TOEFL - Writing for Academic Discussion

This is new as of July 2022. I’m not teaching Writing this year, but for now I’ve found some resources and tips online:

• Templates and examples
• ETS Official explanation
• ETS Official Prep - 22 questions, automatically graded
• A Japanese overview
• Review your discussion textbook p104/105
  • The right hand column, not the questions.
  • Look at the summary at the back of the book.
  • Start with a 4, then use 1 and 2. Maybe 7/8/9 depending on the question

A general template would be

• 1) Comment on the topic
  • e.g. “While in general I agree with the arguments given by STUDENTNAME1 and STUDENTNAME2, I think that YOURMAINPOINT”
  • e.g. “I think that STUDENTNAME1 and STUDENTNAME2 both make excellent points, but I have a few suggestions/ideas”
• 2) Agree/Disagree with student 1, giving a topic sentence plus 2-3 sentences of reasons/examples. e.g. “I partly/completely agree with STUDENTNAME1’s idea that. One reason is…Another reason is /// For example / Another example is.
• 3) Agree/Disagree with student 2
  • same as above.
  • Remember to transition and name student 1 e.g. “While Dave” or “Meanwhile, Jenny said X but”
• No need for a summary, this isn’t an essay.