Page 2: Crafting a Strong Conclusion and Using Effective Phrases

This page delves into the conclusion of a comment and provides useful phrases for different sections.

The conclusion should:

• Briefly summarize the most important arguments (without introducing new ideas)
• Present a final verdict or personal opinion

Example: "Considering the positive effects of cultural contact, it is clear that exchange programs are important for students' educational and personal growth. Because of this, student exchange programs should receive more funding so that every student gets the opportunity to spend time abroad."

The page also offers a comprehensive list of linking words and phrases in both English and German to help structure your comment effectively. These phrases are categorized for use in the introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Vocabulary: Linking words and phrases are essential for creating coherence and flow in your comment writing in English.

Page 3: Argument Structure and Task Examples

This page focuses on argument structure and provides examples of potential tasks for comment writing in English.

Two argument structures are presented:

1. The Ping-Pong Method: Alternating between counterarguments and arguments
2. The Hourglass Principle: Starting and ending with arguments, with counterarguments in the middle

Highlight: Using varied argument structures can make your comment more engaging and persuasive.

The page also includes a sample task:

Example: "More and more students claim that school does not sufficiently prepare them for adult life and its challenges. This leads to the question, whether 'Life Skills' (Alltagsfähigkeiten) should be implemented as a new subject in schools in order to amend this situation. Comment on the proposal's advantages and disadvantages."

This example demonstrates how to approach a typical comment writing task in English.

Page 4: The Hourglass Principle in Detail

This page elaborates on the Hourglass Principle for structuring arguments in a comment. The principle suggests organizing your arguments as follows:

1. Counterargument 1 and example
2. Counterargument 2 and example
3. (Space for additional counterarguments)
4. Argument 1 and example
5. Argument 2 and example
6. (Space for additional arguments)

Highlight: The Hourglass Principle is an effective way to present a balanced view before reinforcing your own position in a comment in English.

Page 5: Comprehensive List of Linking Words

This page provides an extensive list of linking words in English, categorized by their function in the text. These words are crucial for creating a cohesive and well-structured comment.

Categories include:

• Ordering (e.g., firstly, secondly, lastly)
• Contrast (e.g., however, nevertheless, but)
• Emphasis (e.g., undoubtedly, clearly, particularly)
• Addition (e.g., furthermore, moreover, in addition)
• Comparison (e.g., similarly, likewise, compared to)
• Examples (e.g., for instance, such as, namely)

Vocabulary: Linking words like "nevertheless," "furthermore," and "consequently" help to connect ideas and improve the flow of your writing.

Page 6: Reasoning and Conclusion Linking Words

The final page focuses on linking words used for reasoning and drawing conclusions in your comment.

Reasoning words include:

• For
• Because
• Because of
• Due to
• Since
• As

Conclusion words include:

• Thus
• Therefore
• Hence
• Consequently
• In consequence
• As a result

Highlight: Using appropriate conclusion linking words can strengthen the impact of your final statement in a comment in English.

These linking words are essential for creating a logical flow of ideas and helping the reader follow your argument throughout the comment.

Page 1: Understanding Comments and Their Structure

This page introduces the concept of a comment in English writing. A comment is defined as a critical opinion piece on a specific topic, supported by arguments and examples. It typically addresses a question, problem, or statement from a text.

The structure of a comment consists of three main parts:

1. Introduction
2. Main body
3. Conclusion

The introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and present the debate, often through a controversial question.

Example: "Many parents think that student exchange programs should not get more financing because they are a waste of money and something their child's education does not profit from. But is that really true?"

The main body focuses on the contentious points and different positions. It should include both pro and contra arguments, with counterarguments being mentioned and then refuted to strengthen one's own standpoint.

Highlight: When writing a comment in English, it's crucial to use the simple present tense throughout.