keyboard_return Exit
keyboard_arrow_left

托福学术讨论练习题188

settings  进阶设定
 
schedule10:00

For this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and some classmates have responded with their ideas.

Write a response that contributes to the discussion. You will have 10 minutes to write your response. It is important to use your own words in the response.

Typically, an effective essay will contain a minimum of 100 words, but we recommend writing around 150 words.

成立帐号来储存您的记录

Your professor is teaching a class on Ecology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

In your response you should:
  • express and support your opinion
  • make a contribution to the discussion

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.


Prof. Martin

The balance between human needs and environmental preservation is a central topic in the contemporary world. As we expand our cities and industries, we must also consider the effects on our natural habitats. With that in mind, here is the question for the discussion board: Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?


Hey everyone! I have always believed in a balance. While we can't ignore the importance of farmland, housing, and industry for our survival and economic growth, we should not overlook our duty to protect endangered animals. By preserving their habitats, we are also preserving the balance in our ecosystem.


Hey folks, I think that it's indeed crucial to maintain a balanced approach here. We do need to take care of our necessities like housing and farming, but at the same time, it's essential to remember that we share this planet with other species. We can't disregard their right to live for our convenience.

Word Count: 0

Your professor is teaching a class on Ecology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

In your response you should:
  • express and support your opinion
  • make a contribution to the discussion

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.


Prof. Martin

The balance between human needs and environmental preservation is a central topic in the contemporary world. As we expand our cities and industries, we must also consider the effects on our natural habitats. With that in mind, here is the question for the discussion board: Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?


Hey everyone! I have always believed in a balance. While we can't ignore the importance of farmland, housing, and industry for our survival and economic growth, we should not overlook our duty to protect endangered animals. By preserving their habitats, we are also preserving the balance in our ecosystem.


Hey folks, I think that it's indeed crucial to maintain a balanced approach here. We do need to take care of our necessities like housing and farming, but at the same time, it's essential to remember that we share this planet with other species. We can't disregard their right to live for our convenience.



Word Count: 0



高水平范例作文
I disagree that land for people should always come before land for endangered animals. In the short term, a new factory or housing project may seem more useful. However, destroying the last home of a species can create problems that people later pay for. For example, wetlands that hold rare birds also reduce floods, and forests with wild animals can protect clean water. Governments should first use empty city lots, improve old buildings, and choose less sensitive areas for farms or industry. When development is necessary, it should include wildlife corridors and strict limits. Protecting endangered animals is not a luxury; it is a smart way to protect our own future.

Feedback

The writing could be considered 6/6 because it gives a clear opinion that directly answers the prompt and supports it with specific, original reasons. The essay explains both the short-term attraction of development and the long-term value of protecting natural areas, which shows good development. It is well organized, moving from the main claim to examples and then to practical solutions. The ideas are relevant throughout, and the language is clear, direct, and nearly error free. The response also uses appropriate transitions and ends with a strong final sentence that reinforces the main position.
高水平范例作文
I disagree that people needs should always be first than land for endangered animals. If we use every empty place for farms, houses, and factories, some animals will have no place to live and they can disappear forever. This is bad also for people, because nature give us clean water, bees for plants, and healthy soil. Cities can grow in smarter way. For example, old buildings can be fixed, and farms can use better machines to get more food from same land. Industry also should build on places already damaged. Human life is important, but destroying rare animals for quick space is not a good future.

Feedback

The writing could be considered 5/6 because it gives a clear opinion and answers the prompt directly. The response has relevant support, such as using old buildings, improving farms, and choosing already damaged places for industry. It is easy to follow, and the main idea is clear from the beginning to the end. However, there are several grammar and word-choice problems that make it less polished.

For example:
- “people needs” should be “people’s needs”
- “first than land” should be “more important than land”
- “nature give us” should be “nature gives us”
- “in smarter way” should be “in a smarter way”
- “Industry also should build” should be “Industry should also be built”

Stronger sentence control and more varied vocabulary would improve it.
出现在此练习题的单字
此练习题没有关联单字

获取作文批改与语法纠错,以及详细分数报告。

获取写作批改

Sample Writing Review

分数总览
4.5 / 6
AI 评审
任务完成度
整体组织
支持内容的相关性与质量
语法使用
词汇使用
连贯与衔接
语法修改与反馈
修改说明

红色为修改内容
蓝色为学术表达建议

详细反馈

作文语法修正与改进建议
I hope you are fine. My name is Philip and I am one of your reader. I really like your poetry magazine very much because the poems are very deep and emotional. Every time when I read the magazine, I feel inspired and peaceful. I also like that you give chance for new writers to share their works. It make me more confidence to send my poems.

