TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: In your opinion, which is the better strategy for making purchasing decisions by relying on advice from friends and family, or depending on information from online sources?Why?

1. Sub Scores

• Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5

• Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0

• Language Use and Grammar: 4.0

2. Estimated Scores

Estimated Score: 28

3. Task completeness

The essay addresses the specific requirements of the task by providing a clear opinion on the better strategy for making purchasing decisions. The writer argues that online sources are more reliable than advice from friends and family. However, the essay could benefit from more specific examples to support the argument and further elaboration on why online sources are superior.

Suggestions for improvement:

• Provide concrete examples of online sources, such as review websites or expert opinions.

• Discuss potential drawbacks of relying on friends and family, such as bias or limited knowledge.

Examples:

1. "For instance, websites like Consumer Reports provide unbiased reviews based on extensive testing, which can help consumers make informed decisions."
2. "On the other hand, friends and family may have personal biases or preferences that could influence their recommendations, leading to less objective advice."

4. Essay structure and organization

The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The paragraphs focus on specific points with supporting details. However, transitions between ideas could be improved to create a smoother flow.

Suggestions for improvement:

• Add transitional phrases between sentences to connect ideas more effectively.

• Ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that introduces its main point.

Examples:

1. "Furthermore, online sources often provide detailed comparisons between products that can help consumers weigh their options."
2. "In contrast to advice from friends and family, online information is typically more comprehensive and up-to-date."

5. Grammar

While Paul mentions the advantage of familiarity between friends and us, I believe that reviewing information from online sources is better for us to make purchasing decisions. It is true that our families and friends know our tastes and habits well and may offer suitable recommendations for us. However, this statement is based on their own experiences and judgments, which are always limited and likely to be wrong. By contrast, turning to online information offers you abundant information to refer to, leading to a more cautious decision-making process and a more reliable decision in terms of probability. Besides, there are a large number ofmany(a large number of (many)) videos produced by previous users that demonstrate their feedback on using the specific product vividly. Based on first-hand information, we can consider the cons and pros of the products and make a purchase suitable for ourselves by watching enough comments.

Display title: 6 Revised Essay

In my opinion, relying on information from online sources is a more effective strategy for making purchasing decisions than seeking advice from friends and family. While it is true that our loved ones may have a better understanding of our preferences and needs, their recommendations are often based on limited experiences and subjective judgments. In contrast, online sources provide access to a wealth of information, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of products. This includes expert reviews, consumer ratings, and even video demonstrations by previous users, which offer invaluable insights into the advantages and disadvantages of various options. By considering this diverse range of perspectives, we can make well-informed decisions that are tailored to our specific requirements and preferences. (124 words)

While Paul mentions the advantage of familiarity between friends and us, I believe that reviewing In my opinion, relying on information from online sources is better for us a more effective strategy for making purchasing decisions than seeking advice from friends and family (I revised this sentence to make purchasing decisions. It it clearer and more concise). While it is true that our families and loved ones may have a better understanding of our preferences and needs (I changed "familiarity between friends know our tastes and habits well and may offer suitable and us" to "our loved ones" for clarity), their recommendations for us. However, this statement is are often based on their own limited experiences and judgments, which are always limited and likely to be wrong. By subjective judgments (I rephrased this part to emphasize the limitations of personal recommendations). In contrast, turning to online online sources provide access to a wealth of information offers you abundant information to refer to, leading to (I changed "abundant information" to "a wealth of information" for better word choice), allowing for a more cautious decision-making process and a more reliable decision in terms of probability. Besides, there are a large number of videos produced comprehensive evaluation of products (I rephrased this part to emphasize the benefits of online information). This includes expert reviews, consumer ratings, and even video demonstrations by previous users that demonstrate their feedback on using the (I added specific product vividly. Based on first-hand information, examples of online sources), which offer invaluable insights into the advantages and disadvantages of various options (I rephrased this part to highlight the value of these insights). By considering this diverse range of perspectives (I changed "watching enough comments" to "considering this diverse range of perspectives" for clarity), we can consider the cons and pros of the products and make a purchase suitable for ourselves by watching enough comments.well-informed decisions that are tailored to our specific requirements and preferences (I rephrased the conclusion for better flow and coherence).

Display title: 8 Mind Map

1. Introduction
   - Online sources vs. friends and family
   - Thesis statement: online sources are more effective

2. Limited experiences of friends and family
   - Subjective judgments
   - Personal biases

3. Wealth of information from online sources
   - Expert reviews
   - Consumer ratings

4. Video demonstrations by previous users
   - Visual understanding of products

5. Diverse perspectives from online sources
   - Comprehensive evaluation of products

6. Well-informed decisions tailored to individual needs and preferences 

7. Conclusion 
   - Online sources provide a more effective strategy for making purchasing decisions.

Display title: 9 Key Words

Display title: 6 Revised Essay

In my opinion, relying on information from online sources is a more effective strategy for making purchasing decisions than seeking advice from friends and family. While it is true that our loved ones may have a better understanding of our preferences and needs, their recommendations are often based on limited experiences and subjective judgments. In contrast, online sources provide access to a wealth of information, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of products. This includes expert reviews, consumer ratings, and even video demonstrations by previous users, which offer invaluable insights into the advantages and disadvantages of various options. By considering this diverse range of perspectives, we can make well-informed decisions that are tailored to our specific requirements and preferences.