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

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Task Overview

Doctor Diaz

We’ve been discussing ways that parents can help prepare their teenage children for adulthood. One line of thinking is that parents should encourage their teenagers to take part-time jobs to help them learn to be responsible, even if it is not an economic necessity for the teenagers to work. What are your thoughts on the issue? Should parents urge teenage children to get a job? Why or why not?

Claire

Teenagers should work part-time. When I was 16, I washed dishes at a restaurant, and I’m glad I did. I learned a lot about time management. I had to use my free time wisely to make sure I could complete homework despite spending time working at a job. This is a valuable life skill.

Andrew

I would have to disagree. A teenager is still just a kid, and in my opinion, a kid needs to focus on going to school and learning. A job would be an unnecessary distraction. If it’s all about learning responsibility, I think there are a lot of other ways to do that without the commitment required by a job.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

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1

User Sample #1

In this discussion, Andrew holds the opinion that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his view is my perspective that th...

Score
23

User Sample

In this discussion, Andrew holds the opinion that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his view is my perspective that the children could learn more things through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help them to make a clear career path. They will know what job they favourite and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in; on the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed that taking some part-time jobs is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they want

Evaluation Result

1.子项得分

Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.0 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 3.5 Language Use and Grammar: 3.5

2.预估分数

23. 3.任务完成度

此篇文章基本完成了任务要求,但仍有改进的空间。首先,尽管你表达了自己的观点并提供了一些支持,但可以通过具体的例子和详细的解释来更好地支持你的观点。其次,在语言使用和语法方面,文章中存在一些错误和不清晰的表达,需要进行修改和完善。

改进建议示例1(英文): Instead of saying "a younger person could locate their profession," you could say, "part-time jobs can help teenagers explore different professions and find their interests."

改进建议示例2(英文): Instead of saying "they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in," you could say, "having a part-time job can help them understand the skills required for their chosen field, which can lead to better academic performance."

4.文章结构与组织

文章结构方面,虽然有简短的介绍、主体和结论部分,但整体组织仍需改进。每段应集中讨论一个具体观点,并提供相应的支持细节。此外,在段落之间加入明确的过渡词或短语可以使文章更连贯。

改进建议示例1(英文): Add a transition phrase at the beginning of your conclusion, such as "In conclusion" or "To sum up."

改进建议示例2(英文): Instead of jumping directly from one point to another, use transitional phrases like "Moreover," "Additionally," or "On the other hand" to connect your ideas and make your essay more coherent.

  1. 语法批改

In this discussion, Andrew holds the opinion that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his viewview,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) is my perspective that the children could learn more things through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help them to make a clear career path. They will know what job they favouritefavorite(misspelling) and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in; on the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed that taking some part-time jobs is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they want

6.文章修订

In the discussion, Andrew argues that parents should not force their children to get a job. However, I believe that teenagers can gain valuable experiences and skills through part-time employment. Firstly, part-time jobs allow young individuals to explore various professions and discover their interests, which helps them establish a clear career path. By understanding the requirements of their chosen field, they can enhance their academic performance accordingly.

Moreover, part-time jobs teach essential life skills such as time management and responsibility. Balancing work and school commitments forces teenagers to prioritize tasks and allocate time efficiently. Additionally, working in a professional environment exposes them to real-world challenges and fosters personal growth.

On the other hand, it is crucial for parents to ensure that their children's part-time jobs do not interfere with their education or well-being. A healthy balance between work and study is necessary for optimal development.

Overall, encouraging teenagers to take up part-time jobs can provide numerous benefits in terms of personal growth and career planning. However, it is essential for parents to monitor their children's progress and maintain a balance between work and education. (185 words)

7.文章批改

In this the discussion, Andrew holds the opinion argues (revised for clarity) that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his view is my perspective However, I believe that the children could learn more things teenagers can gain valuable experiences and skills through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help part-time employment (revised for coherence). Firstly, part-time jobs allow young individuals to explore various professions and discover their interests (revised for clarity), which helps them to make establish a clear career path. They will know what job By understanding the requirements of their chosen field, they favourite and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better can enhance their academic performance accordingly (revised for clarity).

Moreover, part-time jobs teach essential life skills such as time management and responsibility (revised for coherence). Balancing work and school commitments forces teenagers to prioritize tasks and allocate time efficiently (revised for clarity). Additionally, working in the field they decide to be involved in; on a professional environment exposes them to real-world challenges and fosters personal growth (revised for coherence).

On the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed crucial for parents to ensure that taking some part-time jobs their children's part-time jobs do not interfere with their education or well-being (revised for clarity). A healthy balance between work and study is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they wantnecessary for optimal development (revised for coherence).

Overall, encouraging teenagers to take up part-time jobs can provide numerous benefits in terms of personal growth and career planning (revised for clarity). However, it is essential for parents to monitor their children's progress and maintain a balance between work and education (revised for coherence).

