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ABI - AI-generated English kritisch prüfen

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ABI - AI-generated English kritisch prüfen

Mini-description: Analyse AI-generated English for generic phrasing, unsuitable register, incorrect collocations, invented details and unnecessary complexity. Then build a clearer, more precise and more credible version of your own. The course is designed for a shared BF/LF setting in the English Kursstufe in Baden-Württemberg: BF works with shorter materials and stronger scaffolding; LF works with broader evidence, greater text complexity, more independent source connections and more AFB II/III. Target level: B2, partly C1 as a learning orientation — without artificial difficulty.

Einleitung

AI-generated English can sound fluent and still be weak. A text may contain smooth transitions, formal vocabulary and confident claims while remaining vague, badly matched to the task, collocationally odd or factually unreliable. Your job is therefore not to ask, “Does this sound intelligent?” but: Does it fit the task, the audience, the evidence and natural English usage?

This course trains a transferable checking routine. You will read, listen, compare, annotate, discuss and rewrite short texts. You do not need access to an external AI system. All sample data can be fictional. Audio or video recordings are voluntary and can remain private. Do not upload personal material without consent.

Principle: AI may provide language, but you remain responsible for meaning, evidence, register and final wording.

I-can goals

I can identify generic phrasing, unsuitable register, incorrect collocations, invented details and unnecessary complexity.
I can explain why a phrase is weak in a specific context instead of only labelling it as “bad”.
I can verify factual claims before using them.
I can use context, word formation, a monolingual dictionary and collocation support before asking for German help.
I can rewrite an AI-like passage so that it becomes more precise, concise, natural and task-appropriate.
I can distinguish language quality from factual reliability.
I can justify revision decisions in spoken and written English.
I can transfer this method to Abitur-style reading, analysis, speaking and writing tasks.

Vorwissen aktivieren

Look at the five sentences below. Decide quickly: keep, check, rewrite or delete? Do not correct everything yet.

Sentence	First reaction
In today's fast-paced world, AI plays a crucial role in modern society.	Is this specific enough?
The report proves that 83 per cent of British students use AI every day.	Where does the number come from?
Students can make research much faster with AI.	Does the collocation sound natural?
Loads of students are super into automated writing tools.	Is the register suitable for an academic analysis?
Notwithstanding the aforementioned multifaceted implications, the pedagogical ramifications remain substantially significant.	Does the complexity improve meaning?

Rule: Fluency is not evidence. Complexity is not precision.

A deliberately flawed AI-style sample

Important: The following paragraph is fictional and contains intentional weaknesses. Its source, institution and statistic are invented for learning purposes.

In today's fast-paced world, artificial intelligence has become an extremely important topic which plays a crucial role in education. According to the Oxford Digital Language Report 2026, 83 per cent of British students use generative AI every day, which clearly proves that AI improves learning. Students can make research more efficiently and gain a huge knowledge about complex topics. Loads of learners are also super enthusiastic about these innovative tools. Notwithstanding the aforementioned multifaceted implications, schools should comprehensively implement artificial intelligence in order to optimise educational outcomes in a sustainable and future-oriented manner.

Your first diagnosis: Find one example of each category: generic phrasing, unsuitable register, incorrect collocation, invented detail and unnecessary complexity.

The five checks

Generic phrasing

Generic phrasing fills space without adding a clear claim. Common warning signs include formulas such as in today's fast-paced world, plays a crucial role, various advantages and disadvantages or in many ways. These phrases are not automatically wrong, but they often hide missing content.

Better question: What exactly matters here, for whom and in which situation?

Generic	More precise
AI has many advantages.	AI can reduce the time needed to generate a first outline, but the outline still needs factual and linguistic checking.
This issue is very important.	The issue matters because unreliable claims can weaken an otherwise fluent argument.
Technology changes education.	Generative tools change how students draft, revise and verify written work.

Unsuitable register

Register means the level and style of language used for a particular audience, purpose and genre. An Abitur-style analysis normally needs controlled, neutral or formal English. A blog entry or speech may allow more direct and personal language.

