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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Instructions Your professor is teaching a class on social science, Write a post responding to the professor's question.

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3 user-submitted samples available

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Task Overview

Dr. Diaz

In our next week's discussion, we will focus on talking about your preference on following one's own heart or following traditional society rules. Let's get prepared for this thought-provoking topic by exchanging ideas about your opinion. What is your thought?

Laura

Many traditional rules in society were formulated earlier and are no longer applicable to the development of today's society. For example, few boys participated in synchronized swimming in the past, but as a male student, I was deeply attracted by synchronized swimming. I fashioned this club in my university and attracted many students who had the same interests as me. So I think we should firmly follow our own heart.

Jeremy

I think we should still follow traditional rules of society, because the existence of corresponding rules must have its reason. Follow one's own heart will make one appear different. However, following traditional rules of society will make one integrate in more groups of people, make more friends, and have more recognition.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

In addressing this inquiry proposed by Dr. Diaz, I would concur with Laura's perspective that following one's own heart is a more preferable choice. Certainly, several traditional rules are inappropriate nowadays. On the other hand, what I want to emphasize is that following one's heart could make contribution to the innovation in technology. In the past, the senior always instructed people to select a job which could earn high salary although they weren't fond of it. Therefore, not only individuals weren't fond of it, not also the unbalance of job distribution occurred. If people follow their heart to choose their favor job, they would feel energetic to delve into it and yield more cutting-edge outcomes which ultimately benefits the whole development of technology. In a nutshell, I firmly believe that individuals should follow their heart when making decisions.

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

  • 27

3. 任务完成度

这篇文章在任务完成度方面表现较好,成功回答了教授的问题并表达了个人观点。但是,可以在以下方面进行改进:

  1. 提供更多具体的例子来支持观点。

  2. 在论述中加入更多关于传统规则与现代社会的对比,以使观点更加有说服力。

改进示例:

  1. "If people follow their heart to choose their favorite job, they would feel energetic to delve into it and yield more cutting-edge outcomes which ultimately benefits the whole development of technology." 可以改为 "If people follow their heart to choose their favorite job, such as pursuing a career in renewable energy instead of traditional industries, they would feel energetic to delve into it and yield more cutting-edge outcomes which ultimately benefits the whole development of technology."

  2. 可以添加一句 "While some traditional rules may still hold value in certain situations, it is important for individuals to evaluate these rules critically and adapt them according to the changing needs of society."

4. 文章结构与组织

文章结构方面基本合理,包括引言、正文和结论。然而,在以下方面可以进行改进:

  1. 在引言部分简要介绍两种观点,使读者对接下来的讨论有所准备。

  2. 在正文部分使用更清晰的过渡词或短语,使文章在段落之间更加流畅。

改进示例:

  1. 在引言部分添加 "While some people argue that following traditional rules is necessary for social harmony, others believe that pursuing one's passions can lead to innovation and personal fulfillment."

  2. 在正文部分添加过渡词,如 "Furthermore" 或 "On the other hand" 来连接不同观点。例如,在提到创新时,可以写 "Furthermore, following one's heart can also lead to significant advancements in various fields."

5. 语法批改

In addressing this inquiry proposed by Dr. Diaz, I would concur with Laura's perspective that following one's own heart is a more preferable choice. Certainly, several traditional rules are inappropriate nowadays. On the other hand, what I want to emphasize is that following one's heart could make contribution to the innovation in technology. In the past, the senior always instructed people to select a job which could earn high salary although, although(comma between independent clauses) they weren't fond of it. Therefore, not only individuals weren't fond of it, not also the unbalance of job distribution occurred. If people follow their heart to choose their favor job, they would feel energetic to delve into it and yield more cutting-edge outcomes which ultimately benefits the whole development of technology. In a nutshell, I firmly believe that individuals should follow their heart when making decisions.

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

In response to Dr. Diaz's thought-provoking question, I concur with Laura's viewpoint that pursuing one's passions is a more favorable approach. Undoubtedly, numerous traditional societal norms have become outdated and irrelevant in today's ever-evolving world. Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that adhering to one's own interests can significantly contribute to innovation and advancements in various fields. In the past, elders often advised individuals to prioritize high-paying careers, regardless of personal interest or passion. Consequently, this not only led to personal dissatisfaction but also resulted in an imbalance in job distribution across industries. By following their hearts and choosing careers aligned with their passions, individuals are more likely to be motivated and committed to their work, ultimately fostering groundbreaking achievements that benefit society as a whole. Therefore, I staunchly advocate for individuals prioritizing their own desires when making crucial life decisions. (146 words)

