TOEFL Sample essay : integrated essay from TPO 12

In this set of material, the author is convinced that a late full portrait presented to sell by one of Austen's family member is an original one for Jane Austin, one of the most famous of English novelist. The text provide three arguments to support his opinion. However, the professor asserts that the text's arguments are questionable, loos and hard to proof.

First, the reading stated that several decades ago Austin's family had gave permission to use the portrait as an illustration in an edition of her letter. On the other hand, the professor believes that this public event when the portrait was given the permission was at 1882 almost 70 years after Austin's death. He added that the family member who gave the permission might not even meet Jane at all.

Second, the text explains that because there are a lot of similarity between the portrait and Jane's sister Cassandra sketch, the portrait might hold a real Jane Austin features. However, the professor contends that even though the portrait might resemble the sketch by Cassandra it still could be for one of Austin's extended family. He added that at that specific time many girls were a teenagers and they could resemble Austin. He goes farther to claim that there are some evident that the sketch could be for a distant niece for Austin.

Finally, the text affirms that even though the portrait is neither signed nor dated, there are some evident to link the portrait to Ozias Humphery a famous portrait painter. On th other hand, the professor affirms that it is not fair to link the portrait to Humphrey just because the style of the portrait is a resemble to Humphry style. He added that there are a mark on the back of the canvas that canvas was sold by a seller who is known to sell in London, that seller was not able to sell canvas at the period of time when Austin was a teenager instead he started to sell canvas when Austin was about 21 years old.