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

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Task Overview

Professor

In the next few weeks, we will be discussing various initiatives to help protect the environment. According to one initiative, plastic, which is extremely harmful for the environment, should be banned entirely. However, many products we use every day are made of plastic: food and drink containers, shopping bags, furniture, and even cars. Do you agree that the use of plastic should be banned? Why or why not?

Student A

In my opinion, it would be impossible to convince people to stop buying and using plastic products. Plastic is a cheap, durable material, and as Dr. Achebe noted, we use plastic in an abundance of items. I understand the negative impact of plastic on the environment, but we need to find a different solution than a complete ban.

Student B

I believe it's possible to convince people to use at least less plastic. There are environmentally friendly alternatives to many plastic products. For example, instead of plastic shopping bags, I use reusable bags made of fabric. People just need to be educated, and many of them will be happy to use less plastic.

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1

User Sample #1

Personally speaking, I would subscribe with Kelly's idea that it is impossible to banned all of the plastic. Instead of banned all of the plastic, the...

Score
25

User Sample

Personally speaking, I would subscribe with Kelly's idea that it is impossible to banned all of the plastic. Instead of banned all of the plastic, the government could find a substitute for plastic. The government could add fines on those firms used to produce plastic. After they know government put fines on produce plastics. They will produce products that use less plastic. Moreover, this can stimulate those companies to research and develop new products that could substitute the plastic. On top of that, the government could force some malls or supermarkets to price on the plastic bags. Therefore, consumers may bring their on bags or choose to not buy plastic bags from the supermarket on shopping malls.

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: 3.5

2. 预估分数

25. 3 任务完成度

整体来说,你的文章在回答问题和表达观点方面做得很好。但是,有一些地方可以改进。首先,在语法和词汇使用方面,有一些小错误和不自然的表达。其次,尽管你提到了一些具体的例子,但还可以进一步详细说明这些例子以支持你的观点。

示例1(改进前):After they know government put fines on produce plastics. 示例1(改进后):Once companies become aware of the fines imposed by the government for producing plastics, they will be more likely to reduce their plastic usage.

示例2(改进前):Therefore, consumers may bring their on bags or choose to not buy plastic bags from the supermarket on shopping malls. 示例2(改进后):As a result, consumers may be encouraged to bring their own reusable bags or opt not to purchase plastic bags from supermarkets and shopping malls.

4. 文章结构与组织

从文章结构和组织的角度来看,你的文章整体上是清晰的,但仍有提升空间。首先,在引言部分,可以更明确地陈述你的观点。其次,在正文部分,可以使用更明确的段落划分来突出你的论点。最后,在结论部分,可以总结你的观点并提出一个明确的结论。

示例1(改进前):Personally speaking, I would subscribe with Kelly's idea that it is impossible to banned all of the plastic. 示例1(改进后):I agree with Kelly's viewpoint that banning all plastic is impractical. Instead, we should focus on finding alternative solutions.

示例2(改进前):Instead of banned all of the plastic, the government could find a substitute for plastic. 示例2(改进后):One possible solution is for the government to promote the development and use of alternative materials to replace plastics.

5. 语法批改

Personally speaking, I would subscribe with Kelly's idea that it is impossible to banned all of theall the(all of the (all the)) plastic. Instead of banned all of theall the(all of the (all the)) plastic, the government could find a substitute for plastic. The government could add fines on those firms used to produce plastic. After they knowknow,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) government put fines on produce plastics. They will produce products that use less plastic. Moreover, this can stimulate those companies to research and develop new products that could substitute the plastic. On top of that, the government could force some malls or supermarkets to price on the plastic bags. Therefore, consumers may bring their on bags or choose to not buy plastic bags from the supermarket on shopping malls.

