How to Build Coherent Arguments in Independent Speaking Tasks

Independent Speaking tasks ask for your opinion on various topics. Many test-takers provide opinions but fail to build coherent arguments. The difference matters significantly for scoring.

This tutorial provides frameworks for constructing arguments that flow logically, develop substantively, and demonstrate the reasoning ability that high scores require when responding to TOEFL speaking sample questions.

What Makes an Argument Coherent

Coherence means ideas connect logically and flow naturally. A coherent argument has:

Clear Position

The listener knows immediately what you believe and can follow your response as support for that position.

Logical Structure

Ideas appear in sensible order, with each point building on or connecting to previous points.

Developed Reasoning

Claims are explained, not just stated. The listener understands why you believe what you believe.

Explicit Connections

Relationships between ideas are marked clearly through language that signals how points relate.

The Core Argument Framework

Strong Independent Speaking responses follow a fundamental pattern:

Opening: Position + Frame

State your position and provide a frame for understanding it.

Weak opening: "I think studying alone is better."

Strong opening: "Independent study offers advantages that group work cannot replicate, particularly for deep comprehension."

The strong opening states position (independent study is better) and frames it (specifically for deep comprehension).

Development: Reason + Explanation + Evidence

Each supporting point should have three layers:

1. Reason: The claim that supports your position
2. Explanation: Why this reason matters or how it works
3. Evidence: Example, illustration, or specifics that ground the claim

Weak development: "You can focus better when alone. There are no distractions."

Strong development: "Solitary study eliminates the social monitoring that consumes cognitive resources in group settings. Instead of tracking others' progress or managing turn-taking in discussions, all attention directs toward the material itself. In my experience, an hour alone produces what would take two hours in a group."

The strong version explains the mechanism (cognitive resources, social monitoring) and provides evidence (the time comparison).

Conclusion: Synthesis or Implication

End by synthesizing your points or stating their implications.

Weak conclusion: "That is why I prefer studying alone."

Strong conclusion: "For content requiring genuine understanding rather than just exposure, independent study remains the most efficient approach."

The strong conclusion connects to the opening frame (deep comprehension/genuine understanding) and states an implication (efficiency for certain content types).

Argument Patterns for Different Prompt Types

Pattern 1: The Two-Reason Structure

Appropriate for sample questions for TOEFL speaking asking preferences or opinions.

Structure:

1. Position statement with frame (10 seconds)
2. First reason with explanation and evidence (15-18 seconds)
3. Second reason with explanation and evidence (15-18 seconds)
4. Brief synthesis (5-7 seconds)

Example outline:

• Position: Remote work benefits professionals
• Reason 1: Eliminates commute time → explain productivity gain → evidence of reclaimed hours
• Reason 2: Enables environment control → explain focus benefits → evidence of personalized setup
• Synthesis: For knowledge workers, location flexibility translates to output quality

Pattern 2: The Depth Over Breadth Structure

Appropriate when you have one strong point worth developing thoroughly.

Structure:

1. Position statement (5-8 seconds)
2. Main reason (5-7 seconds)
3. Extended explanation with mechanism (15-20 seconds)
4. Concrete example or evidence (12-15 seconds)
5. Implication or connection (5-7 seconds)

Example outline:

• Position: Online education transforms access
• Main reason: Geography no longer limits opportunity
• Extended explanation: Previously, quality education required physical proximity to institutions; travel, relocation, or luck of birthplace determined access; digital platforms eliminate this constraint
• Evidence: Students in remote areas now access courses from leading universities
• Implication: Merit can matter more than location of birth

Pattern 3: The Concession Structure

Appropriate when acknowledging complexity strengthens your argument.

Structure:

1. Position statement (5-8 seconds)
2. Acknowledge counterargument briefly (8-10 seconds)
3. Explain why your position still holds (25-30 seconds)
4. Synthesis that incorporates the nuance (5-7 seconds)

Example outline:

• Position: University education remains valuable despite rising costs
• Concession: Costs have increased dramatically, making the investment questionable for some
• Response: However, the earnings premium, network access, and credential signaling continue to justify the expense for most fields; alternatives lack equivalent outcomes
• Synthesis: The value proposition has shifted but not disappeared

Building Logical Connections

Coherent arguments mark relationships between ideas explicitly.