Last week, I tried to submit two of my poems by the online submission form on your website. After I upload my files and click submit button, the page suddenly show error and become blank. I did not receive any confirmation email, so I am not sure my poems was received or not.

Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions? I worry that maybe they did not go through.
I hope you are fine. My name is Philip and I am one of your reader. readers. I really like your poetry magazine very much because the poems are very deep and emotional. Every time when I read the magazine, I feel inspired and peaceful. I also like that you give a chance for to new writers to share their works. It make makes me more confidence confident to send my poems.

Last week, I tried to submit two of my poems by through the online submission form on your website. After I upload uploaded my files and click clicked the submit button, the page suddenly show showed an error and become became blank. I did not receive any confirmation email, so I am not sure if my poems was were received or not.

Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions? I worry that maybe they did not go through.



任务完成度


整体组织


支持内容的相关性与质量


语法使用


词汇使用


连贯与衔接


cancel 语法修正

reader.
建议答案 说明
readers. 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

when
建议答案 说明
这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

a
建议答案 说明
a 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

for
建议答案 说明
to 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

make
建议答案 说明
makes 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

confidence
建议答案 说明
confident 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

by
建议答案 说明
through 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

upload
建议答案 说明
uploaded 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

click
建议答案 说明
clicked the 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

show
建议答案 说明
showed an 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

become
建议答案 说明
became 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

if
建议答案 说明
if 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 语法修正

was
建议答案 说明
were 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

Hello —
建议答案 说明
Hello — 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

fine.
建议答案 说明
well. 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

Philip
建议答案 说明
Philip, 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

one
建议答案 说明
a reader 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

readers.
建议答案 说明
poetry magazine. 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

like your poetry magazine very much because
建议答案 说明
enjoy it: 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

very
建议答案 说明
这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

emotional. Every time I read the magazine, I feel
建议答案 说明
emotional, and reading them leaves me 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

like
建议答案 说明
appreciate 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

new writers
建议答案 说明
new writers 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

new writers to
建议答案 说明
这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

works. It
建议答案 说明
work; that encouragement 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

to send
建议答案 说明
about submitting 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

week,
建议答案 说明
week 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

of my
建议答案 说明
这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

through
建议答案 说明
using 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

my
建议答案 说明
the 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

the submit button,
建议答案 说明
“Submit,” 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

suddenly
建议答案 说明
这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

became
建议答案 说明
went 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

any
建议答案 说明
a 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

not sure if
建议答案 说明
unsure whether 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

received or not.
建议答案 说明
received. 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

tell me about
建议答案 说明
check 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

I worry that maybe
建议答案 说明
I’m worried 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

did
建议答案 说明
may 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

go
建议答案 说明
have gone 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。

cancel 改进建议

Thank you.
建议答案 说明
Thank you. 这里的语法用法需要修正。请依照建议答案调整词形、时态、冠词、介词或句构,让句子更正确自然。
评分标准报告

任务完成度   5/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

整体组织   4/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

支持内容的相关性与质量   4/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

语法使用   2/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

词汇使用   3/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

连贯与衔接   4/5

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

这份反馈说明回应是否切题、组织是否清楚,以及语法、词汇和连贯性如何影响整体效果。请根据建议修正表达,并加入更具体的细节。

如何改进

请申请批改以查看此内容

...

Question:
The balance between human needs and environmental preservation is a central topic in the contemporary world. As we expand our cities and industries, we must also consider the effects on our natural habitats. With that in mind, here is the question for the discussion board: Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?

获取语法批改


示例语法批改
Several doubt about the accuracy of the memoir writting by the Chevalier de Seingalt are raised in the reading but the professor clarify the seeming contradictions in the Chevalier's accounts to defend the memoir.

The professor explain that the Chevalier rich in assets, but poor in the cash, while he lived in Switzerland and had to occasionally borrow funds while waiting for its assets to selling. Accordingly, to the professor, being low on cash fund is not same as being financially poors. However, in reading someone who borrowing large of amounts of money could not be wealth, therefore the Chevalier must have lied his wealthy life in Switzerland.

