You may know what you think about a topic and still struggle to write it in German. The solution is not always more vocabulary. Often, you need a clearer relationship between your claim, your reason, and the example that supports it.
Plan the argument before choosing difficult words
Take the question “Should university lectures be recorded?” Write a position, one reason, an example, and a limitation in plain language first. If you cannot explain how the example supports the position, change the example. A simple but coherent argument is a better starting point than a collection of impressive expressions.
Let each paragraph do one job
Begin with a clear point, explain it, and show why it matters. For example: Aufzeichnungen können Studierenden helfen, schwierige Inhalte zu wiederholen. You can then explain a situation in which a student needs to listen again. Keep a new argument for the next paragraph instead of fitting every idea into one sentence.
Choose connectors by meaning
Use außerdem to add information, allerdings to introduce a qualification, and deshalb for a consequence. They are not interchangeable decorations. Compare Ich lerne regelmäßig. Deshalb mache ich Fortschritte. with a contrasting sentence using allerdings. Read the result aloud and check whether the logic still makes sense.
Revise in two passes
First check the message: did you answer the question, distinguish facts from opinions, and make the argument easy to follow? Then review word order, verb endings, and noun phrases. For exam preparation, follow the official task instructions; an argumentative answer and a source summary need different approaches. Ask for feedback on a complete paragraph rather than a list of isolated sentences.
Try it yourself
Write 100–120 words on recorded lectures as a practice task, not an exam requirement. Include a position, a reason, an example, and one limitation. Underline each connector and explain its job. Then rewrite the paragraph after feedback.
