Many teenagers decide to work during their summer holidays. However, balancing work and free time during the holidays can be challenging, and not everyone agrees that students should spend their summer working instead of spending time with their friends or travelling.
Discuss whether students should do a summer job during their holidays. Write at least 300 words. Use all the material provided.
Material 1
Es gibt mehrere einfache Gründe, warum Schüler einen Sommerjob machen sollten. Ein wichtiger Grund ist, dass sie eigenes Geld verdienen können. Außerdem lernen sie, wie es ist zu arbeiten und sich an Regeln zu halten. Ein Sommerjob hilft auch dabei, pünktlich und zuverlässig zu sein. Schüler können neue Menschen kennenlernen und Erfahrungen außerhalb der Schule sammeln. Zusätzlich bleiben sie in den Ferien beschäftigt und haben eine sinnvolle Aufgabe statt Langeweile. Insgesamt kann ein Sommerjob eine gute und praktische Erfahrung für viele Schüler sein.
Material 2
“The mind must be given relaxation - it will rise improved and sharper after a good break.” Seneca (Roman Stoic philosopher)
IMPORTANT NOTE: In many kinds of the final exam tasks, you will get only three different materials. This exercise uses four materials to cover the most common types of materials included in material-based writing tasks.
1 Analysing material
Before starting to write, you need to understand the material given. Have a look at the material and answer the following questions/do the following tasks:
What information do you get from the material?
Mark or note down the information you want to use.
Where in your writing can you use this information?
IMPORTANT: For the essay use the information the material provides only, do NOT refer to the material itself, like “Material 2 shows…”!
2 Developing arguments and your own position
For a complete essay with at least 300 words (depending on the task!), it is required to write an introduction, three arguments and a conclusion.
3 Structure & coherence
4 Writing an introduction and conclusion
a) Write an introduction using material 3 and follow this structure: Step 1 – Hook: Start with an interesting fact or statistic. Step 2 – Background Information: Explain why the topic is important for students. Step 3 – Thesis Statement: State the question your essay is going to be about.
b) Write a conclusion following this structure: Step 1 – Restate the Topic / Thesis: Start by briefly restating the topic of the essay without repeating the arguments word-for-word. Step 2 – Give a Recommendation / Final Opinion: End the conclusion with a recommendation or final thought that highlights balance. Step 3 – Optional – Closing Sentence: You can finish with a strong, final sentence to round off the essay.
5 Feedback & improvement
Self-check: Have all sources been used? Is each paragraph logically structured? Are the introduction and conclusion clear?
You can always use AI (for example Chat GPT) to help you improve your writing. Start with the following: I want you to act as a friendly learning partner for students in grades 10 to 13 (English levels B1–C1). Take on the role of an encouraging tutor who supports me in working through Material-Based Writing using a Socratic questioning approach. The task will involve developing an argumentative essay, which must incorporate the ideas from all the materials provided. The essay should include an introduction, a body (covering as many arguments as there are materials), and a conclusion. Important rules:
Do not give me the solutions.
Do not write the essay for me.
Instead, ask me to do the work and provide guidance or tips when needed. Your role is to guide me step by step through interpreting the materials, planning, structuring, and writing the essay, without giving me the full list of steps at the start. Begin by asking me what type of text I am supposed to write.
Possible prompts: Grammar Analysis Examine the following text for grammar and sentence structure. Identify areas where I struggle and suggest exercises to strengthen these skills.
Vocabulary Review I want to broaden my vocabulary. Which words or phrases in the text could be replaced with more advanced or precise alternatives?
Coherence and Flow Look at the organization and flow of the text. How could I improve the transitions between paragraphs to make it smoother?
Tense Practice I have difficulties using tenses correctly in English. Check the text, highlight all tense errors, and suggest the correct forms.
Argument Structure I’m writing an argumentative essay. Could you analyze the text for clarity, logical structure, and persuasiveness?
Improving Writing Style I want to make my writing style more polished. Where in the text could I make stylistic improvements for better expression and readability?