The skepticism regards the reliability of the recorded conversations with Voltaire is challenging by the professor as well. She explains that, due to habit of recording each conversation with Voltaire immediately afterward, the Chevalier was able to recall those discussions in detail even after several years had passing.

Finally, the professor refute the idea briber was how the Chevalier got out of prison. She point out that because even the other prisoners who had better resources were unable to successfully bribe their way out of prison it was very unlikely that bribery was how he escaped. Also, she notes the existences of government papers recording repair work done to the Chevalier's prison cell ceiling as strong evidence that his escaping from the prison was accurately recorded.
Several doubt doubts about the accuracy of the memoir writting written by the Chevalier de Seingalt are raised in the reading reading, but the professor clarify clarifies the seeming contradictions in the Chevalier's accounts to defend the memoir.

The professor explain explains that the Chevalier was rich in assets, but poor in the cash, while he lived in Switzerland and had to occasionally borrow funds while waiting for its his assets to selling. Accordingly, sell. According to the professor, being low on cash fund funds is not the same as being financially poors. poor. However, in reading the reading, someone who borrowing borrows large of amounts of money could not be wealth, wealthy, therefore the Chevalier must have lied about his wealthy life in Switzerland.

The skepticism regards regarding the reliability of the recorded conversations with Voltaire is challenging challenged by the professor as well. She explains that, due to the habit of recording each conversation with Voltaire immediately afterward, the Chevalier was able to recall those discussions in detail even after several years had passing. passed.

Finally, the professor refute refutes the idea briber that bribery was how the Chevalier got out of prison. She point points out that because even the other prisoners who had better resources were unable to successfully bribe their way out of prison prison, it was very unlikely that bribery was how he escaped. Also, she notes the existences existence of government papers recording repair work done to the Chevalier's prison cell ceiling as strong evidence that his escaping escape from the prison was accurately recorded.



cancel Grammar Correction

doubt
解答 解释
doubts The plural form 'doubts' is needed here because there are multiple uncertainties being discussed.

cancel Grammar Correction

writting
解答 解释
written The correct past participle of 'write' is 'written'.

cancel Grammar Correction

reading
解答 解释
reading, A comma is needed after 'reading' to separate the two independent clauses.

cancel Grammar Correction

clarify
解答 解释
clarifies The third person singular form 'clarifies' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

cancel Grammar Correction

explain
解答 解释
explains The third person singular form 'explains' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

cancel Grammar Correction

was
解答 解释
was The verb 'was' is needed to form the past continuous tense.

cancel Grammar Correction

the
解答 解释
The article 'the' is not needed before 'assets'.

cancel Grammar Correction

its
解答 解释
his The possessive pronoun 'his' is needed to refer back to 'the Chevalier'.

cancel Grammar Correction

selling. Accordingly,
解答 解释
sell. According The verb 'sell' is needed here, and 'According' should start a new sentence.

cancel Grammar Correction

fund
解答 解释
funds The plural form 'funds' is needed here because it refers to money in general.

cancel Grammar Correction

the
解答 解释
the The article 'the' is needed before 'Chevalier'.

cancel Grammar Correction

poors.
解答 解释
poor. The correct adjective form is 'poor'.

cancel Grammar Correction

reading
解答 解释
the reading, The article 'the' is needed before 'reading', and a comma is needed to separate the two independent clauses.

cancel Grammar Correction

borrowing
解答 解释
borrows The present simple tense 'borrows' is needed to describe a general situation.

cancel Grammar Correction

of
解答 解释
The preposition 'of' is not needed here.

cancel Grammar Correction

wealth,
解答 解释
wealthy, The adjective 'wealthy' is needed to describe 'the Chevalier'.

cancel Grammar Correction

about
解答 解释
about The preposition 'about' is needed to introduce the topic of the sentence.

cancel Grammar Correction

regards
解答 解释
regarding The preposition 'regarding' is needed to introduce the topic of the sentence.

cancel Grammar Correction

challenging
解答 解释
challenged The past participle 'challenged' is needed to form the passive voice.

cancel Grammar Correction

the
解答 解释
the The article 'the' is needed before 'Chevalier'.

cancel Grammar Correction

passing.
解答 解释
passed. The past participle 'passed' is needed to form the past perfect tense.

cancel Grammar Correction

refute
解答 解释
refutes The third person singular form 'refutes' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

cancel Grammar Correction

briber
解答 解释
that bribery The noun 'bribery' is needed to refer to the act of giving bribes.