Too informal for analytical writing	Possible neutral/formal alternative
loads of students	many students / a large number of students
super useful	highly useful / useful in specific contexts
a bunch of problems	several problems / a range of problems
kind of shows	suggests / indicates

Do not over-formalise. “Utilise” is not automatically better than “use”. “Commence” is not automatically better than “begin”. Good register is appropriate, not inflated.

Incorrect collocations

A collocation is a combination of words that commonly occur together. Grammar can be correct while the combination still sounds unnatural.

Weak or incorrect	Natural collocation
make research	do research / conduct research
huge knowledge	extensive knowledge
take influence on	influence / have an influence on
strong rain	heavy rain
big relevance	great relevance / high relevance

Dictionary strategy: Do not only look up a word. Check examples and typical word partners.

Invented details

AI-generated text may produce names, quotations, dates, percentages, studies or institutions that sound plausible but are unsupported. A precise number is not automatically trustworthy.

Use this four-step fact check:

Locate the claim: What exactly is being asserted?
Find the source: Is the study, quotation, author or institution real and traceable?
Check fit: Does the source actually support the claim?
Decide: Keep with evidence, qualify the wording, replace the source or remove the detail.

Example: “83 per cent of British students use AI every day” must not be kept simply because it is precise. If no reliable source can be found, remove or reformulate it.

Unnecessary complexity

Complexity is useful when the idea is complex. It is weak when long nominal phrases, abstract nouns and inflated vocabulary make a simple point harder to understand.

Inflated	Clearer
Notwithstanding the aforementioned multifaceted implications...	Despite these concerns...
the implementation of an optimisation process	improving the process
the utilisation of digital resources	the use of digital resources
in order to facilitate the enhancement of	to improve

Test: If you can shorten a phrase without losing meaning, precision or tone, shorten it.

Visualisation: the TRACE routine

TRACE is a classroom routine, not an official exam acronym.

Step	Question	Main focus
T – Task	What does the operator, genre and audience require?	purpose and task fulfilment
R – Register	Is the level of formality appropriate and consistent?	tone, voice, audience
A – Accuracy	Are facts, names, numbers and quotations verifiable?	evidence and reliability
C – Collocation	Do the words naturally belong together?	idiomatic language
E – Economy	Can the wording be clearer or shorter without losing meaning?	precision and concision

Context vocabulary and word formation

Context vocabulary

Term	English explanation	Useful phrase
generic	too broad or formulaic to communicate a precise point	a generic opening
register	language style suited to audience, purpose and situation	an unsuitable register
collocation	words that commonly occur together	a natural collocation
evidence	information used to support a claim	reliable evidence
hallucination	generated content presented as if factual although unsupported or false	verify a possible hallucination
source	the origin of information	trace the original source
concise	clear and brief without unnecessary detail	a concise explanation
nuanced	showing relevant distinctions instead of oversimplifying	a nuanced judgement
credible	believable because it is supported and trustworthy	a credible source
qualify	limit or make a claim more precise	qualify a general statement

Word formation before translation

Try to unlock meaning through word families before switching to German.

Base	Noun	Adjective	Useful opposite or related form
verify	verification	verifiable	unverifiable
rely	reliability	reliable	unreliable
precise	precision	precise	imprecise
credible	credibility	credible	incredible / not credible
concise	concision	concise	wordy
appropriate	appropriateness	appropriate	inappropriate

Support ladder: context → word formation → monolingual dictionary → collocation examples → bilingual dictionary → short German help only if still needed.

Listening and Viewing

Viewing task A: hallucinations

Watch the IBM Technology video above. Focus on the difference between fluent wording and reliable content.

BF support: Note three key ideas using the prompts sounds confident – may be wrong – check source.

LF extension: Evaluate which explanation in the video is most useful for academic writing and identify one limitation: what must a student still do independently after watching?

Viewing task B: evaluating evidence

Before watching, predict: What makes evidence strong? After watching, compare your prediction with the video's criteria.