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

In response to the professor's question, I concur with Kelly that an outright ban on plastic is impractical. Rather than prohibiting all plastic usage, governments should explore alternative materials and implement policies to reduce plastic consumption. For instance, imposing fines on companies that heavily rely on plastic production could incentivize them to develop eco-friendly substitutes. Additionally, authorities could mandate that retailers charge customers for plastic bags, thereby encouraging consumers to bring their own reusable bags or opt for alternatives when shopping at malls or supermarkets. This approach not only promotes environmental awareness but also fosters innovation in the pursuit of sustainable solutions. (107 words)

Revised essay: Section Title: 7 Article Revision

Personally speaking, I would subscribe agree with Kelly's idea (revised for clarity) that it is impossible to banned ban all of the plastic. plastic (corrected grammar). Instead of banned banning all of the plastic, plastic (corrected grammar), the government could find a substitute for plastic. The government could add impose fines on those firms used to that produce plastic. After plastic (rephrased for clarity). Once they know the government has put fines on produce plastics. They producing plastics (corrected grammar), they will likely produce products that use less plastic. Moreover, this can stimulate those companies to research and develop new products that could substitute the plastic. for plastic (rephrased for clarity). On top of that, the government could force require some malls or supermarkets to price on the charge for plastic bags. bags (rephrased for clarity). Therefore, consumers may bring their on own bags or choose not to not buy plastic bags from the supermarket on supermarkets or shopping malls.malls (revised for better flow and clarity).

Display title: 8 思维导图


1. Introduction
   - Agree with Kelly
   - Impractical to ban all plastic usage

2. Alternative materials
   - Explore eco-friendly substitutes

3. Government policies
   - Reduce plastic consumption

4. Fines on companies
   - Incentivize development of alternatives

5. Retailer charges for plastic bags
   - Encourage reusable bags or alternatives

6. Environmental awareness promotion

7. Foster innovation for sustainability

8. Conclusion 

Display title: 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 Kelly that an outright ban on plastic is impractical.
prohibiting/ˈproʊhɪbɪt/verbformally forbid something by law, rule, or other authority禁止Rather than prohibiting all plastic usage, governments should explore alternative materials.
incentivize/ɪnˈsɛntɪvaɪz/verbprovide an incentive or motivation for someone to do something激励Imposing fines on companies could incentivize them to develop eco-friendly substitutes.
mandate/ˈmændeɪt/verb-assign (territory) under a mandate of the League of Nations-order or commission (something) to be done- give (someone) authority to act in a certain way
environmental/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntl/adjectiverelating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition环境的This approach promotes environmental awareness.
awareness/əˈwɛrnis/nounknowledge or perception of a situation or fact意识Environmental awareness is crucial for sustainable development.
foster/ˈfɑstər/verb-encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good)-bring up (a child that is not one's own by birth)-apply (a principle) with partiality; encourage the growth or development of
sustainability/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/noun-the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level-avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance可持续性
alternatives/ɔlˈtɜrnətivz/noun-one of two or more available possibilities-a course of action that is mutually exclusive with another such course; a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities -available as another possibility -other than the conventional or usual 可供选择的事物 Consumers can opt for alternatives when shopping at malls or supermarkets.
2

User Sample #2

I agree with Claire that it is more important to use land for human needs. In addition to her argument, I would like to emphasize that people are able...

Score
26

User Sample

I agree with Claire that it is more important to use land for human needs. In addition to her argument, I would like to emphasize that people are able to use land for the development of agriculture. This is to say, using land to grow crops provides nutrients to support humans' lives. For example, in my hometown, most people eat something cultivated by themselves, rather than buying food from grocery stores. We grow wheat to give our bodies the carbohydrates they need, and vegetables and fruits to give our bodies the vitamins they need. Moreover, Not only is it healthy for us to eat our own crops, but it also saves money. Thus, land is vital for agriculture production, which can satisfiy people's daily needs. In conclusion, I firmly believe that more land should be available used by people.