cancel Grammar Correction

point
解答 解释
points The third person singular form 'points' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'she'.

cancel Grammar Correction

prison
解答 解释
prison, A comma is needed after 'prison' to separate the two independent clauses.

cancel Grammar Correction

existences
解答 解释
existence The singular form 'existence' is needed because it refers to one specific thing.

cancel Grammar Correction

escaping
解答 解释
escape The noun 'escape' is needed to refer to the act of escaping.
writing LessonsCompleted: 0 / 77
TOEFL Academic Discussion Response Template

Your response should have three parts. This structure works for all five question types. About 90% of questions are either Opinion (~50%) or Choosing an Approach (~40%). The other types (Proposing a Solution, Problems and Solutions, Description and Explanation) are rare.

Step What to Write How Long
1 State your position 1–2 sentences. Clearly express your opinion, solution, or explanation. You can agree with a student, disagree, or offer a new perspective.
2 Support your position 3–5 sentences. This is the most important part. Provide a reason, example, or explanation that supports your position. Use specific details — not vague statements. The quality of this section has the biggest impact on your score.
3 Wrap up 1–2 sentences. Restate your main point or connect your idea back to the discussion. This step is optional if you are running out of time, but it helps your response feel complete.
Response Template

Here is a fill-in-the-blank template you can practice with. Adapt it to fit different topics.

Template:
Step 1 — Position: I agree/disagree with [student name]'s point that ______. While he/she makes a valid argument about ______, I believe that ______ is also an important factor to consider.

Step 2 — Support: For example, ______. This shows that ______. In addition, ______. As a result, ______.

Step 3 — Wrap up: For this reason, I believe that ______.

Note: This template is a starting point. You should adjust it based on the specific discussion topic. Do not memorize this template word for word. Instead, practice using different openings, transitions, and examples so your response sounds natural.

Useful Phrases for Your Response
Starting your response I think [student name] raises an excellent point, and I'd like to build on it by…
Both students make interesting arguments, but I'd like to offer a different perspective.
I strongly agree/disagree with [student name] because…
This is a thought-provoking question. In my view…
Introducing your main idea One important aspect that hasn't been mentioned is…
From my experience, I have found that…
A key reason I hold this view is…
To illustrate this point…
Providing examples For instance, in my country/school/workplace…
A clear example of this is…
Consider the case of…
In my high school/university, for example…
Connecting ideas Furthermore, …
This is significant because…
As a result, …
In other words, …
Concluding your response For these reasons, I believe that…
Therefore, …
In short, …
That is why I think…
Annotated Sample Response
Professor's question: This week, I'd like us to discuss government spending priorities. Some people believe that governments should invest more in environmental protections, while others think education should receive more funding. Which do you think should be a higher priority, and why?

Kelly: I think environmental protections should be the top priority. Climate change is already causing floods and droughts that cost governments billions of dollars. If we invest in the environment now, we can prevent much bigger costs in the future.

Andrew: I believe education is more important. Well-educated people are better equipped to solve environmental problems and develop new technologies. By investing in education, we are actually investing in solutions to all kinds of challenges, including environmental ones.

Sample response:

[Step 1 — Position] I agree with Andrew that education should be a higher priority, but I would like to add another reason that he did not mention. [Step 2 — Support] Universities do not just teach students — they also conduct important research. Much of the progress we have made in treating diseases, developing clean energy, and creating sustainable farming techniques has come from university research programs. When governments invest more in education, they are funding this research at the same time. This means education spending has a broader impact than environmental spending alone, because it produces solutions across many different fields. [Step 3 — Wrap up] For this reason, I believe that prioritizing education is the most effective way for governments to address environmental challenges and improve society as a whole.

What to notice:

  • Step 1 is short and clear — just one sentence that states the position and references Andrew.
  • Step 2 introduces a new idea (university research) with specific examples (diseases, clean energy, sustainable farming). This is the bulk of the response.
  • Step 3 ties the argument back to the professor's question about government spending priorities.
  • The response is ~130 words — concise but thorough.
Master the TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

In this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and two classmates have responded with their ideas. Your job is to write a response that contributes to the discussion.

You will have 10 minutes to write your response. A good response is around 120–130 words.

