Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

In the TOEFL iBT^®exam, the test takers are evaluated on various abilities, particularly on their communication skills. Candidates can level up their preparation with the practice test on 'Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice', as the Writing Section is one of the significant ones.

This Writing Integrated practice test aims to enhance your writing abilities which will help ace the TOEFL exam. It aims to assist you in understanding task instructions, structuring responses effectively, and enhancing your performance in the TOEFL Writing segment. So, let's start your journey towards attaining your desired TOEFL score!

Writing Instructions:

• You'll read a passage and listen to a lecture on an academic topic.
• You may take notes while listening to aid comprehension.
• Then you will write a response to a question that asks you about the lecture you heard.
• Answer the question comprehensively using information from the lecture. Avoid expressing personal opinions in the response.
• There is no strict word limit. However, an effective response is considered to be within 150 to 225 words.
• Your response will be assessed based on writing quality, content accuracy, and completeness.

Prison reform is seen as necessary for improving the criminal justice system. Advocates say current prison conditions are inhumane and don't effectively help inmates. Overcrowding, poor healthcare, and bad living conditions are common issues that need fixing. Improving these conditions can lead to better mental and physical health for prisoners, which is crucial for their successful return to society. Another key part of prison reform is focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Many current prison systems emphasize punishment, which often doesn't address the root causes of criminal behavior. By offering educational programs, job training, and mental health services, prisons can help inmates develop skills and ways needed for productive lives after release. This approach can reduce repeat offenses, ultimately leading to safer communities.

Moreover, prison reform can tackle widespread unfairness within the criminal justice system. Minority groups are often more common in prisons due to biased policing and sentencing. Reform efforts can include measures to ensure fair treatment for everyone, regardless of race or economic status. This can help build a more just and fair society. The financial burden of maintaining the current prison system is huge. Taxpayers pay for housing, feeding, and providing medical care for inmates. By focusing on rehabilitation and reducing repeat offenses, the overall prison population can be decreased, leading to significant cost savings. These funds can then be redirected to other essential public services, like education and healthcare.

Now play the audio.

Question

Provide a brief summary on the lecture's arguments and discuss their assertions by highlighting on the claims provided in the reading passage.

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice

A comprehensive analysis of various responses is provided below, enabling you to identify areas requiring improvement to achieve your target score.

High-Level Response

Rater's Comment

This response merits a high score due to its clear and concise summary of both the reading and the lecture. The writer effectively captures the main points from the reading, such as the need for improved prison conditions, the focus on rehabilitation, and the financial benefits of prison reform. The response then systematically addresses how the lecture challenges each of these points, providing specific examples like the existing improvements in prison conditions, the resource-intensive nature of rehabilitation programs, and the complexity of addressing biases in the criminal justice system.

The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point of contention between the reading and the lecture. The use of transitions like "however" and "in summary" helps to maintain a logical flow, making the essay easy to follow. The language is clear and straightforward, avoiding overly complex words and sentences, which aligns well with the writing style of a college graduate. Moreover, the response demonstrates strong control over grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary, with only minor errors that do not affect the overall meaning. This level of clarity and coherence, combined with the accurate representation of both the reading and the lecture, justifies the high score.

Mid Level Response

Rater's Comment

This response earns a mid-level score due to its partial but not comprehensive summary of the reading and the lecture. The writer captures some key points from both sources, such as the need for improved prison conditions and the focus on rehabilitation. However, the response lacks depth in explaining how the lecture challenges these points. For instance, the explanation of existing improvements in prison conditions and the resource-intensive nature of rehabilitation programs are mentioned but not elaborated upon. The essay is somewhat organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific point, but the transitions between ideas are not as smooth as they could be. The use of phrases like "but" and "also" helps to some extent, but the overall flow could be improved.

There are noticeable grammatical and punctuation errors, such as "Overcrowding is still a problem, but it's being addressed through new facilities and alternative sentencing programs" and "The lecture disagrees, saying rehabilitation programs need a lot of funding and resources, which are often limited." These errors do not severely hinder understanding but do affect the overall clarity and coherence of the essay. Overall, the response provides a limited summary of the reading and the lecture, with some lapses in organization and coherence, justifying the mid-level score.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice

Here are the strategies for taking the Integrated Writing Task on Is Prison Reform Necessary for Criminal Justice.

• Read the passage carefully, taking concise notes on key points.
• Listen actively to the lecture, noting its relationship to the reading.
• Begin your response by clearly stating how the lecture relates to the reading.
• Explain any contradictions or connections between the reading and lecture.
• Integrate information from both sources throughout your essay.
• Use clear transitions and attributions for information from each source.

Prepared to enhance your TOEFL writing skills? Our collection of example responses and professional tips is here to support you in your journey. It's time to put your abilities to the test with some hands-on practice!

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