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

26. 3 任务完成度

你的文章在回答问题方面做得很好,观点明确,并且给出了合理的论据。但是,你可以在以下方面进行改进:首先,在讨论中提供更多关于保护濒危动物的反驳观点,这将使你的文章更加全面和有说服力。其次,尝试使用更多的例子和详细信息来支持你的观点。

示例1:为了反驳保护濒危动物的观点,你可以提到人类已经采取了一些措施来保护生态环境,如建立自然保护区和采用可持续发展方式。

示例2:为了支持农业生产对人类生活的重要性,你可以提到农业对于解决全球粮食短缺问题以及促进经济发展具有重要意义。

4. 文章结构与组织

从组织结构上看,你的文章整体表现良好。然而,在以下方面仍有改进空间:首先,在引言部分简要介绍问题背景,并明确表达你的观点。其次,确保每个段落都有一个中心论点,并使用恰当的过渡词来连接不同的观点。

示例1:在引言部分,你可以这样写:“面对人口增长和濒危动物保护之间的问题,我认为使用土地来满足人类需求更为重要。”

示例2:在论述农业生产的重要性时,可以使用过渡词如“此外”或“同时”来引入新的观点。例如:“此外,农业生产对于解决全球粮食短缺问题以及促进经济发展具有重要意义。”

5. 语法批改

I agree with Claire that it is more important to use land for human needs. In addition to her argument, I would like to emphasize that people are able to use land for the development of agriculture. This is to say, using land to grow crops provides nutrients to support humans' lives. For example, in my hometown, most people eat something cultivated by themselves, rather than buying food from grocery stores. We grow wheat to give our bodies the carbohydrates they need, and vegetables and fruits to give our bodies the vitamins they need. Moreover, Not only is it healthy for us to eat our own crops, but it also saves money. Thus, land is vital for agriculture production, which can satisfiysatisfy(misspelling) people's daily needs. In conclusion, I firmly believe that more land should be availableavailable,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) used by people.

Title: 6 文章修订

In response to the professor's question, I concur with Claire that prioritizing land use for human needs is essential. Apart from her points, I would like to emphasize the significance of land in agricultural development. Utilizing land for crop cultivation ensures a steady supply of essential nutrients for human sustenance. For instance, in my hometown, the majority of residents consume self-grown produce instead of purchasing from grocery stores. We cultivate wheat for carbohydrates and various fruits and vegetables for vital vitamins. This practice not only promotes a healthier lifestyle but also results in financial savings. Therefore, land plays a crucial role in agricultural production, ultimately fulfilling people's daily necessities. (112 words)

In response to the professor's question, I agree concur with Claire that it is more important to prioritizing land use land for human needs. In addition needs is essential (I changed "I agree" to "I concur" to provide a more formal tone). Apart from her argument, points, I would like to emphasize that people are able to use the significance of land in agricultural development (I revised this sentence for clarity and conciseness). Utilizing land for the development crop cultivation ensures a steady supply of agriculture. This is essential nutrients for human sustenance (I rephrased this sentence to say, using land to grow crops provides nutrients to support humans' lives. improve clarity and flow). For example, instance, in my hometown, most people eat something cultivated by themselves, rather than buying food the majority of residents consume self-grown produce instead of purchasing from grocery stores. stores (I changed "most people" to "the majority of residents" for a more precise description). We grow cultivate wheat to give our bodies the for carbohydrates they need, and various fruits and vegetables for vital vitamins (I restructured this sentence for better flow). This practice not only promotes a healthier lifestyle but also results in financial savings (I revised this sentence to improve clarity and fruits to give our bodies the vitamins they need. Moreover, Not only is it healthy for us to eat our own crops, but it also saves money. Thus, conciseness). Therefore, land is vital for agriculture plays a crucial role in agricultural production, which can satisfiy ultimately fulfilling people's daily needs. In conclusion, necessities (I firmly believe that more land should be available used by people.rephrased this sentence to enhance clarity and flow).

