4. Rereading the summary

- check the length of your summary

- improve the choice of words (if necessary)

- check and improve your links

- vary sentence structure by using gerunds, participles, infinitives

Some basic phrases for discussing non-fictional texts

1) Intention

The author gives - a short description of XYZ

- a detailed (or: precise / careful) description of XYZ

- an accurate image of XYZ

The author - describes XYZ accurately

- depicts in detail XYZ

- delineates XYZ

2) Information

The author - gives (or: provides / supplies / presents) information on XYZ

- is well informed about XYZ

- is badly informed about XYZ

His information - is based on XYZ

- concerns XYZ

The example he gives - concerns XYZ

- refers to XYZ

- is related to XYZ

This example - shows XYZ

- demonstrates XYZ

- proves XYZ

3) Argumentation

The idea that {XYZ} constitutes (or: forms) the starting point of the argumentation.

The author states (or: affirms / maintains / asserts / holds the view ) that ...

In support of his view (or: position / assertion) the author ...

The author - illustrates his view with several examples

- supports his position with an example

- wants to prove that ...

- gives the reader evidence that ...

The author - rejects the opposite view (or: position)

- rejects the view (or: position) that ...

- refutes (or: undermines / disproves) the idea that ...

By these arguments the author wants to - convince the reader that ...

- persuade the reader that ...

- underline his conviction (or: belief) that ...

The author concludes that / draws the conclusion that ...

2. Some phrases to explain what an author does in a text...

2.1 In all the different text types:

The author gives a short description of XYZ

a detailed (or: precise / careful) description of XYZ

an accurate image of XYZ

The author describes XYZ accurately

depicts in detail XYZ

The author gives (or: provides / supplies / presents) information on XYZ

is well informed about XYZ

is badly informed about XYZ

His information is based on XYZ

concerns XYZ

The example he gives concerns (or: refers to / is related to) XYZ

This example demonstrates (or: proves / shows) XYZ

2.2 In argumentative texts:

2.2 A: How the author starts...

The idea that {XYZ} constitutes (or: forms) the starting point of the argumentation.

The author states (or: affirms / maintains / asserts / holds the view ) that ...

2.2 B: How the author supports his ideas...

In support of his view (or: position / assertion) the author ...

the author presents strong (or: good / convincing / solid) arguments for...

the author presents weak (or: poor / unconvincing / dubious) arguments for...

The author illustrates his view with several examples

supports his position with an example

wants to prove that ...

gives the reader evidence that ...

the argument that xyz is based on (or: founded on) the idea (or: theory / concept...) that...

he supports (or: corroborates / proves) this argument with...

the author uses (or: puts forward) this argument because... (or: in order to...)