1.1 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

He depicts in detail how XYZ...

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

He is well informed about XYZ or he is badly informed about XYZ

His information is based on XYZ

It concerns XYZ

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

This example demonstrates (or: proves / shows) XYZ

1.2 In argumentative texts:

1.2 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 ...

1.2 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 exampleb 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...)

1.2 c: How the author deals with ideas he does not like...

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 ...

1.2 d: How the author finishes...

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

arrives at (or: comes to / draws / reaches) the conclusion that...

the conclusion (or: bottom line) of this text is that...

1.2 e: How you find the author´s arguments...

the author presents his arguments in a neutral (or: balanced) fashion

he weighs the advantages and disadvantages of...

the author appears to (or: seems to) present his arguments in a balanced way, but...

he gives the impression of weighing the advantages and disadvantages of..., but...

his line of reasoning is convincing (or: consistent / logical / conclusive...)

his line of reasoning is unconvincing (or: simplistic / inconsistent / illogical...)

his line of argumentation is (or: seems to be / can be seen as) ...

his line of arguments is (or: seems to be / can be seen as) ...

(General) Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that are used to join phrases and sentences together, and to show the relationship between the ideas in these phrases or sentences.

There are a lot of different types of conjunctions, as there may be very different relationships between the phrases or sentences that the conjunctions join together.

a) Some copulative conjunctions: and, also, too, further, as well, both ... and, not only ... but also

The author says "X" and the author says "Y".

The author says "X". Also , the author says "Y".

The author says "X". The author says "Y", too.

The author says "X". Further , the author says "Y".

The author says "X" (and) the author says "Y", as well.

The author says both "X" and "Y".

The author says not only "X", but also "Y".

b) Some disjunctive conjunctions: or, nor, either ..or , neither ... nor

The author says "X" or the author says "Y" = The author says either "X" or "Y".

The author does not say "X", nor does the author say "Y". =

Neither does the author say "X", nor does the author say "Y". =

Neither does the author say "X", nor "Y".

c) Some adversative conjunctions: but, however, yet, nevertheless, still, all the same, it is true ...but / yet

The author does not say "X", but the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". However, the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X", yet the author says (or: does say) "Y".

The author does not say "X". Nevertheless , the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". Still , the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". All the same , the author says "Y".

It is true that the author does not say "X", but the author says "Y".

It is true that the author does not say "X", yet the author says "Y".

d) Some consecutive conjunctions: so, thus, therefore, consequently, hence

The author says "X", so the author says "Y".

The author says "X", thus saying "Y".

The author says "X", therefore the author says "Y".

The author says "X", consequently, the author says "Y".

The author says "X", hence the author says "Y".

Further kinds of conjunctions show a relationship of time, place, reason ... between the phrases or sentences they combine. These conjunctions are:

a) Conjunctions of time:

when, whenever, as, while, whereas, before, after, until, till, since, now that , as long as, as soon as

as often as, no sooner ... than

When the author uses imagery, he always chooses similes rather than metaphors.

The author quotes from the Bible whenever he wants to lend his arguments extra weight.

Before the author explains X, he first presents a large number of examples.

After having given the reader a number of examples, the author explains that...

Until the author explains X, the reader fails to see the relevance of his examples.

Now that the author explains X, the reader understands the relevance of his examples.

As soon as the author explains X, the reader understands the relevance of his examples.

No sooner has the author explained X than he proceeds to the unrelated topic of Y.

b) Conjunctions of place: where, wherever, whence ( = from where )

Where the author uses imagery, he always chooses similes rather than metaphors.

The author quotes from the Bible wherever he wants to lend his arguments extra weight.

c) Conjunctions of reason: as, because, since, seeing ( that ), in that

As the author often quotes from X, the reader realizes that Y.

The reader realizes that X because the author...

Since the author often refers to X, the reader realizes that Y.

Seeing how often the author refers to X, X is obviously important to him.

d) Conjunctions of purpose: that, in order that, in order to, so that, in case

The author describes X in great detail in order to show the reader...

The author describes X in great detail in order that the reader understands...

The author describes X in great detail so that the reader comprehends...

In case any reader has still failed to understand X, the author now makes it very clear indeed that...

e) Conjunctions of result: so that, to such an extent that

The author describes X in great detail so that the reader comprehends...

The author uses imagery to such an extent that understanding what he really wants to say becomes almost impossible.

f) Conjunctions of condition: if, supposing ( that ), so long as, provided that, on condition ( that ), unless

If the author is quoting X correctly, that suggests that X has very strange ideas indeed.

Supposing that the author wants to say X, his choice of words does not make this very clear to the reader.

Provided that the author is quoting X correctly, X has very strange ideas indeed.

Unless the author changes his argumentation in his next essay, he will fail to convince the reader that...

g) Conjunctions of condition: though, even though, although, however

Though / Although / Even though the author provides a number of examples, he fails to convince the reader that...

The author provides numerous examples. However, he fails to convince the reader that...

i) Conjunctions of contrast: whereas, while, whilst

Whereas the author seems to know a lot about X, he does not appear to understand Y.

While the author is very well informed about X, he does not appear to understand Y.

j) Conjunctions of comparison: as..as, not so .. as , than, the ... the , as if, as though

As comprehensive the author´s knowledge of X appears to be, he does not seem to understand Y.

The more the author says about X, the less the reader understands what he is trying to achieve.

The author writes about X as if he wants the reader to think that...

The author writes about X as though he wants the reader to think that...

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Vocabulary and phrases for text interpretation