Writing a content is, in principle, not a problem, but it is often difficult to concentrate on the essence of a text and to reproduce the most important features in the subsequent summary. However, this is important when writing a content specification, which is why we would like to explain the essential aspects of this approach.
What is a content?
A content specification has the task of presenting the most important things of a text or a film in a concise form, without omitting any essential information, even if unimportant details should be dispensed with. The declared goal is thus to provide the reader with an overview of the work, which includes all relevant steps and levels of action.
In contrast to the conclusion, summary or even a review, contents are never interpreting or interpreting the events. There is also no attempt to mimic the template. In contrast to the re-enactment, the content specification also basically dispenses with stress arcs and other means of telling and decorating.
In addition to the summary of the content, the most important persons of the text, as well as the place and time of the action are presented. If we write a content specification, we choose a narrative text form, using the present as a tense form and representing the protagonists’ speech in indirect speech.
Characteristics of the content specificationWhen writing a content, we focus on the essentials.
Characteristics of the content
Now it is, however, that summary is not a summary, and we enjoy in principle a lot of freedoms when composing. For anyone who writes the text of a book or updates the program for a current cinema film can, of course, also allow for exciting formulations or quotations which are not to be found in the school content.
If we look at the features quite soberly and focus on the essentials, so that our content is appropriate for the school or university, we have to consider some basic things in writing and formulating.
Important features and rules of the content
The language is factual, precise and concise
Introduction, main part, and conclusion form the structure
The chosen time form is the present (present!)
Verbal speech is avoided. Use Indirect Speech!
It is written in own words. No quotes!
The content is told chronologically
The I-form is converted to the Er / Sie form
Language of content
We should not embellish the contents of the content or lose us in unnecessary details and facts. This means that only the most important information should be included in our summary. For our project, we can keep to the following specifications.
Have we limited ourselves to the essential information of the text or are we inclined to numerous additional information?
Are our formulations reduced to the essentials? We usually use a clear and simple structure for the content specification.
What people and places are there that are important to the action? So who are the main people in our history?
What are the relationships between the individual elements? Both temporally and causally, and which of these are important for the story?
Note: It is not a matter of capturing the mood of the template, nor to skilfully recount it. So we are always using a sober and factual language.
Structure of the content
A content description always consists of the parts introduction, main part and conclusion. We already know this rough outline from other works in the field of scientific writing.
introduction
The introduction contains important brief information for the reader. In the introduction of our content, we should include the following elements:
What is the title of the text (ballad, short story, fable etc.)?
Title of the story, the film or even the book
The origin of the text
The name of the author of the narrative
Place and time of action
The main person (or even the main protagonists)
The most important of the action in a concise view
Example of the introduction of a content specification
Emilia Galotti, a drama by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing from 1772, is about Prince Hettore Gonzaga, his fanatical love for Emilia Galotti and his plan to conquer the girl. The bourgeois tragedy is settled in the 18th century and plays in an Italian principality.
This pattern introduction consists only of two concise sentences, which contain all essential information about Lessing’s Emilia Galotti. So you see that the most important information on the text is dealt with in the introduction, without having to use any unnecessary constructions.
Bulk
In the main part, we will examine the essential steps of the original text and try to reproduce these chronologically and without useless details. The main part is, therefore, certainly the heart of a good description of the content, taking into account the following things for the construction.
Description of the initial situation: What conditions prevail? In what time and where does the story begin and begin?
Presentation of the content in sections (factual, sober and without embellishments)
In doing so, tell the story chonologically. Time jumps in the actual text should be sorted and written down in the correct order (no flashbacks or anticipations).
Explain why the protagonists act as they act. What is their motivation or drive, and what are their goals?
It is also important that the end of the narrative itself is betrayed. The content should not be a curiosity, but the whole plot should be depicted!
ending
The conclusion is not always necessary when we write a content specification. However, he completes a great summary and gives the reader further impulses.
In conclusion, we can go into the author’s intentions or emphasize the linguistic peculiarities of the text. If we decide to do so, however, we must also consider the effect of these peculiarities. In addition, we can briefly and briefly examine the effect of the work. However, this is not necessary.
Observe the time format of the content
Contents are always formulated in the present, which must be taken care of, especially in the case of time jumps, in order not to change the time format inadvertently.
Example of the correct time format of the content
False: Prince Hettore Gonzaga was possessed by Emilia.
Correct: Prince Hettore Gonzaga is possessed by Emilia.
Note: If, however, the action is referred to previous events, we can, of course, reproduce them in our content in a perfect way. Otherwise, we should always stay in the present.
Indirect speech and no quotes
Checklist: Write content!
Do we really have all the important information in it?
Can we still remove descriptive adjectives?
Has the direct speech been converted correctly?
Are place, time, title and author included in the introduction?
Did we write the content chronologically?
Voices Spelling, punctuation and grammar?
Is the summary written in the present?
We hope that you have found all the important information in this article and can now write your own content. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.