TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Your professor is teaching a class on social studies. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should express and support your personal opinion make a contribution to the discussion in your own words. An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
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1 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?
Sarah
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, when people spend too much time on social media platforms, they could suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. This is probably because they allow people to anonymously bully and harass other users.
Mark
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 platforms 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.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
While I can understand Sarah’s point of view that over-reliance on social media leads to various mental disorders, such as anxiety, I maintain that Mark’s perspective is more reliable, which emphasis the importance of positive effect caused by social media. As Mark mentioned, social media can bridge the distances among times and locations. Through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, online users can share their sparked moment with their friends and family members within one day. In the meantime, texting, video communication, and browsing others’ posts break the limitation of times and spaces. Apart from what Mark has raised, I would like to complement that social media also regards as a treasure of information and knowledge. For instance, when youngsters comment the posts from their friends and colleagues, they can easily access to all sorts of recommendation, including cafes, restaurants, and cocktail bars, and collect their reviews. Whereas, if we do not have such a convenient tool, we might only acquire information or news coverage from tradition ways like televisions or newspapers, which are not very up-to-date and renewable. Therefore, social media can associate us all with presenting nourish information, and it is beneficial for our daily lives, instead of detrimental.
Evaluation Result
1. 子项得分
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0 Language Use and Grammar: 4.0
2. 预估分数
Estimated Score: 27
3. 任务完成度
整体而言,这篇文章回答了教授的问题,并对讨论做出了贡献。然而,有一些方面可以改进。首先,在表达观点时,可以提供更多具体的例子和细节来支持观点。其次,在讨论社交媒体的利弊时,可以尝试从更多角度进行分析。
改进建议:
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在支持观点时提供更多具体例子。
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考虑从不同角度分析社交媒体的影响。
示例:
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"Social media also serves as a platform for small businesses to promote their products, reaching a wider audience than traditional advertising methods."
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"On the other hand, the spread of misinformation on social media can lead to negative consequences, such as the rise of conspiracy theories and public panic."
4. 文章结构与组织
文章的结构和组织方面基本合理,包括引言、正文和结论。然而,在段落之间添加过渡句可以使文章更连贯。此外,尝试在正文部分使用主题句来明确每个段落的主要观点。
改进建议:
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在段落之间添加过渡句以提高连贯性。
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在正文段落中使用主题句来明确每个段落的主要观点。
示例:
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"Transition sentence: While social media has its benefits, it is also important to consider the potential drawbacks."
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"Topic sentence: Another advantage of social media is its ability to provide a platform for political activism and social change."
5. 语法批改
While I can understand Sarah’s point of view that over-reliance on social media leads to various mental disorders, such as anxiety, I maintain that Mark’s perspective is more reliable, which emphasis the importance of positive effect caused by social media.
As Mark mentioned, social media can bridge the distances among times and locations. Through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, online users can share their sparked moment with their friends and family members within one day. In the meantime, texting, video communication, and browsing others’ posts break the limitation of times and spaces.
Apart from what Mark has raised, I would like to complement that social media also regards as a treasure of information and knowledge. For instance, when youngsters comment the posts from their friends and colleagues, they can easily access to all sorts of recommendation, including cafescafés(cafe (café)), restaurants, and cocktail bars, and collect their reviews. Whereas, if we do not have such a convenient tool, we might only acquire information or news coverage from tradition ways like televisions or newspapers, which are not very up-to-date and renewable.
Therefore, social media can associate us all with presenting nourish information, and it is beneficial for our daily lives, instead of detrimental.
Title: 6 文章修订
While I understand Sarah's concerns about the potential negative effects of social media, such as mental health issues and cyberbullying, I believe Mark's viewpoint emphasizing the positive aspects of social media is more compelling.
As Mark highlighted, social media has the power to bridge gaps in time and distance. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook enable users to share their experiences with friends and family instantaneously. Additionally, features such as messaging, video calls, and browsing others' posts transcend geographical boundaries.
Building on Mark's points, I would like to emphasize that social media also serves as a valuable source of information and knowledge. For example, when young people engage with their friends' posts, they can easily access diverse recommendations for cafes, restaurants, or bars while also gathering reviews. Without such convenient tools at our disposal, we might be limited to traditional sources like television or newspapers for information – which may not be as current or adaptable.
