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

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Task Overview

Professor

Today, we’re discussing the ethics of targeted advertising. Some people argue that online advertising which uses personal information to target specific people is an invasion of privacy. Others argue that it’s simply an acceptable way to reach consumers with products and services they’re interested in. What’s your take? Do you think targeted advertising is ethical, or is it an invasion of privacy?

Student A

I think targeted advertising is an invasion of privacy. Advertisers shouldn’t be able to track and use our personal information to sell us products. It’s not fair to consumers, and it’s a violation of our rights. Instead, advertisers should focus on creating high-quality ads that appeal to a broad audience. By doing that they can both increase their sales and show respect for their customers.

Student B

I disagree with Jessica. I think targeted advertising is ethical. It’s a more efficient way to reach consumers with products and services that are relevant to their interests. With the money they save by using more effective marketing techniques, companies can afford to offer lower prices to their customers. Plus, we can always opt-out of targeted advertising by adjusting our privacy settings. As long we get a choice, I think targeted advertising can be beneficial

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

To a certain extent,admittedly targeted advertising has become an efficient way to purchase products.Nevertheless,we can not emphasize the importance of protecting our privacy.I am inclined to believe that targeted advertisting is an invasion of privacy.In my view,it is prone to exert an adverse impact on daily life.When acquiring our privacy, some people are intended to harass us by calling or texting us.What angered us is that it tends to ruin our lives.If cheaters obtain our personal information,some people with low identification ability tend to be easily tricked.For example, my cousin was cheated out of money because he filled in his personal information on a shopping app.

Evaluation Result

1. 子项得分

  • Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5

  • Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 3.5

  • Language Use and Grammar: 3.5

2. 预估分数

22. 3 任务完成度

您的文章在回应讨论问题方面做得很好,但在阐述观点和语言使用方面还有待提高。首先,在表达观点时,可以尝试提供更多具体的例子和详细信息来支持您的看法。其次,在语言使用方面,注意避免出现语法错误和不清晰的表达。

改进示例1(英文): Instead of saying "it is prone to exert an adverse impact on daily life," you could provide a specific example, such as "targeted advertising can lead to unwanted spam emails, which can be annoying and time-consuming for users."

改进示例2(英文): Instead of saying "some people with low identification ability tend to be easily tricked," you could say "individuals who are not familiar with online security measures may fall victim to scams or identity theft due to targeted advertising."

4. 文章结构与组织

从组织结构上看,您的文章需要更明确地划分引言、正文和结论部分。此外,每个段落应专注于一个特定观点,并提供支持细节。同时,注意在段落之间使用清晰的过渡词或短语。

改进示例1(英文): Add an introduction sentence at the beginning of your essay, such as "In the debate on targeted advertising, I believe that it is an invasion of privacy due to its potential negative consequences."

改进示例2(英文): Use transition words or phrases to connect your ideas, such as "Moreover" or "On the other hand." For example, you could say "Moreover, targeted advertising can lead to unwanted spam emails, which can be annoying and time-consuming for users."

5. 语法批改

To a certain extent,admittedly, admittedly(Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses) targeted advertising has become an efficient way to purchase products.Nevertheless Nevertheless(Missing space between sentences),we, we(Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses) can not emphasize the importance of protecting our privacy.I I(Missing space between sentences) am inclined to believe that targeted advertistingadvertising(misspelling) is an invasion of privacy.In In(Missing space between sentences) my view,it, it(Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses) is prone to exert an adverse impact on daily life.When When(Missing space between sentences) acquiring our privacy, some people are intended to harass us by calling or texting us.What What(Missing space between sentences) angered us is that it tends to ruin our lives.If If(Missing space between sentences) cheaters obtain our personal information,some, some(Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses) people with low identification ability tend to be easily tricked.For For(Missing space between sentences) example, my cousin was cheated out of money because he filled in his personal information on a shopping app.

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

While targeted advertising can be an efficient method for promoting products, the protection of personal privacy should not be overlooked. I believe that targeted advertising constitutes an invasion of privacy, as it can potentially have negative consequences on our daily lives. The acquisition of personal information may lead to harassment through unwanted calls or messages, causing significant distress. Furthermore, if fraudsters gain access to such information, individuals with limited discernment may fall victim to scams. For instance, my cousin lost money after providing his personal details on a shopping app. (95 words)

To a certain extent,admittedly Revised essay: Section Title: 7 Article Correction

While targeted advertising has become can be an efficient way to purchase products.Nevertheless,we can method for promoting products (clarified phrasing for better understanding), the protection of personal privacy should not emphasize the importance of protecting our privacy.I am inclined to be overlooked (improved sentence structure). I believe that targeted advertisting is advertising constitutes an invasion of privacy.In my view,it is prone privacy (rephrased for clarity), as it can potentially have negative consequences on our daily lives (simplified phrasing). The acquisition of personal information may lead to exert an adverse impact on daily life.When acquiring our privacy, some people are intended harassment through unwanted calls or messages, causing significant distress (revised sentence structure). Furthermore, if fraudsters gain access to harass us by calling or texting us.What angered us is that it tends such information, individuals with limited discernment may fall victim to ruin our lives.If cheaters obtain our personal information,some people with low identification ability tend to be easily tricked.For example, scams (improved phrasing for clarity). For instance, my cousin was cheated out of lost money because he filled in after providing his personal information details on a shopping app.app (rephrased for better understanding).

Display title: 8 思维导图

Mindmap:

1. Introduction
   - Targeted advertising
   - Privacy concerns

2. Invasion of privacy
   - Personal information acquisition
   - Harassment and distress

3. Negative consequences
   - Unwanted calls/messages
   - Fraud and scams

4. Personal example
   - Cousin's experience with shopping app

5. Conclusion
   - Balancing targeted advertising and privacy protection 

Display title: 9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
targeted/ˈtɑːrɡɪtɪd/adjdirected or used toward a specific object针对性的Targeted advertising can be an efficient method for promoting products.
invasion/ɪnˈveɪʒən/nan unwelcome intrusion into another's domain侵犯I believe that targeted advertising constitutes an invasion of privacy.
harassment/həˈræsmənt/naggressive pressure or intimidation骚扰The acquisition of personal information may lead to harassment through unwanted calls or messages.
discernment/dɪˈsɜrn.mənt/nthe ability to judge well辨别力Individuals with limited discernment may fall victim to scams.
fraudster/ˈfrɔːd.stər//n//a person who commits fraud//骗子//If fraudsters gain access to such information, they can take advantage of unsuspecting individuals./
scam/skæm/na dishonest scheme or fraud骗局My cousin lost money after falling for a scam on a shopping app.
acquisition/ˌæk.wɪˈzɪʃ.ən/nthe act of obtaining something获取The acquisition of personal information can lead to negative consequences.
distress/dɪˈstres/nextreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain痛苦Harassment through unwanted calls or messages can cause significant distress.
privacy/ˈpraɪ.və.si//n//the state of being free from public attention//隐私//The protection of personal privacy should not be overlooked in targeted advertising./

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

While targeted advertising can be an efficient method for promoting products, the protection of personal privacy should not be overlooked. I believe that targeted advertising constitutes an invasion of privacy, as it can potentially have negative consequences on our daily lives. The acquisition of personal information may lead to harassment through unwanted calls or messages, causing significant distress. Furthermore, if fraudsters gain access to such information, individuals with limited discernment may fall victim to scams. For instance, my cousin lost money after providing his personal details on a shopping app.

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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