In addressing this inquiry proposed by response to Dr. Diaz, Diaz's thought-provoking question (rephrased for clarity and engagement), I would concur with Laura's perspective viewpoint that following pursuing one's own heart passions is a more preferable choice. Certainly, several favorable approach (revised for consistency in language). Undoubtedly, numerous traditional rules societal norms have become outdated and irrelevant in today's ever-evolving world (rephrased for better flow and emphasis). Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that adhering to one's own interests can significantly contribute to innovation and advancements in various fields (clarified the point being made). In the past, elders often advised individuals to prioritize high-paying careers, regardless of personal interest or passion (rephrased for clarity and readability). Consequently, this not only led to personal dissatisfaction but also resulted in an imbalance in job distribution across industries (clarified the cause-and-effect relationship). By following their hearts and choosing careers aligned with their passions, individuals are inappropriate nowadays. On the other hand, what I want to emphasize is more likely to be motivated and committed to their work, ultimately fostering groundbreaking achievements that benefit society as a whole (expanded on the benefits of following one's heart could make contribution to the innovation in technology. In the past, the senior always instructed people to select a job which could earn high salary although they weren't fond of it. heart). Therefore, not only I staunchly advocate for individuals weren't fond of it, not also the unbalance of job distribution occurred. If people follow their heart to choose their favor job, they would feel energetic to delve into it and yield more cutting-edge outcomes which ultimately benefits the whole development of technology. In a nutshell, I firmly believe that individuals should follow their heart prioritizing their own desires when making decisions.crucial life decisions (concluded with a strong statement supporting the main argument).

8 思维导图


1. 导言
   - 同意Laura的观点
   - 社会观念的变迁

2. 兴趣与创新
   - 遵循兴趣的重要性
   - 对各领域的贡献

3. 过去的观念
   - 高薪职业为优先
   - 忽略个人兴趣和激情

4. 职业分布不平衡
   - 个人不满意度
   - 行业发展受限制

5. 跟随内心选择职业
   - 提高工作积极性和投入度
   - 对社会的积极影响 

6. 结论 
   - 个人需求优先于传统观念 

9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish definitionSimplified Chinese translationSample sentences
concur/kənˈkɜr/verbagree; be of the same opinion同意I concur with Laura's viewpoint that pursuing one's passions is a more favorable approach.
outdated/ˈaʊtˈdeɪtɪd/adjectiveno longer useful or acceptable过时的Numerous traditional societal norms have become outdated and irrelevant in today's ever-evolving world.
innovation/ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/nounthe introduction of new ideas, methods, or products创新Adhering to one's own interests can significantly contribute to innovation and advancements in various fields.
prioritize/praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/verbtreat something as more important than others优先考虑In the past, elders often advised individuals to prioritize high-paying careers.
dissatisfaction/dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/nounthe feeling of being unhappy with a situation不满意This not only led to personal dissatisfaction but also resulted in an imbalance in job distribution across industries.
groundbreaking/ˈgraʊndbreɪkɪŋ/adjectivemaking new discoveries; using new methods开创性的By following their hearts, individuals are more likely to foster groundbreaking achievements that benefit society as a whole.
advocate/ˈædvəkət/verbpublicly support or recommend a particular cause提倡Therefore, I staunchly advocate for individuals prioritizing their own desires when making crucial life decisions.
crucial/ˈkruʃəl/adjective_extremely important; decisive_关键的I staunchly advocate for individuals prioritizing their own desires when making crucial life decisions.

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

1

Read the prompt carefully and identify all parts of the question before writing.

2

Reference the reading passage and the other students' opinions in your response.

3

Use specific examples to support your main point — avoid generic statements.

4

Aim for 120-150 words. Longer responses are not always better; clarity and focus matter more.

5

Practice timed responses (10 minutes) to build fluency under exam conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TOEFL Academic Discussion task?
The TOEFL Academic Discussion task requires you to contribute to an online classroom discussion. You'll read a professor's question and other students' responses, then write your own post expressing and supporting your opinion in about 10 minutes.
How is the Academic Discussion task scored?
The task is scored on a scale of 0-5 based on relevance to the discussion, quality of language use (grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure), and how well you develop and support your ideas with specific examples and reasoning.
What are the user samples on this page?
These are real responses submitted by TOEFL test-takers who practiced this question on LingoLeap. Each sample has been evaluated by our AI scoring engine, which provides a score and detailed feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.
How accurate is the AI evaluation?
LingoLeap's AI evaluation engine is trained on official ETS scoring rubrics and calibrated against human rater scores. While no automated system is perfect, it provides reliable feedback for practice purposes and helps identify specific areas for improvement.
How can I practice this Academic Discussion task?
You can practice by signing up for a free LingoLeap account. Write your own response to this exact question, submit it, and receive instant AI evaluation with detailed feedback on your writing.
How long should my Academic Discussion response be?
Aim for 120-150 words. The task gives you 10 minutes to write your response. Focus on clarity, supporting your opinion with specific examples, and referencing the discussion context rather than writing a longer response.

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