Contributing to a class discussion on holistic medicine

Written by AI · TOEFL · discussion · full marks on this task's criteria · 116 words

The task

Your professor has asked a question and two classmates have already replied. Professor: Some people think that doctors should give patients advice on how to be happy, not just how to fix physical illnesses. Do you believe that mental wellbeing should be a main focus during every regular medical check-up? Leo: I agree because a person's happiness is connected to their body. If a doctor helps with stress, the patient will likely have fewer physical health problems. Mia: I disagree because doctors are experts in medicine, not psychology. We should keep these roles separate so that doctors can focus entirely on treating illnesses. Write a reply that contributes your own view and engages with what your classmates said.

The answer

Leo is right that physical health and mental state are inseparable, yet Mia rightly identifies the risk of overstepping professional boundaries. While it is true that doctors lack the specialized training of psychologists, physical health cannot be managed in a vacuum.

I believe integrating brief mental health screenings into standard check-ups is essential. For instance, a physician noticing high blood pressure might identify stress as a primary catalyst. By offering basic coping strategies or referring the patient to a specialist, the doctor addresses the root cause rather than just the symptoms. Expecting a physician to be a therapist is unrealistic, but ignoring the psychological drivers of physical illness is an outdated approach that compromises patient outcomes.

Why these choices work

Read these rather than the essay. Copying model phrasing is what costs marks — the technique is the part you can reuse.

Leo is right that... yet Mia rightly identifies

This structure immediately establishes your position while acknowledging the validity of both classmates' arguments.

managed in a vacuum

Using a strong, idiomatic collocation helps convey complex ideas concisely and demonstrates natural English proficiency.

For instance

This provides a clear, concrete example to support an argument without relying on vague, invented statistics.

rather than just the symptoms

This comparative structure highlights the mechanism of your argument, showing a logical progression of thought.

is unrealistic, but

This is a 'concession move' that strengthens your argument by showing you have considered the limitations of your own view.

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Written by OpenWriting Coach's AI writer and reviewed before publishing. OpenWriting Coach is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to IELTS, the British Council, IDP, Cambridge, or ETS.