BF: Sort examples into strong evidence / weak evidence / not enough information.

LF: Explain why one piece of evidence may be relevant but still insufficient to prove a broader claim.

Reading: detect the problem before rewriting

Read the fictional paragraph again. Annotate with short labels:

Label	Meaning
GP	generic phrasing
REG	unsuitable register
COLL	incorrect or weak collocation
FACT	invented or unverified detail
COMP	unnecessary complexity

Important: Do not rewrite immediately. First diagnose, then explain, then revise.

A stronger version

Generative AI can help students produce ideas and first drafts, but fluent output still needs checking. Writers should verify factual claims, choose language that fits the task and revise awkward word combinations. In academic work, a clear and supported statement is usually more effective than a vague or unnecessarily complex one.

Compare the two versions. The second is not “better” because it is shorter alone. It is better because its claims are clearer, less inflated and easier to verify.

Analysis

Use this sentence frame only as temporary support:

The phrase “...” is weak because it is ... . In this context, the writer should ... . A more suitable version would be “...” because ... .

BF: Analyse three clearly marked examples.

LF: Select the most important weaknesses yourself, explain their combined effect on credibility and style, and prioritise revisions.

From feature to effect

Avoid feature spotting. Link language to function.

Feature	Weak analysis	Stronger analysis
vague phrase	This is generic.	The broad phrase creates a polished opening but does not establish a specific argument.
informal wording	This is informal.	The colloquial wording conflicts with the neutral register expected in an academic analysis.
unsupported statistic	The number is wrong.	The precise statistic creates an impression of authority, but without a traceable source it weakens credibility.
inflated syntax	The sentence is long.	The dense nominal style increases processing load without adding useful distinctions.

Speaking

60-second revision pitch

Choose one problematic sentence. Explain:

what the main problem is;
why it matters for the task;
how you would revise it;
what you would still need to verify.

BF support: Use the frame I would change ... because ... . My revised version is ... .

LF extension: Defend your revision against a partner who proposes a different version. Focus on task, audience, evidence and effect rather than personal taste.

Recording option: If you record your answer, keep it private unless you deliberately choose to share it.

Writing

Micro-revision, not replacement essays

Work with short units. The aim is to strengthen your own writing, not to outsource a complete assignment.

Task	BF	LF
Rewrite an opening	2–3 sentences with a clear focus	3–4 sentences with a precise line of argument
Repair collocations	use a word bank and dictionary examples	justify the preferred collocation against an alternative
Verify a factual claim	check one supplied source	compare two sources and explain their evidential value
Reduce complexity	shorten a sentence without losing meaning	preserve nuance while improving information density
Improve register	choose from three alternatives	adapt one idea for analysis, speech and blog entry

Writing challenge

Rewrite the fictional flawed paragraph in 90–120 words. Keep the central idea, but:

remove the invented report and statistic;
replace unnatural collocations;
choose a consistent neutral register;
replace generic phrases with specific claims;
reduce unnecessary complexity.

Then highlight one sentence you are proud of and explain why it is stronger.

Optional mediation

A German-speaking school group has written this fictional note:

Unsere Lerngruppe darf KI-Texte nur als Übungsmaterial verwenden. Behauptungen müssen überprüft werden. Persönliche Daten werden nicht eingegeben. Die endgültige Formulierung entsteht eigenständig.

Mediate the relevant information for an English-speaking exchange student. Do not translate word for word. Produce a short, natural message that fits the situation.

BF: 50–70 words with a phrase bank.

LF: 70–100 words and justify one deliberate adaptation in register or wording.

Help and feedback

Help cards

Problem	Ask yourself	Useful move
I do not understand a word.	Can context or word formation help?	underline root, prefix, suffix; then check a monolingual dictionary
The sentence sounds strange.	Is the grammar wrong or is the word combination unusual?	check collocations and example sentences
The text sounds formal but empty.	What exact claim is being made?	replace formulaic phrases with task-specific content
The claim is precise but suspicious.	Can I trace the source?	verify or remove
My version is still too difficult.	Which words carry essential meaning?	cut repetition, nominalisations and decorative complexity

Feedback code

Peer feedback should identify the issue, not rewrite the whole text for the writer.

