useful phrases for summary, comment/discussion, description

Summary
Remember: Summaries are always written in present tense!
Word list for fictional texts:
Introduction
(Title) is a novel by (author). In (title) by (author), the reader is taken
(Title) was written by (author). into (place/time of story).
The story is about (topic). (Title) is the story of (hero/action/...)
The novel tells the story of (hero/topic). (Title) is set in the period of (event).
(Title) tells of (hero), who ...

Content
As the story begins, ... The following day ...
During ... Some time later ...
While ... Hours/Months/Years later, ....
As/When ... By morning/the next day/the time ...
Since/As ... Meanwhile ...
Just then ... However, ...
After ... Again/Once again ...
Before ... At this point ...
Before long ... To his surprise ...
Soon ... This incident is/was followed by ...
Soon afterwards ... To make matters even worse ...
As soon as ... Eventually, .../Finally, ...
One day/evening ...

Word list for non-fictional texts:

Introduction
In (title), author (author) discusses (topic).
In (title), (author) explains the principles of (topic).
(Title) offers a detailed and practical introduction to
(topic).
(Title) is a detailed account of (topic).
(Title) is an essential guide to (topic).
(Title) is a classic handbook on (topic).

Content
(Author) provides the reader with (details).
(Title/Author) shows how to (details).
(Author) begins by explaining how ...
Then (author) ...
Chapter (number) focuses on (details).
The (number) chapters/sections of the book
encourage (aim) through a series of steps:
(steps/details)

Comment
Stating your Opinion
It seems to me that ... I can imagine that ...
In my opinion, ... I think/believe/suppose ...
I am of the opinion that .../ I take the view that .. Personally, I think ...
My personal view is that ... That is why I think ...
In my experience ... I am sure/certain/convinced that ...
As far as I understand / can see, ... I am not sure/certain, but ...
As I see it, ... / From my point of view ... I am not sure, because I don't know the situation
As far as I know ... / From what I know ... exactly.
I might be wrong but ... I am not convinced that ...
If I am not mistaken ... I have read that ...
I believe one can (safely) say ... I am of mixed opinions (about / on) ...
It is claimed that ... I am of mixed opinions about / on this.
I must admit that ... I have no opinion in this matter.
I cannot deny that ...
 useful phrases for summary, comment/discussion, description

Outlining Facts
The fact is that::: It is certain that ...
The (main) point is that ... One can say that ...
This proves that ... It is clear that ...
What it comes down to is that ... There is no doubt that ...
It is obvious that ...

Agreement
There are many reasons for ... I am of the same opinion.
There is no doubt about it that ... I am of the same opinion as the author.
I simply must agree with that. I completely/absolutely agree with the author.

Qualified Disagreement
It is only partly true that... That is not necessarily so.
I can agree with that only with reservations. It is not as simple as it seems.
That seems obvious, but ... Under certain circumstances ...

Disagreement
There is more to it than that. I am of a different opinion because ...
The problem is that ... I cannot share this / that / the view.
I (very much) doubt whether ... I cannot agree with this idea.
This is in complete contradiction to ... What I object to is ...
What is even worse, ... Unlike the author I think ...

Linking Arguments
First of all, I think ... Because of ...
Not only that, but I also think that ... That is why ...
Not only are they ..., they are also ... After all, ...
They are not ..., nor are they ... The reason is that ...
There are various/several/many reasons for this. In that respect ...
First, ... / Firstly, ... The result of this is that ...
Second, ... / Secondly, ... Another aspect/point is that ...
Moreover, ... / Furthermore, ... / In addition, ... It is because ...
Another significant point is that ... Although it is true that ... it would be wrong to claim
Finally, ... that ...
On the one hand, ... On the other hand, ... That may sometimes be true, but ...
In contrast to this is ... One could argue that ..., but ...

Providing Examples
Take for example (the case of) ... For instance ... / For example ...
Look at ... Let me give you an example.

Additions and Conclusion

Most probably ... I should like to emphasise that ...
It appears to be ... I would (just) like to add ...
It is important to mention that... So all in all I believe that...
As I already indicated ... (In) summing up it can be said that ...
In other words, ... Weighing the pros and cons, I come to the conclusion
I am most concerned about ... that ...
I should like to repeat once again that ...

Description
Remember: Descriptions are always written in present tense!
Information on artist and year of origin
… (image) is a painting by … (artist), painted in … … (artist) painted … (image) in … (year).
(year). … (image) is a famous painting by … (artist).
 useful phrases for summary, comment/discussion, description
Describing the scene
The picture was taken in … (place).
The photo was taken at … (party).
The picture shows a scene from …
It's an image of … (place, person, scene).
The picture describes … (scene).
What can you see? (present progressive )
In the picture you can see …
… (position: on the left/right/…) there is / are …
Impression
… gives the impression of depth.
… (person) seems to look at the viewer.
His / Her eyes seem to follow the viewer.
The figures look as if they exist in three dimensions.
The viewer has the impression that the people in the
picture are alive.
The viewer's attention is focused on …
Intention
The artist mainly uses … (colours/forms/…)
Important elements are highlighted.
The artist / photographer / painter uses … to
express …
He / She (probably) wants to criticise / express /
show …
It is obvious that the artist wants to criticise /
express / show …
The picture shows … (place, person, scene) from a
distance.
… (place, person, scene) is shown from … (a bird's
eye view/…).
You look at … (place, person, scene) from …
(above/behind/…).
… (position: on the left/right/…) you can see …
… is … (position: on the left/right/…)
To the alert eye it will become apparent …
The viewer finds it difficult to withdraw his eyes
from …
The painting is vivid / happy / expressive.
The picture makes the viewer feel … (sad/happy)
The picture inspires the viewer to think about …
What the artist / photographer / painter wants to
criticise / express / show is …
What the artist / photographer / painter wants to point
out is …
I think / believe / am sure that …
It seems / appears to me that …
The problem illustrated here is …
… symbolises …
… is typical of …