IMPORTANT

this isn’t a part of TOEFL any more - now “Writing for an Academic Discussion” - replying to teacher and student in online forum. I will share an example in class.

General tips

• 300 words minimum for a perfect score
• See tips for all writing questions here: Resources-TOEFLOverview
• This essay is rated by a human, but also a computer. Computers are good at finding:
  • text you have memorized from the internet. So don’t
  • structure phrases such as “Another example”. Use these
  • sentence length. Don’t give short sentences.

Examples

See example

Suggested timing

• (~5mins):
  • Read the question carefully: reasons, examples, or details?
  • Brainstorm some ideas
  • Choose your best ideas
  • Write an outline in the typing window
• (~15mins)
  • Turn your outline into sentences, in this order
  • your thesis statement
  • your section/paragraph topic sentences
  • your detail sentences
• (~10 mins)
  • Finish off your Intro/conclusion
  • Check your cohesion
  • Check spelling/grammar

5 paragraph example

• Introduction
  • PERSONAL CONNECTION TO TOPIC
    • e.g. “When I was a child, I”
    • e.g. “Recently, I.
  • BACKGROUND
    • (Give the topic. Use keywords from the question)
    • PARAPHRASE, don’t quote. See here: [[Invention - quote and paraphrase]]
  • THESIS STATEMENT
    • e.g. “I prefer X for three reasons - A,B, and C”
    • e.g. “I think it’s best to X, for three reasons - A, B, and C”
    • e.g. “This essay looks at the advantages X and Y in three areas - A, B, and C”
    • e.g. “This essay compares the advantages of A and B.
• Paragraph 2
  • Topic sentence: Keyword A * main idea
  • point 1
    • (details/reason/examples)
    • (details/reason/examples)
  • point 2
    • (details/reason/examples)
    • (details/reason/examples)
  • point 3
    • (details/reason/examples)
    • (details/reason/examples)
• Paragraph 3 - Same as Paragraph 2
• Paragraph 4 - Same as Paragraph 2
• Para 5: Conclusion
  • Personal Opening Comment -
  • (Mention alternate, for choices) (e.g. “I understand why some people X, but…”)
  • Summarise paragraph 1, 2 & 3 in one sentence
  • Give your choice e.g. “For these reasons, I prefer X”
  • Final Comment (Your personal concrete plan)

1 paragraph example

It’s possible to get a perfect score with one 300 word paragraph - check the ETS example answers in the official textbook. That might look like this:

• PERSONAL CONNECTION TO TOPIC (see above)
• BACKGROUND (see above)
• THESIS STATEMENT (see above)
• Keyword A link (“Firstly, A”)
  • (details/reason/examples)
  • Keyword B (“Another X is B”)
  • (details/reason/examples)
  • (details/reason/examples)
• Keyword B (“In addition, C”)
  • (details/reason/examples)
  • (details/reason/examples)
• Conclusion sentence (“In conclusion, I can see why some people X, but I Y, becuase Z”)