Write for an Academic Discussion Test #122
Write for an Academic Discussion
A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.
Your professor is teaching a class on education studies.
In your response, you should do the following.
- • Express and support your opinion.
- • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor’s question:
The rise of digital technology has made online learning more common than ever. Supporters praise its flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to learn from anywhere. Critics, however, argue that traditional, in-person classes provide a richer educational experience through direct interaction with professors and peers. Which format do you believe is more effective for university-level learning, and why?
Student response 1:
I definitely prefer in-person classes because the direct interaction is crucial for learning. It's much easier to ask a quick question or have a spontaneous discussion with classmates and the professor. Also, being in a physical classroom helps me focus better, without the distractions I have at home.
Student response 2:
I disagree. Online learning is more effective for many students, especially those with jobs or families, because of its flexibility. However, the main benefit is that you can learn at your own pace. As a result, you can re-watch lectures or spend more time on difficult topics to truly understand them.
Sample Score 5
I believe that while both formats have their merits, online learning ultimately provides a more effective and adaptable educational model for the modern university student.
I agree with Student 2's point about the benefits of self-paced learning| This is a crucial advantage that traditional classrooms cannot replicate| The ability to pause, rewind, and meticulously review complex material until it is fully absorbed empowers students to achieve a much deeper level of mastery than what is possible during a fixed-length, live lecture| While Student 1''s concern about focus is valid, developing self-discipline is a key part of higher education itself.
Therefore, by fostering greater autonomy and accommodating diverse learning styles, the online format not only makes education more accessible but can also lead to a more thorough and lasting understanding of the subject matter.
Sample Score 4
In my opinion, traditional in-person classes are more effective for university students because education is about more than just absorbing information.
I share Student 1''s view that direct interaction is essential| Learning often happens through spontaneous conversations and debates with peers, which are difficult to have online| While Student 2 makes a good point about flexibility, I think the loss of real-time collaboration is too great a sacrifice| The classroom environment builds a sense of community that motivates students to engage more deeply with the material.
For these reasons, I feel the immediate feedback and collaborative atmosphere of face-to-face instruction provide a richer educational experience.
Sample Score 3
I think online learning is more effective| It is better for many students today.
I agree with Student 2 that flexibility is a big benefit| Many students work, so they need to make their own schedule| It is very important to learn at your own speed| If a topic is hard, you can watch the video again| This is better than an in-person class where the professor might talk too fast.
So, online classes help students to learn better and manage their time well.
TOEFL Writing – Write an Email Scoring Guide
SCORE 5: A fully successful response
The response is effective, is clearly expressed, and shows consistent facility in the use of language.
A typical response displays the following:
- Elaboration that effectively supports the communicative purpose
- Effective syntactic variety and precise, idiomatic word choice
- Consistent use of appropriate social conventions (e.g., politeness, register, organization of information and formulation of actions such as requests, refusals, criticisms, etc.)
- Almost no lexical or grammatical errors other than those expected from a competent writer writing under timed conditions (e.g., common typos or common misspellings or substitutions like there/their)
SCORE 4: A generally successful response
The response is mostly effective and easily understood. Language facility is adequate to the task.
A typical response displays the following:
- Adequate elaboration to support the communicative purpose
- Syntactic variety and appropriate word choice
- Mostly appropriate social conventions
- Few lexical or grammatical errors
SCORE 3: A partially successful response
The response generally accomplishes the task. Limitations in language facility may prevent parts of the message from being fully clear and effective.
A typical response displays the following:
- Elaboration that partially supports the communicative purpose
- A moderate range of syntax and vocabulary
- Some noticeable errors in structure, word forms, use of idiomatic language and/or social conventions
SCORE 2: A mostly unsuccessful response
The response reflects an attempt to address the task, but it is mostly ineffective. The message may be limited or difficult to interpret.
A typical response exhibits one or more of the following:
- Limited or irrelevant elaboration
- Some connected sentence-level language, with a limited range of syntax and vocabulary
- An accumulation of errors in sentence structure and/or language use
SCORE 1: An unsuccessful response
The response reflects an ineffective attempt to address the task. The message may be limited to the point of being unintelligible.
A typical response exhibits one or more of the following:
- Very little elaboration, if any
- Telegraphic language (i.e., short and/or disconnected phrases and sentences) with a very limited range of vocabulary
- Serious and frequent errors in the use of language
- Minimal original language; any coherent language is mostly borrowed from the stimulus
SCORE 0: No response / irrelevant response
The response is blank, rejects the topic, is not in English, is entirely copied from the prompt, is entirely unconnected to the prompt, or consists of arbitrary keystrokes.
Highlights
| ID: | #io1684322441 |