Practice Flashcards
der Plan
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All Flashcards in Topic 4.2
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4.2.114 cards
der Plan
the plan — your quick outline before writing
die Gliederung
the outline / running order of your text
die Kernidee / der Hauptpunkt
a key idea — one of the points you develop
der Einstieg / der Aufhänger
the hook — an opening line that grabs the reader
der Schluss / die Verabschiedung
the sign-off / closing line
der Konnektor / das Bindewort
a connector / linking word (außerdem, deshalb…)
eine Idee entwickeln
to develop an idea (with detail and examples)
Welche Elemente hat ein guter Plan?
Textsorte, 2–3 Kernideen, ein Einstieg, ein Schluss und nützlicher Wortschatz/Konnektoren.
Wie viel Zeit verwendest du auf das Planen der Prüfung 1?
Etwa zwei Minuten, bevor du mit dem Schreiben beginnst.
What are the four planning moves?
Decode → Brainstorm → Order → Note vocab.
Which criterion does a clear plan help most?
Criterion B (Message) — it gives an organised, well-developed answer.
Why develop only 2–3 points rather than many?
Depth with examples beats a long list of shallow points — undeveloped ideas lose Criterion B.
Should you write your plan in full sentences?
No — note form, five short lines; the plan is scaffolding for you, not text for the examiner.
Why order your points before writing?
A clear order keeps the reader following you from opening to close, protecting Criterion B.
4.2.214 cards
die Textsorte
the text type — the form you must write
die Merkmale / die Konventionen
the conventions / features that mark out a text type
Welche Merkmale hat ein Blog?
Titel, Anrede an den Leser und ein Schlussgruß; Register halbformell.
Welche Merkmale hat ein formeller Brief?
Sehr geehrte/r …, das Register Sie und ein Schlussgruß wie Mit freundlichen Grüßen; Register formell.
Welche Merkmale hat ein Artikel?
Eine Überschrift, Zwischenüberschriften und ein Aufhänger; Register halbformell.
Welche Merkmale hat eine Rede?
Eine Begrüßung des Publikums und rhetorische Fragen; Register je nach Publikum.
persönliche Texte
personal text types: die E-Mail (an eine Freundin), der Blog, das Tagebuch
formelle/berufliche Texte
professional text types: der formelle Brief, der Bericht, der Vorschlag
Medientexte
mass-media text types: der Artikel, die Rezension, das Interview, die Rede, die Broschüre
What are the four moves for the text type?
Find the named form → Recall its conventions → pick the Register → Frame the opening & closing.
Why not write a generic essay in Paper 1?
The task names a specific form; a generic essay misses its conventions and loses Criterion C.
Where do you find the text type in a prompt?
It's almost always printed in the prompt — «Blog», «E-Mail», «Artikel», «Rede» — so underline it first.
How do you decide the register for a text type?
From the form and its reader: a formal letter is Sie, a blog is semiformal, a speech depends on the audience.
Which criterion does the right text type protect?
Criterion C (Conceptual) — the conventions and register of the named form.
4.2.314 cards
das Register
the register — how formal or informal the language is
der Adressat / der Empfänger
the audience / addressee — the reader you write to
informell (du/ihr)
informal register, using du (or ihr in the plural) — for friends and peers
formell (Sie)
formal register, using Sie — for officials, teachers, companies
die Anrede
the greeting / salutation (Hallo informal vs Sehr geehrte/r … formal)
die Grußformel
the sign-off (Liebe Grüße informal vs Mit freundlichen Grüßen formal)
Welche Merkmale hat das informelle Register?
du/ihr, Hallo und eine Grußformel wie Liebe Grüße.
Welche Merkmale hat das formelle Register?
Sie, Sehr geehrte/r … und eine Grußformel wie Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
Welches Register benutzt du für eine Firma oder einen Lehrer?
Das formelle Register (Sie).
What are the four moves for register?
Identify the reader → Choose du/ihr or Sie → Match greeting/sign-off/vocab → Keep it consistent.
Which markers move together when you switch register?
The greeting, the verb forms, the possessive and the sign-off — change all four or none.
What's the most common register mistake?
Mixing du and Sie in the same answer — usually hidden in verb endings and possessives.
Which criterion does a consistent register protect?
Criterion C (Conceptual) — register matched to the reader and held throughout.
How do you catch register drift before finishing?
Re-read every verb ending and possessive against your chosen register (du or Sie).
4.2.414 cards
der Konnektor / das Bindewort
a connector — a linking word/phrase between ideas
die Kohäsion
cohesion — how smoothly ideas link and flow
außerdem / auch
besides / also — connectors of ADDITION (they invert: «außerdem macht er…»)
jedoch / trotzdem
however / nevertheless — connectors of CONTRAST (they invert)
obwohl
although — a SUBORDINATING connector of CONTRAST (verb goes to the end)
weil / da
because / since — connectors of CAUSE (subordinating: verb to the END)
deshalb / daher / also
that's why / therefore / so — connectors of CONSEQUENCE (they invert)
zuerst / dann / schließlich
first / then / finally — connectors of SEQUENCE
zum Beispiel / das heißt
for example / that is — connectors that give EXAMPLES
What are the four steps to build a cohesive paragraph?
Topic sentence → Develop with a connector → Add an example → Conclude or transition.
Why use a range of different connectors?
Repeating «und» or one linker caps Criterion A; variety shows range of language.
What word order does «deshalb» trigger, and what does «weil» trigger?
«deshalb» INVERTS (verb second: «Deshalb gehe ich…»); «weil» is subordinating (verb to the END: «…, weil ich müde bin»).
How do connectors help your IB criteria?
They lift Criterion A (range/accuracy of language) and help Criterion B (organised, clear ideas).
Which connector shows a RESULT/consequence to open a sentence (and how)?
«Deshalb» (that's why) — also «daher»/«also»; it inverts, so the verb comes next: «Deshalb bleibe ich…».
4.2.514 cards
das Register
register — formal (Sie) or informal (du); never mix them
die Textlänge / der Umfang
length — your answer must reach the required word count
die Zeitform
verb tense — Präsens, Perfekt/Präteritum, Futur; keep it correct and consistent
die Textsorte
text type — Blog, E-Mail, Artikel…; use its conventions
eine Idee ausführen / entwickeln
to develop an idea — expand it with reasons and examples, not just name it
die Kongruenz / die Übereinstimmung
agreement — articles, adjective endings and verbs must match (der neue Wagen)
Which criterion does mixing du and Sie affect?
Criterion C (conventions and register).
Which criterion does a too-short text affect?
Criterion B (message); you don't get to develop the ideas.
Which criterion do verb-tense errors affect?
Criterion A (language).
What are the five steps of the final-check routine?
Words → Register → Conventions → Verbs → Ideas.
How long should you reserve for the final check?
About five minutes at the end of the exam.
What's the fix for a mixed register?
Fix one register (du OR Sie) from the greeting to the sign-off and keep it consistent.
Why does avoiding errors beat using rare vocabulary?
A clear, consistent, well-developed answer with correct verbs scores higher than a flashy one full of slips.
What's the fix for listing ideas without developing them?
Develop 2–3 ideas with reasons and examples instead of naming many.
Topic 4.2 study notes
Full notes & explanations for Writing skills
German B exam skills
Paper structures, command terms & tips
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