Writing for an Academic Discussion
TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion
TOEFL iBT · 100+ words · 10 minutes · 1 focused paragraph
You are contributing to an online university seminar discussion. You must express and support a personal opinion, address other students' points, and add a novel argument.
Writing for an Academic Discussion
TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion
TOEFL iBT · 100+ words · 10 minutes · 1 focused paragraph
You are contributing to an online university seminar discussion. You must express and support a personal opinion, address other students' points, and add a novel argument.
Task Anatomy
In this task, your screen displays:
- The Professor's Discussion Topic: The overarching debate question.
- Two Student Responses: Short posts from fictional classmates (e.g., Claire and Paul) taking contrasting or distinct angles.
- Your Response Box: 10 minutes to compose 100–140 words.
Golden Rule: Do not just summarize what Claire or Paul said! You must introduce a new dimension or unique perspective.
The 3-Step Micro-Structure
Since you only have 10 minutes, write one unified, cohesive paragraph:
- Sentence 1: Acknowledge the debate and clearly state your position.
- Sentences 2–3: Engage with a classmate's point (e.g. "While I understand Paul's argument regarding economic growth...").
- Sentences 4–6: Deliver your distinct contribution with concrete real-world evidence or rationale.
- Sentence 7: Concluding takeaway or synthesis.
Engaging Classmates: Phrase Bank
- Claire makes a compelling point regarding [X]; however, she overlooks...
- I am inclined to agree with Paul's stance on [X], but I would take his reasoning a step further by pointing out...
- While both Claire and Paul present valid observations, the central issue truly hinges on...
Level Ladder: Academic Transition
| B1 | B2 | C1 |
|---|---|---|
| I think this is a good idea. | I strongly endorse this approach because... | This initiative offers a compelling blueprint for... |
| The government should spend money on this. | Public funding should prioritize this sector... | Allocating municipal capital toward this domain yields compounding civic dividends. |
| It creates problems for ordinary people. | This inadvertently places a burden on citizens. | This disproportionately penalizes vulnerable demographics. |
Apply Your Knowledge (1 Prompt)
Urban Planning: Green Parks vs. Commercial Development
Your professor is teaching a class on urban planning and public policy. Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response, you should: - Express and support your personal opinion - Make a contribution to the discussion by expanding on or challenging the points raised by other students An effective response will contain at least 100 words.