Understanding Tone and Attitude in Academic Feedback
Listen to the following conversation between a student named Leo and his professor, Dr. Thompson:
Leo: Good afternoon, Dr. Thompson. I wanted to talk to you about my recent paper.
Dr. Thompson: Of course, Leo. I was impressed with your analysis, but I think you could expand on your argument and clarify some of your points.
Leo: I see what you mean. I thought the main idea was clear, but I appreciate your feedback.
Dr. Thompson: It’s a solid start, but I believe your enthusiasm for the topic didn’t come through strongly enough in the writing.
Leo: I really put a lot of thought into it! Is there anything specific you think I should focus on?
Dr. Thompson: Definitely. Adding more concrete examples should strengthen your argument. Just remember, your audience needs to connect with your analysis.
Leo: That makes sense. I’ll work on that. Thanks for your time!
Dr. Thompson: Anytime, Leo. I look forward to seeing your revised draft.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.
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