Social Media's Influence on Academic Performance - TOEFL Writing for Academic Discussion

The TOEFL Writing section assesses your skill in crafting essays that meet academic standards. It includes two main tasks: Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion.

During the Academic Discussion, you’ll listen to a lecture on a specific topic, analyze the information presented, and engage in a structured discussion. You’ll also need to share your perspectives and back them up with logical evidence and examples.

Working on practice tests that replicate the Academic Discussion format is the best way to get ready for this part of the exam. Let's begin your practice with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample test on "Social Media's Influence on Academic Performance".

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 talk about the impact of social media on students' academic performance. Some say social media is a distraction that hurts students' ability to focus and do well in their studies. Others think social media can be a useful tool for learning and working together. What do you think? Does social media have a good or bad effect on academic performance?

Emily: I think social media has a bad effect on academic performance. Students often spend hours scrolling through their feeds. This takes away valuable study time. Also, the constant notifications and updates can be very distracting. This makes it hard for students to focus on their assignments. While social media can be used for educational purposes, I believe the downsides are greater than the benefits in this case.

Michael: I see it differently. I think social media can have a good effect on academic performance if used the right way. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be great for networking. They help in sharing educational resources. Students can join study groups and take part in discussions. They can also access a lot of information that can help their learning. It's all about how you use it; if students can manage their time well, social media can be a powerful educational tool.

Learn what a good TOEFL score is before you check out the sample answer to the Academic Discussion Writing task!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on Social Media's Influence on Academic Performance

Below, we have provided two sample responses for the Writing Academic Discussion Task, demonstrating both a high-level and mid-level response. Analyzing these examples can help you understand the criteria for each score level and improve your writing skills accordingly.

High-level Response

While Emily raises valid concerns about the distracting nature of social media, I align more with Michael's perspective that social media can positively impact academic performance if used wisely. Social media platforms offer unique opportunities for collaboration and resource sharing that can enhance learning experiences.

For instance, students can join academic groups on Facebook or follow educational hashtags on Twitter to access a wealth of information and resources. These platforms also facilitate communication among peers, allowing students to discuss assignments, share study materials, and seek help from one another. This collaborative environment can foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter and improve academic performance.

Moreover, social media can serve as a platform for educators to engage with students outside the classroom. Professors can share supplementary materials, post reminders about assignments, and even conduct live Q&A sessions. This can create a more interactive and supportive learning environment, which can be particularly beneficial for students who may be hesitant to participate in traditional classroom settings.

Rater’s Comment

This response deserves a high score due to its well-structured argument and effective contribution to the discussion. The student clearly states their opinion, aligning with Michael's perspective, and provides logical reasoning and examples to support their stance. The response acknowledges Emily's concerns about distractions but counters them with specific ways social media can enhance academic performance.

The student provides concrete examples, such as joining academic groups on Facebook and following educational hashtags on Twitter, to illustrate how social media can be used as a learning tool. They also highlight the potential for increased communication and collaboration among students, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the material.

Additionally, the response discusses the role of educators in leveraging social media to create a more interactive and supportive learning environment. This adds depth to the argument and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Overall, the response effectively addresses the prompt and contributes valuable insights to the discussion, making it deserving of a high score.

Mid-level Response

I think social media can be both good and bad for academic performance. On one hand, it can be a big distraction. Students might spend too much time on it and not enough time studying. This can hurt their grades and make it hard to focus on school work.

On the other hand, social media can also be helpful. Students can use it to join study groups and share resources. They can ask questions and get help from their classmates. It can also be a good way to stay updated on school events. So, it really depends on how students use it.

Rater’s Comment

This response earns a mid-level score due to its attempt to address both sides of the argument but lacks depth and coherence. The student acknowledges that social media can be both a distraction and a helpful tool, which shows an understanding of the discussion. However, the argument is not well-developed, and the reasoning is somewhat superficial.

The response mentions that social media can be a distraction and hurt grades but does not provide specific examples or elaborate on this point.

Additionally, there are a few grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The response also lacks a strong conclusion, ending abruptly without summarizing the main points or reinforcing the argument.

Overall, while the response addresses the prompt and contributes to the discussion, it falls short in terms of depth, coherence, and language accuracy, resulting in a mid-level score.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on Social Media's Influence on Academic Performance

Let's explore the strategies devised by our experts and diligently apply them during practice sessions with TOEFL Writing sample tests!

• Begin your preparation by seeking out opinion articles in newspapers or online platforms and actively engage with them, expressing agreement or disagreement. Dive deeply into those concepts, maximizing your exploration.
• To enhance proficiency, generate varied rationales for your stance on a topic and provide ample supportive points and examples for each rationale. 
• During practice, identify recurring grammatical errors and work on improving them. 
• Develop the skills to rectify your errors and allocate time at the end of your writing sessions to review and incorporate these corrections.

Feeling confident after exploring the sample response and writing strategies? Put your knowledge into practice!

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