TOEFL iBT Independent Writing Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for high school students to have part-time jobs in addition to their studies? - revised -

Writing Topic

Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for high school students to have part-time jobs in addition to their studies? Explain your opinion on this question offering specific reasons and examples.

☆Let’s think

1.      Discuss the difference between the ways you deal with the following two sentences.

a.    High school students should have part-time jobs.

b.    High school students should have part-time jobs in addition to their studies.

Note: This question has a condition at the end, “in addition to their studies”. This excludes the case of working at the expense of studies. The question takes it for granted that students’ main job is studying, and asks if it is a good thing to work for money in their free time.

2.      Have you ever had a part-time job or helped your family or someone you know with their work? If so, share the experience with other students.

3.      Does your school allow its students to work part-time? Do you know the reason for the policy?

4.      What do you think high school students should learn other than academic subjects?

5.      Discuss the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of high school students having part-time jobs in addition to their studies.

Pros

Cons

☆Hints for points

Advantages

1.    Working is contributing to society and starting to be independent.

2.    By having a part-time job, will help you will learn what it is like to work for money, see what it is like to work in society, and meet many kinds of people.

3.    You can have an opportunity to think about your future..

Disadvantages

1.    Working during free time means falling behind the academic competition.

2.    Having a part-time job will deprive you of time for other things that you can go through only when you are in high school such as club activities, volunteering, and making friends with the students of your high school.

3.    Working involves what you do not have to go through like witnessing violence.

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】 I think it is a good idea for high school students to work part-time for development and involvement in the community.

【Reason 1】 Working for money as a member of a team with many kinds of people will make them emotionally mature and help them acquire work ethic.

【Reason 2】 In addition, they can participate in building their town.

【Counterargument Treatment】It is true that students can interact with society by doing other activities outside of school such as volunteering, but working part-time effectively facilitates to have real experience of working as a wage-earner at the bottom of a hierarchy and to become a sympathetic adult.

【Conclusion】Part-time job is an experience that a high school student should have to be a good citizen.

【主張】成長と社会参加の一部として高校生がアルバイトをするのは良いことだと思う。

【理由 1】いろいろな人とチームの一員としてお金のために働くと情緒面で成長し労働倫理を獲得する。

【理由 2】加えて、町の建設に参加することができる。

【反論処理】確かにボランティア活動のような学外活動をすることによって社会と交流することはできるが、アルバイトは階層社会の底辺で賃金労働者として働く実体験をし、情の深い大人になるのを効果的に助ける。

【結論】アルバイトは良い市民になるために高校生がするべき経験だ。                                   

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】

【Reason 1】

【Reason 2】

【Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion】

☆Sample Counterargument-treatment

【Counterargument】There might be an opinion that extracurricular activities such as volunteering are in place for social interaction and that part-time job is unnecessary for education.

【Confirmation of your idea】However, working part-time effectively facilitates students to become sympathetic adults through real experience of working as a wage-earner at the bottom of the hierarchy.

【Detail】Social activities that school promotes are those set aside for high school students, and this makes it hard for them to acquire new perspectives. Volunteering students are regarded as good children and appreciated for doing some job. On the other hand, part-timers are often looked down upon and ill-treated.

【Example】For example, a common part-time job, waiting, is not free from harassment, and they may learn that people tend to be hard on those who are in the weaker position. The person with the experience will feel sympathy with waiters and waitresses and cannot be obnoxious to those of the trade in the future.

【Wrap-up】Doing a part-time job is necessary to promote students’ growth, and it should be done during high school years, when they are most sensitive.

【反論】ボランティア活動の様な課外活動が社会との交流用にあるのでアルバイトは教育に不要だという意見があるかもしれない。

【自説の確認】しかしアルバイトは階層社会の底辺で賃金労働者として働く実体験を通して情の深い大人になるのを効果的に助ける。

【詳細】学校が促進する社会活動は高校生用にとってあるもので、この為彼らが新しい視点を獲得するのは難しくなる。ボランティアをする学生は良い子達だと見なされ仕事をしたことで感謝される。一方アルバイトはしばしば見下され酷い目にあわされる。

【例】例えば、よくあるアルバイトである給仕は嫌がらせがなくはなく、人は弱い立場の者に厳しい傾向があるということを学ぶかもしれない。その経験のある人はウェイターやウェイトレスと気持ちを同じくし、将来その職業の人に嫌な感じにすることはできない。

【まとめ】アルバイトは成長を促すために必要だ。そして学生たちが最も感受性が強い高校時代になされるべきだ。

Other Ideas about Counterargument Treatment

Counterargument: You can work after graduation or during your college years. Passing the entrance examination is the sole goal for high school students.

Confirmation of Your Idea: Without any knowledge of the real world, it is difficult to have a clear picture of your future and get motivated for studies. Also, the range of your future career choice is decided when you graduate or decide which department of a university you will apply for.

反論： 卒業後か大学在学中に働ける。大学入試に合格することが高校生の唯一の目標だ。

自説の確認： 実社会の知識がないと将来の明確な展望を持つのも勉強の動機付けも難しい。また、卒業時もしくは志望大学の学部選択時に将来の職業選択範囲は限られてしまう。

Counterargument: Working is learning about society for high school students. Staying away from the real world will make them out of touch.

Confirmation of Your Idea:With media reports and power of imagination, students can know about the real world. Moreover, career option depends on other factors such as aptitude and interest.

反論：働くことは高校生にとって社会学習だ。実社会から離れていると現実離れしてしまう。

自説の確認： マスコミの報道と想像力で学生は実社会について知り得る。更に、進路選択は適性や興味のような他の要因による。

Your Sample Paragraph Development

【Counterargument】

【Confirmation of Your Idea】

【Supporting Details】

【Wrap-up】