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Useful Phrases For Analysing Texts

This document provides guidance for analyzing texts in German, including: - Useful phrases for signposting an argument - Suggested templates for summarizing the topic, ideas, and structure of a text in 3 sentences or less - Guidance on characterizing characters and analyzing rhetorical devices - Reminders to cite evidence from the text, analyze rather than summarize, and avoid repetition The overall aim is to help readers of German texts follow the argument and to guide writers in concisely analyzing various elements in a neutral, evidenced manner.

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721 views2 pages

Useful Phrases For Analysing Texts

This document provides guidance for analyzing texts in German, including: - Useful phrases for signposting an argument - Suggested templates for summarizing the topic, ideas, and structure of a text in 3 sentences or less - Guidance on characterizing characters and analyzing rhetorical devices - Reminders to cite evidence from the text, analyze rather than summarize, and avoid repetition The overall aim is to help readers of German texts follow the argument and to guide writers in concisely analyzing various elements in a neutral, evidenced manner.

Uploaded by

wiillii
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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9b E (Fb)

1 Useful phrases for analysing texts

In general: bedient sich adquater Mittel der LESERLEITUNG = Vor-, Quer- und Rckverweise, e.g.: - In the following, Im going to [= tell your readers what you are about to do] - As I said before / in the beginning (etc.) - I will enlarge upon this later / in the next paragraph (etc.) - Concluding one can say / In brief / To put it in a nutshell / From all this follows that (etc.) Make it easy for readers of your text to follow your argumentation!

Task 1: The text at hand / the given text is [an extract/excerpt from] [a short story/speech/newspaper article/novel/poem a.s.o.] written by [] [and published in (the New York Times etc.) on [date] / in [year]. It is about / deals with / treats of / describes / is concerned with / presents [topic = general topic, no details!]. The general/essential/main idea expressed is The [author/writer/speaker/poet] starts off by [+ gerund, e.g. stating that ]. He/She goes on by [+ gerund] He/She speaks about / discusses / gives his (her) opinion on / expresses his (her) view concerning / holds the view that / comments on / presents the thesis that / draws (come) to the conclusion that Use the present tense; dont quote; use neutral language, i.e. dont evaluate; use your own words / paraphrase. Task 2: In the following, Im going to [say what you are about to do, e.g. characterise Molly while putting special emphasis on the reasons for her behaviour in this excerpt cf. task!] When analysing the structure of a text: The text/story/speech can be divided into / is divided into / falls into / is composed of / contains / consists of [] parts / paragraphs / chapters / sections. The first / [] / last part / paragraph / sentence constitutes / gives us / comprises the introduction / central problem / principal part / solution. In the first / [] / last part the author varies the theme / changes the topic / goes into detail / passes from to

When characterising:

9b E (Fb)

The author describes the characteristics / outer appearance / intellectual qualities / mood / activities / social and psychological condition / character traits of The author gives a realistic / detailed description of / only gives a rough description of .. The character is described / presented / characterised as The basic traits of As character are One of As striking characteristics is When analysing rhetorical / stylistic devices: The author makes use of / employs This is done in order to stress / put emphasis on / emphasise / draw attention to / highlight The author wants to involve the readers/listeners by [+ gerund] / convince them of He/She wants to appeal to (e.g. the readers conscience) He/She wants to imply / implies that He/She wants to arouse interest / simplify / illustrate He/She refers to an example He7She makes use of / employs / uses formal / informal / colloquial words / expression / language. This word / phrase / expression refers to / underlines / emphasises / means / stands for When referring to the text: As it is written in l./ll.: As one can read in l./ll. This is indicated by l./ll. where it is said that This can be proven with l./ll. L./ll. () suggest(s) that as it is said that Dont forget to sum up your main results. Use the present tense in your analysis only; use your own words; always PROVE what youre claiming by REFERRING to the respective lines. Dont just list rhetorical or stylistic devices, but always explain their function and their effect on the reader/listener. Try not to repeat what youve already written in task 1. ANALYSE doesnt mean SUMMARISE, i.e. read between the lines.

Task 3: Task 3 can either be an EVALUATION (i.e. pro- and counter-arguments + own opinion) or a RE-CREATION OF TEXT (e.g. a diary entry). You usually DONT quote in task 3, but for a re-creation of text task it might be necessary to refer to the text again (e.g. in case youre asked to refute an argument etc.)

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