Write for an Academic Discussion Test #114
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 campus life.
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:
For decades, physical textbooks have been a staple of university education. However, with technological advancements, digital textbooks are becoming more common. Digital versions are often cheaper, more portable, and include features like searchable text. On the other hand, many students say they prefer physical books because they find them easier to read without distraction and better for retaining information. Which format do you believe is more effective for student learning?
Student response 1:
I think digital textbooks are far more effective for today's students. For one thing, carrying a single tablet is much easier than carrying several heavy books around campus. Also, the ability to search for keywords makes studying for exams much more efficient, since you can find information instantly.
Student response 2:
On the other hand, I am convinced that physical textbooks are better for learning. Reading from a screen can cause eye strain, and the temptation to check social media or other websites is a constant distraction. Since you can highlight and write notes directly in a physical book, the information seems to stick better.
Sample Score 5
Sample Score 4
Sample Score 3
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
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