Text Production and Analysis Skills Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering criteria, conventions, and terminology for summary writing, outlining, literary and non-literary text analysis, picture analysis, discussions, comments, and language mediation.

Summary writing

Briefly passing on the main information of a text to someone who has not read it, using neutral and objective language in a condensed form.

Introductory sentence (in a summary)

The opening statement of a summary that identifies the overall idea/topic, genre, headline/title, author's name, date/year of publication, and publication name (if given).

DO NOT INCLUDE (in a summary)

Elements that must be left out of a summary: the pronoun "I", personal opinions, comments, quotations, direct speech, minor points, examples, statistics, and unnecessary explanations.

Outlining information

Focusing solely on presenting the specific information required by the task rather than summing up the complete text.

Umbrella terms

General, overarching category words used to paraphrase and avoid unnecessary enumerations (e.g., using "household gadgets" instead of "dishwasher, fridge and microwave oven").

Summary length guideline

A standard rule requiring that a written summary must be less than approximately one third of the original text.

Analyzing written texts

Demonstrating an understanding of the underlying meaning of a text and explaining how and why an author employs linguistic, stylistic, and structural means to achieve a particular effect on the reader.

Register

The style and level of language used in a text, such as neutral, formal, informal, colloquial, or slang.

Tone

The mood or attitude expressed in a text through language, such as serious, objective, ironic, humorous, witty, emotional, sentimental, or solemn.

"l." and "ll."

Citation abbreviations used when quoting evidence from a text: "l." indicates a single line, whereas "ll." indicates two or more lines.

Mode of presentation

The narrative technique used to present events and thoughts in literary texts, such as telling versus showing, panoramic versus scenic presentation, interior monologue, stream of consciousness, or reported thought.

Cartoon / picture analysis techniques

Visual and stylistic means used by a cartoonist or artist—frequently with critical intention—including symbols, exaggeration, caricature, and irony.

Epitomize

To serve as a typical example or embodiment of something (in German: "verkörpert/ist der Inbegriff von").

Tense rule (in picture analysis)

The grammatical rule requiring the use of the present tense for general visual descriptions, but the present progressive for depicted actions.

Discussing an issue

Looking at an issue from different perspectives by presenting and weighing its pros and cons (benefits and drawbacks) in a clear, logical structure.

Commenting on an issue

Expressing one's personal opinion by supporting or refuting specific arguments, without being required to provide a balanced overview of pros and cons.

Email capitalization rule

The convention of beginning the introductory sentence of an email with a capital letter, even if a comma is used after the opening greeting.

Mediation (Sprachmittlung)

Getting the message across from one language into another in factual language by paraphrasing relevant points according to purpose and addressee, rather than translating literally.

Cultural explanation (in mediation)

Explaining culture-specific concepts, terms, or public figures that a foreign reader might not understand (e.g., explaining the concept of "gelbe Tonne" when writing about recycling in Germany).

Mediation neutrality rule

The guideline that the writer must focus strictly on the contents of the source text to inform the reader, without interpreting, commenting on, or expressing personal opinions about the author's ideas.