Causal Connections

Show cause-effect relationships:

• "This matters because..."
• "As a result..."
• "This leads to..."
• "The consequence is..."

Elaboration Connections

Develop points further:

• "Specifically,..."
• "In particular,..."
• "To illustrate,..."
• "What this means in practice is..."

Addition Connections

Add supporting points:

• "Beyond this,..."
• "Additionally,..."
• "A related factor is..."
• "This connects to another advantage..."

Contrast Connections

Show limitations or alternatives:

• "However,..."
• "Despite this,..."
• "While some argue,..."
• "On the other hand,..."

Common Coherence Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: List Structure Without Logic

Many responses simply list reasons without showing how they connect to each other or build a complete argument.

List structure: "First, it saves time. Second, it saves money. Third, it is more convenient."

Logical structure: "The primary benefit is time efficiency—commute elimination alone saves hours weekly. This time savings translates directly to cost reduction, as fewer hours spent traveling means lower transportation expenses. Together, these practical advantages create flexibility that traditional arrangements cannot match."

The logical version shows how points relate (time leads to cost savings, both create flexibility).

Problem 2: Assertions Without Explanation

Stating claims without explaining why they are true or how they work.

Assertion only: "Group study helps you understand better."

With explanation: "Group study forces articulation—when you must explain your understanding to others, gaps in your knowledge become apparent. This exposure drives deeper engagement with the material."

Problem 3: Generic Examples

Vague examples do not ground arguments effectively.

Generic: "For example, my friend studied in a group and did well."

Specific: "In my statistics study group, explaining probability concepts to others revealed assumptions I had not examined—teaching forced me to understand fundamentals I had merely memorized."

Problem 4: Disconnected Conclusion

Conclusions that merely restate position without synthesizing the argument.

Disconnected: "That is why I prefer group study."

Synthesizing: "For complex material requiring genuine mastery, the accountability and articulation that group study demands accelerates understanding beyond what solitary review achieves."

Practicing Argument Construction

Exercise 1: The Outline Habit

Before responding to sample questions TOEFL speaking practice, quickly outline:

• Position in one phrase
• Reason 1 in three words
• Reason 2 in three words (if using)

This forces structure before production.

Exercise 2: The "Why" Chain

State any position, then ask "why" repeatedly:

Position: Online learning is valuable.

Why? Flexibility.

Why does flexibility matter? Accommodates different schedules.

Why do different schedules need accommodation? Many students work or have family obligations.

Why does that affect learning? Time constraints prevent traditional attendance.

Each "why" deepens your development.

Exercise 3: Connection Practice

Take two related points and practice stating them with different connection types:

• Causal: "A leads to B because..."
• Additive: "Beyond A, there is also B..."
• Contrastive: "Although A, B remains true because..."

Exercise 4: Conclusion Rewriting

Practice rewriting weak conclusions into synthesizing ones:

Weak: "That is why I think technology helps education."

Strong options:

• "Technology's role in education, then, is not replacing teachers but extending their reach beyond physical constraints."
• "These factors position technology as an equalizer, democratizing access that geography and economics once restricted."

Time Management for Argument Building

In 45 seconds, distribute time approximately:

• Opening position + frame: 8-10 seconds
• First reason with development: 15-18 seconds
• Second reason or extended development: 12-15 seconds
• Synthesis/conclusion: 5-7 seconds

Practice until this distribution feels natural without watching the clock.

Conclusion

Coherent arguments in Independent Speaking require more than stating opinions—they require logical structure, developed reasoning, explicit connections, and synthesizing conclusions. These elements distinguish high-scoring responses from adequate ones.

Use the frameworks and patterns provided here when practicing with TOEFL speaking sample questions. Build the habit of outlining before speaking, explaining rather than just asserting, connecting ideas explicitly, and concluding with synthesis rather than repetition.

Coherence is not an inherent trait—it is a skill developed through deliberate practice. Test-takers who build argument construction habits see this reflected directly in their coherence scores and overall Speaking performance.