The Effectiveness of Banning Plastic in Combating Ocean Pollution - TOEFL Writing for Academic Discussion

The TOEFL Writing section measures your skills in writing academic-level essays. It includes two tasks: Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion.

In the Academic Discussion task, you’ll listen to a professor’s lecture on a topic and then evaluate the information, joining the discussion. You’ll be expected to share your views and provide supporting evidence for your ideas and arguments.

The best preparation for this task is to practice with sample tests designed in the Academic Discussion format. Let's begin your practice with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample test on "The Effectiveness of Banning Plastic in Combating Ocean Pollution".

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: Next week, we will dive into the topic of ocean pollution and the various strategies to fight it. One widely discussed approach is the banning of plastic products. I want to hear your thoughts on this matter before our class discussion. Do you think banning plastic is an effective way to fight ocean pollution? Why or why not?

Emily: I believe that banning plastic is a highly effective way to fight ocean pollution. Plastic waste is one of the biggest causes of ocean pollution. It harms wildlife and environment. By banning plastic, we can greatly reduce the amount of waste entering our oceans. For example, countries like Kenya and Rwanda have seen positive environmental impacts after putting strict plastic bans in place. Also, such bans can encourage the development and use of more sustainable materials.

Michael: While banning plastic might seem like a straightforward solution, I think it is not the most effective approach. The real issue lies in waste management and recycling systems. Many countries lack the facilities to properly manage waste. This leads to plastic ending up in the oceans. Rather than banning plastic, we should focus on improving waste management systems. We should also increase recycling rates. For example, countries with advanced recycling systems, like Germany, have greatly lower levels of plastic pollution.

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 the Effectiveness of Banning Plastic in Combating Ocean Pollution

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 Michael raises valid points about the importance of waste management and recycling systems, I believe that banning plastic is a highly effective way to fight ocean pollution. Plastic waste is one of the most significant contributors to ocean pollution, causing severe harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems. By banning plastic products, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste entering our oceans and mitigate its detrimental effects.

For instance, countries like Kenya and Rwanda have implemented strict plastic bans and have seen positive environmental impacts as a result. These bans not only reduce plastic waste but also encourage the development and use of more sustainable materials. Additionally, banning plastic can raise public awareness about the environmental issues associated with plastic pollution, prompting individuals and businesses to adopt more eco-friendly practices. While improving waste management and recycling systems is crucial, it should complement rather than replace efforts to reduce plastic production and consumption. In essence, a comprehensive approach that includes both plastic bans and enhanced waste management systems will be the most effective way to combat ocean pollution.

Rater’s Comment

This response merits a high score due to its clear and well-structured argument. The student effectively counters Michael's points by emphasizing the direct impact of plastic bans on reducing ocean pollution and providing concrete examples of successful implementations. 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 plastic bans, while the second paragraph acknowledges the importance of waste management and suggests a complementary approach. 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 banning plastic is an effective way to fight ocean pollution. Like Emily said, plastic waste is a major cause of ocean pollution and harms marine life. By banning plastic, we can reduce the amount of waste entering our oceans. Countries like Kenya and Rwanda have seen positive results from their plastic bans.

However, I also understand Michael's point about the importance of waste management and recycling. Improving these systems is crucial to prevent plastic from ending up in oceans. A combination of plastic bans and waste management can be the most effective approach to reducing ocean pollution.

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 plastic bans and the importance of waste management, 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 "positive results" and "major cause." 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 the Effectiveness of Banning Plastic in Combating Ocean Pollution

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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