlike traditional media such as newspapers, the internet delivers messages rapidly and is accessible to everyone, thereby facilitating the spread of news and fostering closer connections within society. For instance, during my time studying abroad, social applications like Weibo and TikTok kept me informed about current events and trends in China. These apps enabled me to engage in discussions with friends and relatives, thus maintaining our shared interests and strengthening our relationships. Admittedly, concerns regarding addiction and mental health issues associated with social media use are valid; however, these problems often stem from individual traits rather than the platforms themselves. Those lacking self-control may turn to other outlets such as computer games if not engaged in social media. (147 words)
I contend that While acknowledging the potential drawbacks of social media (clarified the stance), I argue that it brings more benefits than harm since it provides harm, primarily by offering a convenient platform for us to obtain information. To elaborate, unlike information dissemination (rephrased for clarity). Unlike traditional media such as newspapers, the internet is capable of delivering delivers messages rapidly and is accessible to everyone, thus thereby facilitating the spread of news and linking us to the whole fostering closer connections within society closely. (improved sentence structure). For example, instance, during my period of time studying abroad, abroad (changed "period" to "time" for natural tone), social applications like Weibo and TikTok allowed kept me to know informed about current events and new trends in China. Thanks These apps enabled me to these apps, I could discuss them engage in discussions with my friends and relatives, therefore staying at the same pace thus maintaining our shared interests and strengthing strengthening our relationships. Nevertheless, some are worrying about the relationships (rephrased for clarity). Admittedly, concerns regarding addiction and possible mental health issues caused by associated with social media; media use are valid; however, these problems often stem from individual traits rather than the key platforms themselves (clarified the point). Those lacking self-control may turn to former problems is rooted other outlets such as computer games if not engaged in individual traits, as people without self-control will rely on alternatives like computer games.social media (rephrased for a smoother sentence flow).
Title: 8 思维导图
1. Introduction
- Social media benefits vs drawbacks
2. Information dissemination
- Convenience of social media platforms
- Comparison to traditional media
3. Accessibility and rapid message delivery
- Internet as a medium for news and trends
4. Fostering connections within society
- Personal experience with Weibo and TikTok
5. Addressing concerns about addiction and mental health issues
- Individual traits as the root cause
6. Alternative outlets for those lacking self-control
- Example: computer games
7. Conclusion
- Social media's overall positive impact on society
Title: 9 关键词
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | Simplified Chinese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissemination | /dɪˌsɛmɪˈneɪʃən/ | Noun | The act of spreading something, especially information, widely | 传播 | Social media offers a convenient platform for information dissemination. |
| Accessible | /əkˈsɛsəbl/ | Adjective | Easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with, or use | 易接近的 | The internet is accessible to everyone, making it easy to spread news. |
| Facilitate | /fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/ | Verb | To make something easier | 促进,使便利 | Social media facilitates the spread of news and fosters closer connections within society. |
| Engage | /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ | Verb | To occupy, attract, or involve someone's interest or attention | 参与,使参加 | These apps enabled me to engage in discussions with friends and relatives. |
| Addiction | /əˈdɪkʃən/ | Noun | The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity | 上瘾 | Concerns regarding addiction and mental health issues associated with social media use are valid. |
| Mental Health | /ˈmɛntl ˈhɛlθ/ | Noun | A person's condition concerning their psychological and emotional well-being | 心理健康 | Mental health issues can be caused by excessive social media use. |
| Stem from | /stɛm frəm/ | Verb Phrase | To originate from; to be caused by | 起源于,来自于 | These problems often stem from individual traits rather than the platforms themselves. |
| Self-control | /sɛlf kənˈtroʊl/ | Noun | The ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires | 自制力 | Those lacking self-control may turn to other outlets such as computer games. |
| Outlet | /ˈaʊtlɪt/ | Noun | - A means of expressing one's talents, energy, or emotions | - An opening for the escape of something (e.g., liquid, gas) | - A point on a wiring system where current is taken to supply electrical devices |
| Engage | /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ | Verb | To occupy, attract, or involve someone's interest or attention | 参与,使参加 | These apps enabled me to engage in discussions with friends and relatives. |
How Academic Discussion Is Scored
The TOEFL Academic Discussion task is evaluated based on the official ETS scoring rubric. AI evaluation analyzes each response across multiple dimensions.
Relevance & Contribution
Does the response address the question and contribute meaningfully to the discussion?
Language Use
Grammar accuracy, vocabulary range, and sentence structure quality.
Development & Support
Are ideas well-developed with specific examples and clear reasoning?
Common Patterns Across Responses
Based on analysis of user submissions for this task, here are common patterns observed in student responses.
Many students provide clear opinions but lack specific supporting examples.
Strong responses directly reference the reading passage and other speakers' viewpoints.
Higher-scoring responses use varied sentence structures and academic vocabulary.
Time management is a key factor — responses that feel rushed tend to score lower on development.
Learning Tips
Read the prompt carefully and identify all parts of the question before writing.
Reference the reading passage and the other students' opinions in your response.
Use specific examples to support your main point — avoid generic statements.
Aim for 120-150 words. Longer responses are not always better; clarity and focus matter more.
Practice timed responses (10 minutes) to build fluency under exam conditions.
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