Should Vaccination Be Mandatory for School Attendance - TOEFL Writing for Academic Discussion
"Practice your TOEFL Writing Academic Discussion skills with this test on whether vaccination should be mandatory for school attendance. Craft a well-structured response by synthesizing ideas and presenting a clear position."
Key Highlights
The TOEFL Writing section evaluates how well you can produce academic essays. It includes two parts: Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion.
In the Academic Discussion, you’ll analyze a lecture, engage in a discussion about its content, and provide your opinions. Supporting your arguments with evidence is a key requirement.
Practice tests that replicate the Academic Discussion format are the best way to prepare effectively for this task. Let's begin your practice with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample test on "Should Vaccination Be Mandatory for School Attendance".
Writing Instructions
- You will read a discussion related to an academic topic in class where your classmates have written their opinions on the said topic.
- You have 10 minutes to prepare and write your personal opinion on the academic topic.
- Try to answer the question based on the discussion. You can also take ideas from the opinions posted by your classmates.
- There is no maximum word limit. However, an effective response should be a minimum of 100 words.
- Your response will be judged on the quality and clarity of your writing with well-supported reasons.
Instructions: Your professor is teaching a class on environmental science. Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response, you should -
1. express and support your personal opinion,
2. make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Today we're going to discuss whether vaccination should be mandatory for school attendance. Vaccinations can prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect public health. However, some people believe that mandatory vaccination limits personal freedoms and parental rights. What do you think? Should vaccination be mandatory for school attendance? Why or why not?
Emily: I believe that vaccination should be mandatory for school attendance. Vaccines have been proven to be effective in preventing serious diseases like measles, mumps, and whooping cough. When children are vaccinated, it not only protects them but also helps to create community immunity. This protects those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Mandatory vaccination policies ensure that all children have a safe and healthy learning environment.
Michael: But I understand the importance of vaccinations, I think making them mandatory limits personal freedoms and parental rights. Parents should have the right to make medical decisions for their children based on their beliefs and values. Also, some parents may have concerns about vaccine safety and potential side effects. Rather than mandating vaccinations, schools could provide more education and resources to help parents make informed decisions.
Response Time: 10 minutes
Wait! Let's learn more about the TOEFL Exam Pattern and Syllabus before checking out the sample answers to the Academic Discussion Writing task!
Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on - Should Vaccination Be Mandatory for School Attendance
We’ve included two sample responses for the Writing Academic Discussion Task—one demonstrating a high-level response and the other a mid-level response. Reviewing these examples will help you understand the scoring criteria for each level and enhance your writing skills as a result.
High-level Response
While Michael raises valid concerns about personal freedoms and parental rights, I strongly believe that vaccination should be mandatory for school attendance. Vaccinations are a proven and effective way to prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough. When children are vaccinated, it not only protects them but also contributes to herd immunity, which safeguards those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as immunocompromised individuals.
Mandatory vaccination policies ensure that all children have a safe and healthy learning environment. The benefits of widespread vaccination far outweigh the potential risks, as vaccines undergo rigorous testing and monitoring to ensure their safety and efficacy. While it is important to respect individual beliefs and values, public health and safety should take precedence in this context. Schools can also play a role in addressing parental concerns by providing accurate information and resources about vaccine safety and benefits. In essence, mandatory vaccination for school attendance is essential for protecting public health and ensuring the well-being of all students.
Rater’s Comment
This response merits a high score due to its clear and well-structured argument. The student effectively counters Michael's concerns by emphasizing the importance of herd immunity and the rigorous testing of vaccines. The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the discussion. The first paragraph aligns with Emily's viewpoint on the benefits of vaccination for public health, while the second paragraph addresses the importance of balancing individual rights with public safety and suggests ways to address parental concerns. The language is formal and appropriate for an academic discussion, and the response is free from grammatical errors. Overall, the student demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the topic and contributes meaningfully to the discussion.
Mid-level Response
I think vaccination should be mandatory for school attendance. Like Emily said, vaccines are effective in preventing serious diseases. When children are vaccinated, it helps create herd immunity, which protects those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
However, I also understand Michael's concerns about personal freedoms and parental rights. Parents should have the right to make medical decisions for their children. But I believe that public health and safety should come first. Schools can provide more education and resources to help parents understand the benefits and safety of vaccines. Overall, mandatory vaccination is important for protecting public health.
Rater’s Comment
This response is adequate but lacks the depth and clarity of a higher-scoring response. The student addresses both the benefits of mandatory vaccination and the concerns about personal freedoms, aligning with points made by Emily and Michael. However, the argument is not as well-developed or nuanced. The response contains some grammatical errors. Additionally, the language is somewhat informal for an academic discussion, with phrases like "helps create herd immunity" and "understand the benefits and safety of vaccines." While the student makes a valid contribution to the discussion, the response could benefit from more detailed reasoning and a more formal tone.
Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on - Should Vaccination Be Mandatory for School Attendance
It's time to examine the tips our experts have developed and put them to work as we practice with TOEFL Writing mock tests. Check the following strategies for taking an academic discussion task.
- Start your preparation by reading opinion articles from newspapers or online platforms, and actively respond to them by expressing your agreement or disagreement.
- To improve your skills, create multiple reasons to support your stance on a topic, backing them up with detailed points and examples.
- While practicing, identify common grammatical mistakes and focus on correcting them.
- Strengthen your ability to fix errors, and reserve time at the end of your writing sessions to review and apply these corrections.
Feeling confident after exploring the sample response and writing strategies? Put your knowledge into practice! All the best!
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