8.思维导图

  • Introduction

    • Andrew's argument
    • Personal belief
  • Benefits of part-time jobs

    • Exploring professions and interests
      • Clear career path
      • Enhanced academic performance
    • Essential life skills
      • Time management and responsibility
      • Balancing work and school commitments
    • Exposure to real-world challenges
      • Personal growth
  • Parental involvement and balance

    • Ensuring no interference with education or well-being
    • Monitoring progress and maintaining balance

9.关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
part-time/ˈpɑːrtˌtaɪm/adjectiverelating to work done for only part of the day or week兼职的She found a part-time job at a local store.
profession/prəˈfɛʃən/nouna type of job that requires special education, training, or skill职业Nursing is a respected profession.
responsibility/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/nounthe state or fact of having a duty to deal with something责任With great power comes great responsibility.
commitment/kəˈmɪtmənt/nounthe act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself_承诺,责任_He has many family and work commitments.
prioritize/praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/verbto arrange or do something in order of importance优先处理It's important to prioritize your tasks to be more efficient.
allocate/ˈæləˌkeɪt/verb_to set apart for a particular purpose; assign or allot_分配,分派_The company decided to allocate more resources to the project.
interference/ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/_noun_the act of hindering, obstructing, or impeding_干扰,妨碍_Parents should avoid excessive interference in their children's lives.
well-being/ˈwɛl ˈbi ɪŋ/_noun_a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity_福祉,健康幸福_Exercise is important for maintaining physical and mental well-being.
monitor/ˈmɒnətər/verbto watch closely for purposes of control, surveillance, etc.; keep track of监控,监测The teacher will monitor the students' progress throughout the semester.
balance/ˈbæləns/nouna state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc._平衡_It's important to find a balance between work and personal life.
2

User Sample #2

I totally agree with Claire's opinion that teenagers should work part-time. First of all, working a part-time job allows kids to study knowledge and l...

Score
27

User Sample

I totally agree with Claire's opinion that teenagers should work part-time. First of all, working a part-time job allows kids to study knowledge and life lessons that cannot be taught in school, such as how to communicate with the customer as the worker, as well as the management skill of working in a restaurant that Claire mention. It's a pressure opportunity to broaden teenagers' horizons and give them a whole insight into how does society works. In addition, I believe kids can understand the tiring of working and understand their parents more. They are likely to treasure the environment and resources that their parents provide. Also, working part-time jobs can incentive kids to study harder since many part-time jobs do not receive a good income while they work for a longer time, kids may want to study harder and get into some industry and become such as lawyers, doctors, and business analyzers where these jobs have a nicer and more stable income. It's very necessary for teenagers to gain a part- time experience during their teenage years.

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

这篇文章在完成任务方面做得很好,但还有一些可以改进的地方。首先,在支持观点时,可以提供更多具体的例子和细节。例如,你可以描述一些其他的兼职工作类型以及它们如何帮助青少年培养责任感和独立性。此外,尝试更全面地回应论述中提到的反对意见,例如解释为什么兼职工作不会影响学习。

改进示例1: 除了餐厅工作外,青少年还可以从零售、家教或志愿者活动等兼职工作中学到宝贵的经验。

改进示例2: 虽然有人认为兼职工作会影响学习,但通过合理安排时间和设定优先级,青少年可以在保证学业成绩的同时获得实践经验。

4.文章结构与组织

文章结构基本清晰,但仍有改进空间。建议在开头部分简要介绍自己的观点,并在结尾部分总结观点。此外,可以使用更明确的过渡词和短语来连接段落和观点。

改进建议(简体中文): 在文章开头简要介绍自己的观点,并在结尾部分总结观点。使用更明确的过渡词和短语来连接段落和观点。

改进示例1: 开头部分:在这个讨论中,我认为鼓励青少年从事兼职工作是非常有益的,因为它可以帮助他们学会承担责任并培养实践能力。

改进示例2: 过渡词:首先,兼职工作可以帮助青少年了解社会运作。其次,这种经历还能让他们更加珍惜父母提供的资源。最后,兼职工作也可能激发他们更加努力学习。

  1. 语法批改

I totally agree with Claire's opinion that teenagers should work part-time. First of allFirst(first of all (first)), working a part-time job allows kids to study knowledge and life lessons that cannot be taught in school, such as how to communicate with the customer as the worker, as well as the management skill of working in a restaurant that Claire mention. It's a pressure opportunity to broaden teenagers' horizons and give them a whole insight into how does society works. In addition, I believe kids can understand the tiring of working and understand their parents more. They are likely to treasure the environment and resources that their parents provide. Also, working part-time jobs can incentive kids to study harder since many part-time jobs do not receive a good income while they work for a longer time, kids may want to study harder and get into some industry and become such as lawyers, doctors, and business analyzers where these jobs have a nicer and more stable income. It's very necessary for teenagers to gain a part- timepart-time(Hyphenated words, e.g., 'case-sensitive' instead of 'case sensitive') experience during their teenage years.

