Hi, I introduce my e-course, “TOEFL Academic Discussion.” This audio-enhanced course is designed to help you master the art of writing TOEFL Academic Discussion Responses. The course is divided into two parts. In Part I, you will learn the essential components of a well-crafted essay. Here, you will learn response strategies with templates, methods of generating relevant ideas using your background knowledge, and connecting sentences logically. All these lessons are aided by ample sample essays.
The key to a successful academic discussion lies in presenting a persuasive argument, which means effectively organizing your ideas to convince your reader of your viewpoint. To achieve this, it's crucial to have a solid understanding of the topic presented in the question. Without background knowledge on the subject, it's challenging to produce a compelling argument. Part II of this course aims to help you learn about the topic as well as learn how to make persuasive arguments. Here, you can analyze hundreds of essays from various perspectives that answer ETS sample questions.
The entire course is narrated by Dr. John Byrnes, allowing you to both read and listen to the content. Repeated listening offers numerous benefits, including aiding in the retention of fixed expressions, grammar intricacies, and the core arguments presented. Furthermore, listening to the lectures and sample essays will contribute to the enhancement of your listening and speaking skills.
The same lecture with much smaller number of essays can be found here.
This is the course syllabus:
Course syllabus
Part I: Response strategies
Introduction
Scoring criteria
Content
Mechanics of English
Question format
Open question
Binary question
Response strategies
How to analyze students’ arguments
Incorrect assumptions
Step-by step guide
About templates
Standalone templates
Thesis beginning
Hook beginning
Agreement templates
Add another reason
Offer a solution
Disagreement templates
Polite disagreement phrases
Concession and refutation
Templates
How to generate ideas
Ask W questions
Perspectives to consider
Ethical perspective: utilitarianism vs duty ethics
How to connect ideas
By addition
Illustration
Emphasis
By contrast
By inference
Use hedging words
Part II: Sample responses
Public policy
Ways to attract people to live in rural areas
Urban planning for available land
Global environment problem and a solution
Air-pollution policy
Economic success vs environmental protection
Promoting tourism in remote places
Housing shortage
Assistance for unemployed people
Universal minimal income
Public-transportation tax
Education
Effort-added grading
Gap year
School uniform
Field trip
Educational computer games for young children
Journal writing in classroom as a learning method
Optional attendance
Online classroom
Part-time work for teenagers
Professional development requirements for teachers
teacher evaluation method
Business/economy
Best business investment
Fewer work hours in the future
Work for a big company or start-up?
Employee retention
Reverse mentoring
Effective leader qualities
Sociology
Family projects for bonding
Streaming services replacing cinema
Value of museums
Mistakes when purchasing technological devices
Most important invention
Nature or nurture
Internet, equalizer or divider?
Mars colonization
Zero waste society
Future jobs due to AI
E-sports
Future of the augmented reality technology
Urbanization
Philosophy
Animal rights
This course is $29.99.