8 思维导图


- **Title**: Prioritizing Land Use for Human Needs
    - Agricultural Development
        - Significance of land
        - Crop cultivation
            - Steady supply of nutrients
            - Self-grown produce
                - Healthier lifestyle
                - Financial savings
    - Fulfilling Daily Necessities
        - Wheat for carbohydrates
        - Fruits and vegetables for vitamins

9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
prioritize/praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/verbto treat as more important than others优先考虑We should prioritize land use for human needs.
agricultural/ˌægrɪˈkʌltʃərəl/adjectiverelated to farming or agriculture农业的The significance of land in agricultural development is essential.
cultivation/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/nounthe act of preparing land for crops耕种Utilizing land for crop cultivation ensures a steady supply of essential nutrients.
sustenance/səˈstenəns/nounmeans of support or nourishment生计,食物Crop cultivation provides sustenance for human beings.
hometown/ˈhoʊmˌtaʊn/nounthe town where one was born or raised家乡In my hometown, the majority of residents consume self-grown produce.
carbohydrates/ˌkɑrboʊˈhaɪdreɪts/nouncompounds found in foods like bread碳水化合物We cultivate wheat for carbohydrates.
vitamins/ˈvaɪtəmɪnz/nounorganic compounds essential for health维生素Various fruits and vegetables provide vital vitamins.
healthier/ˈhelθiər/adjectivebetter for one's health更健康的This practice promotes a healthier lifestyle.
lifestyle/ˈlaɪfstaɪl/nounthe way in which a person lives生活方式A healthier lifestyle can be achieved through consuming self-grown produce.
financial/faɪˈnænʃəl/adjectiverelated to money or finance财务的Financial savings can be achieved by cultivating our own crops.
3

User Sample #3

While I can see Claire’s point that the land should be used by people first, I agree with Paul’s perspective that it is crucial that animals’ habitat ...

Score
27

User Sample

While I can see Claire’s point that the land should be used by people first, I agree with Paul’s perspective that it is crucial that animals’ habitat should be preserved for the environmental reasons. As mentioned by Paul, people should save land for endangered animals for the reason of maintaining the environment’s long-term health. The creatures in the wildlife play an essential role to earth’s ecosystem. For instance, the plants release oxygen into the air, which improves the quality of air. However, without the land, animals and plants will lose their habitats and unable to purify the earth. Moreover, if people use more land to build hospitals and shopping centers, there will be more emissions and pollutants during the process of constructing, which has a negative effect on the environment.

Evaluation Result

1. 子项得分

  • Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 5

  • Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.5

  • Language Use and Grammar: 4

2. 预估分数

  • Estimated Score: 27

3. 任务完成度

总体来说,这篇文章回答了问题并表达了观点。然而,有一些建议可以帮助改进文章:

  1. 在支持观点时提供更多具体的例子和细节。

  2. 注意避免使用重复的词汇和表达。

示例1:为了保护濒危动物,我们可以通过建立自然保护区来确保它们的栖息地得到保护。 示例2:此外,采取可持续发展的城市规划方法也有助于减少对动植物栖息地的破坏。

4. 文章结构与组织

这篇文章的结构相对清晰,包括引言、正文和结论。然而,在组织方面还有一些改进空间:

  1. 在段落之间加入更明确的过渡词或短语。

  2. 尝试将每个段落聚焦在一个具体观点上,并使用详细信息进行支持。

示例1:首先,保护濒危动物的栖息地有助于维持生态系统的平衡。(在此基础上展开论述) 示例2:此外,我们还应该考虑人类需求与环境保护之间的平衡,以实现可持续发展。(在此基础上展开论述)

5. 语法批改

While I can see Claire’s point that the land should be used by people first, I agree with Paul’s perspective that it is crucial that animals’ habitat should be preserved for the environmental reasons. As mentioned by Paul, people should save land for endangered animals for the reason of maintaining the environment’s long-term health. The creatures in the wildlife play an essential role toin(This rule identifies wrong preposition usage.) earth’s ecosystem. For instance, the plants release oxygen into the air, which improves the quality of air. However, without the land, animals and plants will lose their habitats and unable to purify the earth. Moreover, if people use more land to build hospitals and shopping centers, there will be more emissions and pollutants during the process of constructing, which has a negative effect on the environment.