6.文章修订

I wholeheartedly concur with Claire's perspective that teenagers should engage in part-time employment. Firstly, part-time jobs provide adolescents with invaluable practical experiences and life lessons that cannot be acquired through formal education. For instance, they learn effective communication skills with customers and gain insights into workplace dynamics. Such exposure broadens their horizons and offers a comprehensive understanding of societal functions.

Moreover, working part-time fosters empathy towards their parents' efforts, as teenagers experience the challenges of labor firsthand. Consequently, they are more likely to appreciate the resources and environment provided by their parents. Additionally, part-time jobs serve as an incentive for academic excellence; since many such positions offer low wages for extended hours, teenagers may aspire to pursue careers in fields like law, medicine, or business analysis that yield higher and more stable incomes.

In conclusion, it is essential for teenagers to gain part-time work experience during their formative years to develop responsibility, practical skills, and a deeper appreciation for their parents' endeavors. (163 words)

7.文章批改

I totally agree wholeheartedly concur (changed "totally agree" to "wholeheartedly concur" for a more formal tone) with Claire's opinion perspective that teenagers should work part-time. ¶ First of all, working a part-time job allows kids to study knowledge engage (changed "work" to "engage" for variety) in part-time employment. Firstly, part-time jobs provide adolescents (changed "kids" to "adolescents" for a more academic term) with invaluable practical experiences and life lessons that cannot be taught in school, such acquired through formal education. For instance, they learn effective communication skills with customers and gain insights into workplace dynamics (added details for clarity). Such exposure broadens their horizons and offers a comprehensive understanding of societal functions.

Moreover, working part-time fosters empathy towards their parents' efforts (rephrased for clarity), as how to communicate with teenagers experience the customer challenges of labor firsthand. Consequently, they are more likely to appreciate the resources and environment provided by their parents. Additionally, part-time jobs serve as the worker, as well as the management skill of working in a restaurant that Claire mention. It's a pressure opportunity to broaden teenagers' horizons and give them a whole insight into how does society works. In addition, I believe kids can understand the tiring of working and understand their parents more. They are likely to treasure the environment and resources that their parents provide. Also, working part-time jobs can an incentive kids to study harder for academic excellence; since many part-time jobs do not receive a good income while they such positions offer low wages for extended hours, teenagers may aspire to pursue careers in fields like law, medicine, or business analysis (added specific examples) that yield higher and more stable incomes.

In conclusion, it is essential for teenagers to gain part-time work for a longer time, kids may want to study harder and get into some industry and become such as lawyers, doctors, and business analyzers where these jobs have a nicer and more stable income. It's very necessary for teenagers to gain a part- time experience during their teenage years.formative years to develop responsibility, practical skills, and a deeper appreciation for their parents' endeavors (rephrased sentence for better flow and coherence).

8.思维导图

  • Introduction

    • Agree with Claire
    • Part-time jobs for teenagers
  • Benefits

    • Practical experiences and life lessons
      • Communication skills
      • Workplace dynamics
    • Empathy towards parents' efforts
      • Appreciate resources and environment
    • Incentive for academic excellence
      • Pursue higher-paying careers (law, medicine, business analysis)
  • Conclusion

    • Essential for development of responsibility, practical skills, and appreciation

9.关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
concur/kənˈkɜr/verbto agree or have the same opinion同意I concur with your assessment of the situation.
engage/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/verbto participate or become involved in参与Teenagers should engage in part-time employment to gain valuable experience.
invaluable/ɪnˈvæljuəbl/adjectiveextremely useful or important无价的The practical experience gained from part-time jobs is invaluable for teenagers.
dynamics/daɪˈnæmɪks/noun/the way in which things or people behave and react to each other in a particular situation/动态,相互作用/Understanding workplace dynamics is essential for success in any profession.
empathy/ˈempəθi//noun/the ability to understand and share the feelings of another/同理心/Working part-time fosters empathy towards their parents' efforts.
incentive/ɪnˈsentɪv//noun/something that encourages a person to do something/激励/Part-time jobs serve as an incentive for academic excellence.
formative/ˈfɔrmətɪv/adjectiverelating to the time when someone or something is growing or being formed形成性的It is essential for teenagers to gain part-time work experience during their formative years.
responsibility/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/nounthe state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone责任Part-time jobs help teenagers develop a sense of responsibility.
practical/ˈpræktɪkəl/adjectiverelating to real situations and events rather than ideas, and involving or intended for actual use实际的Practical skills learned from part-time jobs are essential for success in the real world.
appreciation/əˌpriʃiˈeɪʃən/nounrecognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something欣赏,感激Gaining part-time work experience helps teenagers develop a deeper appreciation for their parents' endeavors.
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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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