GP? Be more specific. REG? Check audience and genre. COLL? Check word partnership. FACT? Verify the claim. COMP? Simplify without losing nuance. EVID? Add or improve evidence.

After feedback, the original writer decides what to change and explains one decision.

Error analysis

Errors are useful when you classify them.

Error type	Example	Why it matters
language form	make research	unnatural collocation
task fit	loads of teens in a formal analysis	unsuitable register
content reliability	invented report	unsupported evidence
argument quality	a statistic “proves” a broad claim	conclusion is too strong
style efficiency	inflated abstract phrasing	meaning becomes harder to process

Self-correction rule: Correct one error, then explain the reason in English. This turns editing into learning.

BF/LF differentiation

Dimension	BF	LF
Material	shorter, clearly delimited texts	broader and more complex material sets
Support	checklists, phrase banks, marked evidence	reduced scaffolding, independent prioritisation
Analysis	exemplar-based and focused	wider, deeper and more differentiated
Sources	one or two manageable sources	independent comparison and connection of several materials
AFB	secure AFB I/II with guided transfer	stronger emphasis on AFB II/III and justified evaluation
Language	B2 with selective C1 input	B2 secure, C1-oriented precision where useful
Complexity	clarity before breadth	nuance and synthesis without artificial difficulty

Transfer to Abitur work

This routine supports the same abilities needed when you work with unknown literary or non-literary material: reading precisely, summarising selectively, analysing language and structure, judging communicative effect and writing for a defined purpose.

For a 2027 course, use teacher-provided material connected to the current compulsory themes and works. Do not reproduce complete copyrighted compulsory texts or unauthorised film sequences here. Short quotations should only be used within applicable quotation rules or school licences.

Transfer prompt: Take a short paragraph from a legally available source. Identify one language feature, explain its effect, verify one factual claim and rewrite one sentence for a different target genre.

Abi-Check: Baden-Württemberg 2027

Stand: checked on 3 October 2026. For the Abitur 2027 in English, the official subject decree refers to the Bildungsplan 2016. The newer English curriculum version V3.0, which entered into force in 2026, applies first to younger cohorts and therefore does not replace the 2016 basis for the current 2027 Abitur cohort.

The official 2027 English requirements distinguish BF and LF and include functional communicative competences such as listening, reading, speaking, writing and mediation as well as text and media competence. In the LF written examination, analysis of non-literary texts can explicitly address structure, choice of words, lexical fields, register, tone, stylistic devices, syntactic patterns and communicative strategies. These categories directly support this MOOC's critical language work.

The official 2027 decree also states that BF and LF differ in breadth, depth and complexity. The LF gives stronger weight to AFB II/III, while the BF works with a different emphasis and more manageable scope. This course mirrors that distinction without turning “LF” into unnecessarily difficult English.

Official sources:

Important: If you use this course for a later exam cohort, check the current Facherlass again before planning lessons.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you do first when an AI-generated text contains a precise statistic without a traceable source? (Verify the claim with a reliable source or remove it) (!Keep it because precise numbers sound academic) (!Replace it with a different invented number) (!Make the sentence more formal)

Which phrase is a natural collocation? (conduct research) (!make research) (!produce research informations) (!build a research)

Why can the phrase “in today's fast-paced world” be weak? (It may sound polished but add little specific meaning) (!It is always grammatically incorrect) (!It can only be used in spoken English) (!It contains an invented statistic)

Which sentence best fits a neutral analytical register? (The wording suggests that the claim is broader than the evidence allows) (!This claim is totally wild and kind of wrong) (!Loads of people obviously disagree) (!The writer is super into this idea)

What is the best way to deal with unnecessary complexity? (Simplify wording while preserving the necessary meaning and nuance) (!Replace every short word with a longer synonym) (!Use as many abstract nouns as possible) (!Make every sentence longer)

