Basic Skills

1. Questions on the Text

The phrases in bold letters can serve as a checklist:

Questions:

Read the question(s)!
Does the question relate to only a certain (given) passage of the text?
Mark keywords in question, look up unclear words!
What is asked? What are you looking for? Decide what information you need before you read the text again (e.g. do you look for reasons, stylistic devices, facts/quotes that help to write a characterization?)

Reading/Marking Mark / collect passages that help to answer your questions

Read the text one section/paragraph at a time to maximize your concentration.
Stop at the end of the section/paragraph. Ask yourself: “What is important – what helps to answer the question?”
Mark the phrases that help to compose your answer AFTER reading a paragraph and before moving on.
Annotate by writing e.g. the number of the question or a short tag on the margin of the text. You may write out key words/phrases of your answer in your own words in English!

Writing

Have you got a good introductory sentence?
- It states what question you answer/refers to the question
- It gives the reader a basic idea of the structure/direction your answer takes. (Question: What problems does the author see for big cities? - Your introduction: The author believes that big cities have two main problems related to traffic and housing.)
Do not copy entire passages from the text (Unless you have to quote, but this is rare)

Check

Answer includes: introductory sentence ==> parts of answer (1 paragraph each; do you have to give lines/quotes?), incl. explanations [==> conclusion]?
Are your paragraphs linked well ==> is the line of argument/order o.k.?
Does the answer really answer the question?
Do you keep the promises made in the introduction? (e.g "There many reasons ..." ==> Do you give at least three?)