Writing an essay about how you spent your summer vacation is a classic way to start the new school year. Think of this assignment as an opportunity to tell a story about your summer, while reflecting on the experiences you have had. Choose the most memorable moments of the past few months and start composing your theme, providing as much detail as possible.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose a Topic
Step 1. Look at the memories of the summer that you have kept
If you've kept any souvenirs from your summer vacation (such as photos, plane tickets, or a diary), use them to compose your theme. They will help you remember the details of the past few months and writing will become much easier.
If you are asked to present your theme, you can integrate those objects into the presentation
Step 2. Write a list of what you did on vacation
When trying to write a summer vacation essay, it helps to start with a list of your activities. Once this list is created, it will be easier to remember specific details about each event or moment. Start from the beginning and think back to everything you've done.
Write in the list if you have babysat, if you attended a summer campus, if you worked in a local shop, if you took a trip, etc. Rethinking everything you've done will help you select the most important events of your summer
Step 3. Tell a memorable moment
It's not easy to talk about everything you did during the holidays, so try to narrow it down to just one event. You don't have to choose something very exciting or action-packed, but find something that was important to you.
For example, if you spent the summer traveling in Japan, think about a memorable moment in your experience, perhaps when you walked up a mountain in the pouring rain, then tell about that event giving many details
Step 4. Create a draft for your theme.
Once you have chosen the specific moment you want to talk about, write down the details of that experience. Organize your ideas by putting them in the order you will address them in the theme.
- For example, if you write about your stay by the sea, in the draft you can note that you will talk about the sand castle competition you participated in, the dolphins you saw and the ice cream you ate every day.
- As details you can add what the other sand castles looked like, how far away the dolphins were and what flavors the ice cream shop offered.
- The draft must help you organize your thoughts; you can write it by hand or on the computer.
Part 2 of 3: Composing the Theme
Step 1. Focus on your feelings, interactions and thoughts
Your theme doesn't have to be a simple summary of the things you've done. Think about how you felt during your experiences, about the people you met and what you were thinking - this approach makes your composition much more meaningful.
Instead of saying you worked in a pet shop, ate a salami sandwich every day, and walked home, don't just describe your actions. You could talk about how much you enjoy working with animals, how it felt to eat the same sandwich every day, or what you were thinking on the way home
Step 2. Use all five senses to describe your experience
As the saying goes: "Don't say, show". Instead of simply stating the things that happened, use your five senses to make your theme more interesting. Describe how the foods tasted, what sounds did you hear, what things looked like, etc.
By entering sensory details like these, the reader will be able to better visualize your descriptions and feel more engaged, which will help them immerse themselves in your experiences, even if they have not experienced them firsthand
Step 3. Describe the activities you have done in all the places you have been
Instead of writing general statements about the things you did on vacation, provide as much detail as possible. With specific descriptions the reader will be able to form a mental picture of what you are telling: this elevates your writing to a higher level.
For example, instead of saying "I went to the beach this summer", try saying "I spent the summer swimming in the cool waters of Cape Verde". The more details you add, the more you will be able to engage the reader
Step 4. Choose descriptive and precise adjectives
To make your theme even better, select words that describe what you are telling in detail. Avoid trivial adjectives like "good" or "beautiful" and replace them with more expressive ones.
Instead of saying "the sandwich was really good", you can say it was "tasty and filling"
Step 5. Review and edit your theme carefully
When you think you are done, leave the composition aside for some time (a couple of hours or even a few days) before starting to correct it. Make sure it is fluent and that the sentences are meaningful. Check for spelling and grammar errors by rereading well.
- Don't just rely on the automatic corrector. It will help you notice some mistakes, but not all of them.
- If you wish, ask one of your parents or another adult to read your essay.
- Putting the theme aside for a while helps you reread it with a fresher perspective.
Part 3 of 3: Choosing Your Theme Structure
Step 1. Start with a nice introduction
The first part of the theme should appeal to the reader and give him a general idea of the topics covered. Use it to present the setting of the events you are going to talk about, providing the reader with the necessary information.
Step 2. Use the central part of the theme to talk about your chosen moment
The middle paragraphs, whether you write one, two or three, should tell the summer event you have decided to describe. In this section, you need to go into detail and explain what happened so that the reader can form a mental picture of your vacation.
Step 3. Write a conclusion that explains the importance of the moment you have chosen
In the final part, add the finishing touches to the theme. Explain why you decided to talk about a specific event or what you learned from the experience.