What does register describe? (The language style appropriate to audience, purpose and situation) (!The truth value of a statistic) (!The number of paragraphs in a text) (!The source of a quotation)

Which revision is most natural? (Students can gain extensive knowledge about the topic) (!Students can gain a huge knowledge about the topic) (!Students can win a big knowledge about the topic) (!Students can make knowledge about the topic)

Why is an invented source especially problematic in academic writing? (It creates unsupported authority and weakens credibility) (!It makes the sentence too short) (!It automatically creates an informal register) (!It always causes a grammar error)

What is a useful order before asking for German help with an unknown English word? (Context, word formation, monolingual dictionary, collocation examples) (!German translation first and nothing else) (!Guess randomly and continue) (!Replace the word with any synonym)

What should remain the learner's responsibility when AI-generated language is used as practice material? (Meaning, evidence, register and final wording) (!Only punctuation) (!Only text length) (!Only font choice)

Memory

Generic phrasing	wording that sounds polished but remains unspecific
Register	level of language suited to purpose and audience
Collocation	words that commonly occur together
Hallucination	unsupported generated detail presented as factual
Verification	checking whether a claim is supported
Concision	expressing meaning without unnecessary wording
Credibility	quality of being trustworthy or believable
Nuance	meaningful distinction that prevents oversimplification

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
specific claim	generic phrasing
neutral analytical wording	unsuitable register
conduct research	incorrect collocation
traceable evidence	invented detail
clear concise wording	unnecessary complexity
independent source check	factual verification

...

Kreuzworträtsel

Register	Welche englische Bezeichnung steht für die sprachliche Ebene passend zu Zweck und Publikum?
Collocation	Wie heißt eine typische Wortverbindung im Englischen?
Hallucination	Wie heißt eine erfundene oder unbelegte KI-Angabe, die wie eine Tatsache präsentiert wird?
Evidence	Welches englische Wort bezeichnet Belege für eine Behauptung?
Concision	Welcher Begriff bezeichnet knappe Ausdrucksweise ohne unnötige Wörter?
Verification	Wie heißt das Überprüfen einer Behauptung auf belastbare Belege?

LearningApps

Lückentext

A fluent sentence is not automatically a

sentence. A writer should check whether wording fits the required

. Typical word partnerships are called

. A precise statistic without a traceable source needs

. Broad formulaic openings often create

phrasing. Long wording should be simplified when it adds no useful

. A monolingual

can help before German support is used. In academic work, evidence should be

. Writers should separate language quality from factual

. BF tasks can use stronger

. LF work can require more independent material

. The final wording remains the learner's own

.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Generic phrasing erkennen: Markiere in einem kurzen fiktiven KI-Text drei allgemeine Formulierungen und ersetze sie durch präzisere Aussagen.
Collocation clinic: Prüfe sechs vorgegebene Wortverbindungen mit einem Wörterbuch und begründe auf Englisch zwei Korrekturen.
Register switch: Formuliere dieselbe Aussage einmal als neutralen Analyse-Satz und einmal als kurze Blog-Zeile.
Fact or fiction: Unterscheide in einem vorbereiteten Material zwischen belegter Information, unbelegter Behauptung und bewusst fiktivem Übungsdetail.

Standard

TRACE analysis: Analysiere einen 150-Wörter-Text mit der TRACE-Routine und priorisiere die drei wichtigsten Überarbeitungen.
Private speaking feedback: Nimm freiwillig eine einminütige private Audio-Erklärung zu einer Revision auf oder trage sie live vor; kein Upload ist erforderlich.
Evidence repair: Ersetze in einem fiktiven Absatz zwei unbelegte Angaben durch überprüfbare, vom Unterricht bereitgestellte Quellen oder entferne sie begründet.
Micro rewrite: Überarbeite einen kurzen KI-ähnlichen Absatz so, dass Inhalt, Register und Collocations verbessert werden, ohne einen vollständigen Ersatzaufsatz zu erzeugen.

