How to use your material in an MBW (for FOSBOS)
This post was written with the assistance of an LLM.
Source material can serve different purposes in your essay — it is a tool for developing ideas, not just a source of evidence:
- It can give you an idea for an argument you then develop with your own reasoning.
- It can provide a hook for your introduction.
- It can serve as evidence to back up a claim.
General Rules
Select, but do not just pick out one detail that suits you. Some materials contain several pieces of information — a text may cover multiple facts, a diagram may show several trends, a set of statistics may present various figures. You do not have to use everything, but you should focus on what is relevant to the essay question. At the same time, do not focus on just one detail. Make sure your use of the material shows that you have understood the relationships or developments it presents.
Paraphrase, do not copy. If the material is in English, always paraphrase — put the information into your own words rather than copying sentences directly from the source.
Types of Source Material
You may encounter any of the following, often a mix:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Images | A photograph, drawing, painting, or illustration (possibly AI-generated) |
| Cartoon | A satirical drawing or caricature commenting on a political or social issue |
| Statistical Data | Survey results, percentages, or other numerical data |
| Diagram | A bar chart, line graph, pie chart, or flow chart |
| Quotation | A short quotation from a speech or article, with the author’s name |
| German-Language Text | A short newspaper article, commentary, or excerpt in German |
| English-Language Text | A short newspaper article, opinion piece, or excerpt in English |
How to Use Each Type of Material
Useful phrases for introducing material — applicable to any type:
- Research shows that …
- Studies suggest that …
- Experts argue that …
- Data indicates that …
- Surveys reveal that …
Statistical Data and Diagrams
Use the actual figures from the data, but make them your own by expressing them in a natural, readable way. You may round them, but always stay close to the original.
| Raw figure | Your phrasing |
|---|---|
| 20% | one in five |
| 50% | half |
| 75% | three quarters |
| 87% | almost nine out of ten / almost 90% |
| 33% | one in three |
According to surveys, almost six out of ten young people report feeling anxious when they cannot access their phone.
If the statistics or diagrams show a trend or pattern (that is relevant to the essay question), make sure you reflect the overall picture rather than focusing on just one figure.
Youth unemployment rose sharply between 2008 and 2012 before recovering only gradually over the following decade.
Cartoons and Images
Do not describe the cartoon or image. Instead, take its main idea and use it as the basis of an argument — or as a hook for your introduction. Present the idea in your own words, not as a description of the material. If it contains a concrete example that is relevant to your argument, use that too.
For example, a cartoon showing a person surrounded by hundreds of online “friends” but sitting alone in a dark room could become:
Digital connectivity has not necessarily made people less lonely — if anything, it may have deepened social isolation for many.
Quotation
In most cases, paraphrase a quotation using indirect speech rather than quoting it word for word. However, a short direct quotation can work well as a hook in your introduction. If you use one, put it in quotation marks and name the source.
“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge,” journalist John Naisbitt once observed. This suggests that the sheer volume of data available to us today does not automatically make us better informed or wiser.
For the body of your essay, paraphrase instead:
Experts argue that having access to vast amounts of information does not automatically lead to greater understanding. In other words, more data does not necessarily mean better decisions or deeper knowledge.
Whether you quote directly or paraphrase, always explain what the quotation means and why it is relevant — do not assume the meaning is self-evident, even if it seems obvious to you.
Text
Summarise the key information in your own words. If the text is in English, paraphrase. If it is in German, translate the key ideas into English — but avoid a word-for-word translation. Express the content naturally in your own words.
Golden Rule
Never describe the material — use it to make a point that helps you answer the essay question. Every piece of source material should support an argument, introduce an idea, or open your essay powerfully.