Section Title: Balancing Human Needs and Wildlife Conservation

While I understand Claire's argument that land should primarily be used to meet human needs, I concur with Paul's stance on the importance of preserving habitats for endangered animals due to environmental considerations. As Paul highlighted, conserving land for endangered species is vital for maintaining the long-term health of our planet's ecosystems. Wildlife plays an indispensable role in sustaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity. For example, plants release oxygen into the atmosphere, thereby improving air quality. However, without sufficient land, both animals and plants will lose their habitats and become unable to contribute to Earth's purification. Furthermore, if humans continue to prioritize land use for infrastructure development such as hospitals and shopping centers, the construction process will inevitably generate increased emissions and pollutants, negatively impacting the environment. (135 words)

Revised essay: Section Title: Balancing Human Needs and Wildlife Conservation (Added a section title to provide context and focus for the essay)

While I can understand Claire's argument (Changed "can see Claire’s point point" to "understand Claire's argument" for a more natural tone) that the land should primarily be used by people first, to meet human needs, I agree concur with Paul’s perspective that it is crucial that animals’ habitat should be preserved for the environmental reasons. As mentioned by Paul, people should save land Paul's stance on the importance of preserving habitats for endangered animals for the reason of due to environmental considerations (Rephrased to emphasize agreement with Paul and clarify the reason). As Paul highlighted, conserving land for endangered species is vital for maintaining the environment’s long-term health. The creatures health of our planet's ecosystems (Clarified Paul's point). Wildlife plays an indispensable role in the wildlife play an essential role to earth’s ecosystem. sustaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity (Added "and preserving biodiversity" to emphasize the importance of wildlife). For instance, the example, plants release oxygen into the air, which improves the atmosphere, thereby improving air quality of air. (Changed "the air" to "the atmosphere" for clarity). However, without the sufficient land, both animals and plants will lose their habitats and become unable to purify the earth. Moreover, contribute to Earth's purification (Clarified consequences of insufficient land). Furthermore, if people humans continue to prioritize land use more land to build for infrastructure development such as hospitals and shopping centers, there the construction process will be more inevitably generate increased emissions and pollutants during the process of constructing, which has a negative effect pollutants, negatively impacting the environment (Expanded on the environment.consequences of prioritizing human needs over wildlife conservation).

Title: 8 思维导图


- Balancing Human Needs and Wildlife Conservation
  - Claire's argument
    - Land for human needs
  - Paul's stance
    - Importance of preserving habitats for endangered animals
    - Environmental considerations
  - Maintaining ecological balance
    - Wildlife's role in preserving biodiversity
  - Examples
    - Plants releasing oxygen, improving air quality
  - Loss of habitats
    - Impact on Earth's purification process
  - Infrastructure development
    - Increased emissions and pollutants from construction process 

Title: 9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
concur/kənˈkɜr/verbagree; be of the same opinion同意,一致意见I concur with Paul's stance on the importance of preserving habitats for endangered animals.
indispensable/ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/adjectiveabsolutely necessary; essential不可或缺的Wildlife plays an indispensable role in sustaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity.
ecological/ˌikoʊˈlɒdʒɪkəl/adjectiverelating to ecology or the environment生态的Maintaining ecological balance is vital for the long-term health of our planet's ecosystems.
biodiversity/ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜrsəti/nounvariety of life within an ecosystem生物多样性Preserving biodiversity is crucial for the well-being of our planet.
purification/ˌpjʊrəfɪˈkeɪʃən/nounthe process of making something pure净化Without sufficient land, Earth's purification process will be negatively impacted.
infrastructure/ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/nounbasic physical and organizational systems基础设施Infrastructure development can lead to increased emissions and pollutants.
emissions/ɪˈmɪʃənz/nounsubstances discharged into the air排放物The construction process generates increased emissions, negatively impacting the environment.
pollutants/pəˈlutənts/nounsubstances that contaminate the environment污染物Pollutants from construction can harm both humans and wildlife.
sustainability/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/nounability to be maintained at a certain rate可持续性Balancing human needs and wildlife conservation is crucial for long-term sustainability.
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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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