The Role of Citizen Journalism in Political Accountability - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test

The TOEFL iBT^® exam includes the Writing Test which is one of the crucial sections in the exam. This segment involves your knowledge and ability to write academically, ensuring that your writing flows logically. In this practice test on 'The Role of Citizen Journalism in Political Accountability', you will be able to balance your personal opinions with academic reasoning that demonstrates your English proficiency and analytical skills.

Remember to consistently practice and continue to work towards success. It is important to maintain clarity, coherence, and logical argumentation. With preparation, you will be able to tackle this task and perform well in the TOEFL Writing Section.

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.

Instruction: Your professor is teaching a class on media studies. Write a post responding to the professors 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. You have ten minutes to write.

Professor: Today, were going to discuss the role of citizen journalism in holding politicians accountable. Citizen journalism allows ordinary people to report news and events, often using social media platforms. Do you believe that citizen journalism is an effective tool for holding politicians accountable? Why or why not?

Lily: I think citizen journalism is a good way to hold politicians accountable. It allows for live reporting. It can bring attention to issues that major news outlets might miss. Like in protests, citizen journalists can give on-the-ground updates. This offers a fuller view of events. This kind of reporting can push politicians to be more transparent and responsible.

Charles: But citizen journalism has its good points, I think it is not always reliable for holding politicians accountable. The lack of editing can lead to the spread of false information. Like in election campaigns, false reports can easily go viral. This misleads the public. Traditional media, using its fact-checking, is better for ensuring accurate and responsible reporting.

Before delving into sample responses, let us examine the parameters of a strong TOEFL score!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on The Role of Citizen Journalism in Political Accountability

Below are the two responses for the Academic Discussion Writing question where one of them showcases a mid-level proficiency while the other exhibits a high level of skills. Through examining the distinctions, you will acquire valuable insights into the components that lead to attaining an exceptional score in the Writing section.

Score 3 Response

I think citizen journalism can be useful for holding politicians accountable, but it has some problems. Like Lily said, it allows for live reporting from events like protests, which can show things that traditional media might miss. This can make politicians more transparent. But, as Charles mentioned, citizen journalism can spread false information. Without editors, wrong news can go viral, it misleads people. Traditional media has fact-checking, which makes it more reliable. In conclusion, while citizen journalism has benefits, it also has risks. We need both citizen journalism and traditional media to keep politicians accountable. (Word Count - 95)

Rater’s Comment

This response attempts to address the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of citizen journalism in holding politicians accountable. The writer agrees with Lily's point about the immediacy and inclusivity of citizen journalism, noting that it can provide live updates from events that traditional media might overlook. This shows an understanding of one of the key strengths of citizen journalism. However, the response also acknowledges Charles's concern about the spread of misinformation, pointing out that the lack of editorial oversight can lead to the dissemination of false information. This demonstrates an awareness of one of the significant drawbacks of citizen journalism.

Despite these strengths, the response lacks depth and development. The points are mentioned briefly and are not elaborated upon, making the argument less compelling. For example, the suggestion that traditional media is more reliable due to fact-checking is not supported with specific examples or further explanation. Additionally, the response contains grammatical errors, such as the comma splice in "wrong news can go viral, it misleads people," and the incorrect verb usage in "it allows for live reporting from events like protests, which can show things that traditional media might miss."

Overall, while the response addresses the prompt and presents a somewhat clear argument, it lacks the depth and development needed for a higher score. The grammatical errors also detract from the overall clarity and coherence of the response.

Score 5 Response

While citizen journalism has its challenges, I believe it is an effective tool for holding politicians accountable. One of its greatest strengths is its immediacy. As Lily mentioned, citizen journalists can provide live updates from events like protests, offering perspectives that traditional media might overlook. This real-time reporting can bring urgent issues to the forefront, compelling politicians to respond more quickly. However, Charles raises a valid concern about the reliability of citizen journalism. The lack of editorial oversight can indeed lead to the spread of misinformation. To mitigate this, platforms could implement better fact-checking mechanisms. Despite this drawback, the democratization of news reporting empowers ordinary citizens to participate in the political process, making it harder for politicians to hide their actions. Therefore, while traditional media remains crucial for in-depth analysis and fact-checking, citizen journalism complements it by providing immediate, diverse viewpoints. This combination can enhance transparency and accountability in politics. (Word count - 151 words)

Rater’s Comment

This response effectively addresses the prompt by presenting a balanced view on the role of citizen journalism in holding politicians accountable. The writer acknowledges both the strengths and weaknesses of citizen journalism, thereby demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the topic. The response begins by highlighting the immediacy and inclusivity of citizen journalism, as noted in Lily's comment, and supports this with the idea that real-time reporting can compel quicker political responses. The writer also addresses Charles's concern about misinformation, suggesting a potential solution in the form of better fact-checking mechanisms on social media platforms. This shows an ability to think critically about the issues raised and propose constructive solutions. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points, emphasizing that citizen journalism and traditional media can complement each other to enhance political accountability.

The response is well-organized, coherent, and free from major grammatical errors, making it easy to follow and understand. The use of clear and concise language further contributes to its effectiveness. Overall, this response demonstrates a strong, well-developed argument supported by logical reasoning and relevant examples.

Finally, it's time for you to shine! Attempt the practice question and share your response in the comments! 

Our TOEFL experts are more than willing to provide valuable feedback which would help you achieve your target score!  Let's improve your writing skills together!

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