TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Instructions Your professor is teaching a class on ecology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
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2 user-submitted samples available
Start Free PracticeTask 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?
Kelly
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.
Andrew
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.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
As for me, i agree with Kelly's statements. It's unevitavle for us to use the products made of plastic, since it has so many advantages as Kelly says. Plastic brings convennience. However, we can still take actions to use less plastic in our daily life. In some aspects of life, plastic is not definitely irreplacable. As Andrew's opnions, we can use reusable bags instead of plastic shopping bags. Moreover, we can learn how to recycle the used plastic and use the recycled plastic which can make enough of the plastic. Although we can not ban the plastic, the governments are supposed to appeal people to use less plastic, especially those big companies. If the big companies are willing to develop the techniques about recycling plastic or innovating better replacement of plastic, maybe we will ban the plastic as much as we can.
Evaluation Result
1. Sub Scores
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0 Language Use and Grammar: 3.5
2. Estimated Scores
Estimated Score: 25
3. Task completeness
The essay does a good job of addressing the task requirements, expressing a clear opinion, and contributing to the discussion. However, there is room for improvement in terms of elaborating on specific examples and providing more concrete support for the arguments presented. Additionally, some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing detract from the overall clarity of the essay.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Provide more specific examples to support your viewpoint.
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Proofread your essay to correct grammar errors and improve sentence structure.
Examples:
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Instead of saying "we can learn how to recycle the used plastic," provide a specific example or method of recycling that has proven effective.
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Rather than stating "the governments are supposed to appeal people," rephrase it as "governments should encourage people."
4. Essay structure and organization
The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, some paragraphs could be better organized with clearer transitions between ideas.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Use topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to introduce the main point.
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Improve transitions between ideas by using appropriate linking words or phrases.
Examples:
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Begin a paragraph with a topic sentence like "One way we can reduce plastic usage is by adopting reusable alternatives."
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Use transition words or phrases such as "Furthermore" or "In addition" when introducing new points or examples in your essay.
5. Grammar
As for me, iI(i vs. I) agree with Kelly's statements. It's unevitavleinevitable(misspelling) for us to use the products made of plastic, since it has so many advantagesadvantages,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) as Kelly says. Plastic brings convennienceconvenience(misspelling). However, we can still take actions to use less plastic in our daily life. In some aspects of life, plastic is not definitely irreplacableirreplaceable(misspelling). As Andrew's opnionsoptions(misspelling), we can use reusable bags instead of plastic shopping bags. Moreover, we can learn how to recycle the used plastic and use the recycled plasticplastic,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) which can make enough of the plastic. Although we can not ban the plastic, the governments are supposed to appeal people to use less plastic, especially those big companies. If the big companies are willing to develop the techniques about recycling plastic or innovating better replacement of plastic, maybe we will ban the plastic as much as we can.
Display title: 6 Revised Essay
While I concur with Kelly's perspective, I believe it is crucial to acknowledge the potential for reducing plastic consumption in our daily lives. Undeniably, plastic offers numerous benefits, such as affordability and durability, making it an integral component of various products. However, we can still adopt measures to minimize our reliance on this material. In certain aspects of life, plastic is not irreplaceable; for instance, as Andrew suggests, we can opt for reusable fabric bags instead of disposable plastic ones. Furthermore, promoting recycling initiatives and utilizing recycled plastic can help mitigate the environmental impact. Although an outright ban on plastic may be unrealistic, governments and corporations should collaborate to encourage responsible usage and invest in innovative alternatives or recycling technologies. By doing so, we can significantly reduce our dependence on plastics and work towards a more sustainable future. (143 words)
As While I concur (revised for me, i agree clarity and formality) with Kelly's statements. It's unevitavle perspective, I believe it is crucial (revised for us emphasis) to use acknowledge the products made potential for reducing plastic consumption in our daily lives. Undeniably, plastic offers numerous benefits, such as affordability and durability, making it an integral component of plastic, since it has so many advantages as Kelly says. Plastic brings convennience. various products. However, we can still take actions adopt measures (revised for clarity) to use less plastic in minimize our daily life. reliance on this material. In some certain aspects of life, plastic is not definitely irreplacable. As Andrew's opnions, irreplaceable (revised for better word choice); for instance, as Andrew suggests, we can use opt for reusable fabric bags instead of disposable plastic shopping bags. Moreover, ones. Furthermore, promoting recycling initiatives and utilizing recycled plastic can help mitigate the environmental impact. Although an outright ban on plastic may be unrealistic (revised for clarity), governments and corporations should collaborate to encourage responsible usage (revised for better word choice) and invest in innovative alternatives or recycling technologies. By doing so, we can learn how to recycle the used plastic significantly reduce our dependence on plastics (revised for consistency) and use the recycled plastic which can make enough of the plastic. Although we can not ban the plastic, the governments are supposed to appeal people to use less plastic, especially those big companies. If the big companies are willing to develop the techniques about recycling plastic or innovating better replacement of plastic, maybe we will ban the plastic as much as we can.work towards a more sustainable future.
8 Mind Map
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Introduction
- Kelly's perspective
- Importance of reducing plastic consumption
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Benefits of plastic
- Affordability
- Durability
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Minimizing reliance on plastic
- Reusable alternatives (e.g., fabric bags)
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Recycling initiatives
- Promoting recycling programs
- Utilizing recycled plastic products
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Government and corporate collaboration
- Encouraging responsible usage
- Investing in innovative alternatives and recycling technologies
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Reducing dependence on plastics for a sustainable future
9 Key Words
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | English Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concur | /kənˈkər/ | Verb | To agree | Agree | I concur with your opinion on the matter. |
| Undeniably | /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbli/ | Adverb | In a way that cannot be denied | Without doubt | Undeniably, plastic offers numerous benefits to our daily lives. |
| Integral | /ˈɪntɪɡrəl/ | Adjective | Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental. | Essential | Plastic is an integral component of various products. |
| Irreplaceable | /ɪrɪˈpleɪsəb(ə)l/ | Adjective | Impossible to replace if lost or damaged | Cannot be replaced | In certain aspects of life, plastic is not irreplaceable. |
| Mitigate | /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ | Verb | To make less severe, serious, or painful | Lessen | Recycling initiatives can help mitigate the environmental impact. |
| Outright | /ˌaʊtˈraɪt/ | Adjective | Complete; total | Total | An outright ban on plastic may be unrealistic. |
| Collaboration | /kəˌlabəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ | Noun | The action of working with someone to produce something | Cooperation | Governments and corporations should collaborate on this issue. |
| Innovative | /ˈɪnəvətɪv/ | Adjective | Featuring new methods; advanced and original | Original | Investing in innovative alternatives is crucial for the future. |
| Sustainable | /səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/ | Adjective | Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Maintainable | Reducing our dependence on plastics will lead to a sustainable future. |
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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