Based on official ETS questions, there are five types of question prompts. However, two types account for about 90% of all questions:

Type What You Do Frequency
Opinion You agree or disagree with a statement and explain why. ~50%
Choosing an Approach You pick between two options and explain why one is better. ~40%
Proposing a Solution You suggest a way to solve a problem. Rare
Problems and Solutions You identify a problem and propose a solution. Rare
Description and Explanation You explain why something is important or beneficial. Rare

The same response structure works for all five types. Let's look at tips to help you score high.

Tip 1: Read the discussion carefully before writing

Before you begin writing, take about 2 minutes to read the professor's question and both student responses carefully. Pay attention to:

  • The professor's question – What topic is being discussed? What specific question is the professor asking? Which question type is it?
  • Student A's opinion – What position does this student take? What reasons do they give?
  • Student B's opinion – Does this student agree or disagree with Student A? What different perspective do they offer?

Understanding all three posts helps you write a response that connects to what has already been said, which is important for a high score. Decide: Do you agree with a student, disagree, or have a different idea? Think of one specific example you can use.

Tip 2: Add something new — do not copy a student's ideas

Your response should clearly state your opinion on the topic. You can agree with one of the students, partially agree with both, or offer a completely different perspective. The key is to add something new to the discussion.

It is fine to agree with a student's viewpoint, but you must provide your own reasons and examples to support it. Do not repeat the same supporting points the student already gave.

Wrong approach Right approach
"I agree with Kelly. Climate change causes floods and droughts that cost billions. We should invest in the environment to prevent bigger costs later."

This just restates Kelly's argument in different words. It adds nothing new.
"I agree with Kelly that environmental protections should be a priority. Currently, governments spend enormous amounts repairing damage from storms and wildfires. Investing in prevention now — such as reforestation and cleaner energy — could save that money in the long run."

This agrees with Kelly but adds new details and a new angle.
Tip 3: Reference the other posts in your response

A strong response connects to the discussion. Briefly mention the professor's question or a student's idea before sharing your own thoughts. Your tone should be semi-formal: clear, respectful, and grammatically correct, but not stiff or overly academic.

Here are some useful phrases for referencing others:

Agreeing and building on it I agree with [name]'s point about…, and I would like to add…
[Name]'s perspective resonates with me because…
Building on what [name] said, I think…
I would like to add to [name]'s point about…
Disagreeing respectfully While I understand where [name] is coming from, I tend to see it differently…
I appreciate [name]'s viewpoint, but I hold a slightly different perspective…
I see [name]'s point, but from my perspective, it seems that…
I see the merit in [name]'s argument; however, I would argue that…
Adding a new perspective In addition to what has been discussed…
Another aspect worth considering is…
Neither student has mentioned…, which I think is important.
I'd like to offer a different angle on this topic.
Tip 4: Use correct grammar and varied vocabulary

Even though the Academic Discussion response is shorter than a full essay, grammar and vocabulary still matter. You should:

  • Use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, and complex sentences)
  • Avoid repeating the same words – use synonyms where possible
  • Check your subject-verb agreement and verb tenses
  • Use academic vocabulary when appropriate (e.g., "significant" instead of "big," "contribute" instead of "help")
  • Be specific. Replace vague statements like "Some students try hard but don't get good grades" with concrete details like "In my high school math class, a classmate studied for hours every day but still scored lower than students who found the subject easy."
Lesson: Countable nouns and Uncountable nouns
Lesson: Subject verb agreement rules
Lesson: Use the right article
Lesson: Relative pronouns and relative clauses

If you are a premium member, you will have up to 50 free essay grammar corrections.

Tip 5: Manage your time and length wisely

You have 10 minutes for this task. Here is a suggested time breakdown:

0:00–2:00 Read & Plan. Read the professor's question and both student posts. Decide your position and think of one specific example you can use.
2:00–8:00 Write. Follow the 3-step structure: state your position (1–2 sentences), support it with a reason and example (3–5 sentences), and wrap up (1–2 sentences).
8:00–10:00 Review. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure you referenced the discussion and added your own ideas. Confirm your response is at least 100 words.

Target length: 120–130 words. Writing too little (under 100 words) means not enough content to evaluate. Writing too much (over 160 words) risks running out of time and introducing grammar errors. Stay focused: make one main point and support it well.

Tip: If you are running out of time at the 8-minute mark, skip the wrap-up sentence and use the remaining time to fix grammar errors instead. A shorter response with good grammar scores better than a longer one full of mistakes.

close