Schwer

Competing revisions: Vergleiche zwei plausible Überarbeitungen desselben Absatzes und entscheide anhand von Task, Register, Evidence und Economy, welche Formulierungen jeweils stärker sind.
Source synthesis: LF-orientiert: Verbinde zwei kurze, rechtssicher bereitgestellte Materialien und formuliere eine differenzierte Kernaussage mit sauberer Quellenprüfung.
Style under pressure: Reduziere einen unnötig komplexen C1-nahen Absatz um etwa ein Drittel, ohne zentrale Nuancen oder fachliche Genauigkeit zu verlieren.
Transfer to Abitur material: Wende die Prüfroutine auf einen kurzen legal bereitgestellten Ausschnitt aus einem aktuellen Kursthema an und erläutere, wie deine Revision die Aufgabenpassung verbessert.

Lernkontrolle

Credibility transfer: Du erhältst einen flüssigen Absatz mit einer plausiblen, aber unbelegten Statistik. Erkläre, welche Schritte du vor einer Verwendung durchführen würdest und wie sich deine Entscheidung auf den Text auswirkt.
Register and purpose: Überarbeite dieselbe Kernaussage für eine Analyse, eine Speech und einen Blogeintrag. Begründe zwei sprachliche Unterschiede.
Collocation reasoning: Wähle bei drei Wortverbindungen die natürlichere Variante und erkläre mithilfe von Kontext und Wörterbuchbeispielen, warum sie passt.
Evidence versus fluency: Vergleiche zwei kurze Texte: einer ist stilistisch glatt, aber faktisch unsicher; der andere sprachlich einfacher, aber gut belegt. Analysiere, wie beide verbessert werden müssten.
Complexity with nuance: Kürze einen überladenen Absatz, ohne eine wichtige Einschränkung zu verlieren. Markiere anschließend, welche Information du bewusst erhalten hast.
BF/LF transfer: Bearbeite dieselbe Ausgangsquelle entweder BF-orientiert mit Strukturhilfe oder LF-orientiert mit zusätzlichem Material. Zeige, wie sich Tiefe, Selbstständigkeit und AFB-Anteil verändern.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis zu diesem Thema ist wichtig:

Du erkennst die fünf Kernprobleme generic phrasing, unsuitable register, incorrect collocations, invented details und unnecessary complexity.
Du erklärst die Wirkung problematischer Formulierungen im jeweiligen Kontext.
Du überprüfst faktische Angaben und unterscheidest Beleg, Behauptung und Fiktion.
Du nutzt Kontext, Wortbildung und Wörterbucharbeit strategisch.
Du überarbeitest kurze Texte eigenständig, statt Ersatzaufsätze zu übernehmen.
Du begründest mindestens drei konkrete Revisionsentscheidungen auf Englisch.
Du kannst deine Ergebnisse mündlich oder schriftlich präsentieren.
Du arbeitest datensparsam: fiktive Daten, freiwillige private Aufnahmen, keine ungefragten Uploads.
Du zeigst einen Transfer auf eine neue Abitur-nahe Aufgabenstellung.
Im LF verknüpfst du Materialien selbstständiger und arbeitest stärker in AFB II/III; im BF nutzt du überschaubare Materialien und angemessene Strukturhilfen.

OERs zum Thema

Freie Medien in diesem MOOC: Die eingebundenen Bilder stammen aus Wikimedia Commons. Prüfe auf der jeweiligen Dateiseite Lizenz und Namensnennung, wenn du sie außerhalb des Wikis weiterverwendest.

Ergänzende frei zugängliche Lernmedien: Die eingebetteten YouTube-Videos dienen dem Viewing/Listening. Sie ersetzen keine vollständigen Pflichttexte oder Filmsequenzen.

Next course / Folgekurs

Continue with ABI - Evidence-based English Writing mit Quellen und KI-Check. There you can move from sentence-level checking to source-based argumentation, synthesis and independent revision.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

ABI - AI-generated English kritisch prüfen

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