In conclusion, social media connects us by providing timely and relevant information that enriches our daily lives. Rather than being detrimental overall, its benefits should not be overlooked. (187 words)
While I can understand Sarah’s point of view that over-reliance on social media leads to various mental disorders, Sarah's concerns about the potential negative effects of social media, such as anxiety, mental health issues and cyberbullying (clarified the specific issues related to Sarah's point of view), I maintain that Mark’s perspective believe Mark's viewpoint emphasizing the positive aspects of social media is more reliable, which emphasis the importance of positive effect caused by social media. compelling (used "compelling" instead of "reliable" to better convey the strength of Mark's argument).
As Mark mentioned, highlighted (simplified "mentioned" to "highlighted" for a more natural tone), social media can has the power to bridge the distances among times and locations. Through gaps in time and distance. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, online Facebook enable users can to share their sparked moment experiences with their friends and family members within instantaneously (rephrased "within one day. In the meantime, texting, day" to "instantaneously" for accuracy). Additionally, features such as messaging, video communication, calls, and browsing others’ others' posts break transcend geographical boundaries (rephrased "break the limitation of times and spaces. spaces" for clarity).
Apart Building on Mark's points (changed "apart from what Mark has raised, raised" to a more concise phrase), I would like to complement emphasize that social media also regards serves as a treasure valuable source of information and knowledge. For instance, example, when youngsters comment young people engage with their friends' posts (changed "comment the posts from their friends and colleagues, colleagues" for better flow), they can easily access to all sorts of recommendation, including diverse recommendations for cafes, restaurants, and cocktail bars, and collect their or bars while also gathering reviews. Whereas, if we do not have Without such a convenient tool, tools at our disposal, we might only acquire be limited to traditional sources like television or newspapers for information – which may not be as current or news coverage from tradition ways like televisions or newspapers, which are not very up-to-date and renewable. adaptable (rephrased this sentence for clarity).
Therefore, In conclusion, social media can associate connects us all with presenting nourish information, and it is beneficial for by providing timely and relevant information that enriches our daily lives, lives (used "enriches" instead of detrimental."nourish" for better word choice). Rather than being detrimental overall, its benefits should not be overlooked (summarized the main point without repeating phrases from earlier in the essay).
8 思维导图
Mindmap:
1. Introduction
- Sarah's concerns
- Mark's viewpoint
2. Bridging gaps
- Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
- Messaging, video calls, browsing posts
3. Source of information and knowledge
- Engaging with friends' posts
- Recommendations and reviews
4. Comparison to traditional sources
- Television, newspapers
- Current and adaptable information
5. Conclusion
- Social media connects us
- Benefits should not be overlooked
9 关键词
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | Simplified Chinese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| compelling | /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ | adjective | evoking interest or attention in a powerfully irresistible way | 引人注目的 | Mark's viewpoint on social media is more compelling than Sarah's concerns. |
| transcend | /trænˈsɛnd/ | verb | to go beyond the range or limits of something | 超越 | Social media features transcend geographical boundaries. |
| engage | /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ | verb | to occupy or attract someone's interest or attention | 吸引 | Young people engage with their friends' posts on social media. |
| diverse | /daɪˈvərs/ | adjective | showing a great deal of variety; very different | 多样的 | Social media offers diverse recommendations for cafes, restaurants, and bars. |
| adapt | /əˈdæpt/ | verb | to make suitable for a new use or purpose; modify | 适应 | Social media information is more current and adaptable than traditional sources. |
| detrimental | /ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntl/ | adjective | tending to cause harm | 有害的 | Social media is not detrimental overall; its benefits should not be overlooked. |
| enrich | /ɪnˈrɪtʃ/ | verb | to improve the quality of something by adding or enhancing features | 丰富 | Social media enriches our daily lives by providing timely and relevant information. |
| instantaneously | /ɪnstənˈteɪniəsli/ | adverb | occurring or done in an instant; immediately | 瞬间地 | Social media platforms enable users to share their experiences with friends and family instantaneously. |
| geographical | /ˌdʒiəˈɡræfɪk(ə)l/ | adjective | relating to the arrangement of physical features, population, etc., on Earth's surface | 地理的 | Social media transcends geographical boundaries by connecting people worldwide. |
| overlook | /ˌoʊvərˈlʊk/ | verb | _fail_to_notice_something;disregard_intentionally_or_carelessly | 忽视 | We_should_notoverlookthe_benefits_of_social_media_despite_some_concerns. |
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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