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E9 M - Read and compare two information texts

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E9 M - Read and compare two information texts

Mini-Beschreibung: Compare two short information texts on the same topic. Look at information, focus, evidence and perspective. You work mainly in English and use German help only when you need it.

Level: Klasse 9, Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Baden-Württemberg, M-Niveau, B1-orientiert.

Media starter

Look – think – say: What can you see? What questions does the photo raise? Say two sentences in English before you read anything.

Prediction: Write three words you expect in a text about food waste.
Question: Ask one question that a reliable information text should answer.
Evidence: What kind of evidence would help you trust an answer: a number, an example, an interview or a source?

<details> <summary>Deutsch-Hilfe</summary> Nutze die Hilfe erst, wenn Du sie brauchst: information = welche Informationen ein Text liefert; focus = worauf er den Schwerpunkt legt; evidence = womit Aussagen gestützt werden; perspective = aus welchem Blickwinkel das Thema dargestellt wird. </details>

I can

By the end, you can say:

I can find the main information in two short texts.
I can compare their focus.
I can identify evidence such as statistics, examples and expert voices.
I can describe a text's perspective without calling it simply "good" or "bad".
I can write and speak a short comparison with linking words.
I can check dates, sources and AI-supported feedback before I use it.

Your learning loop

English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.

Understand: Read or listen for the main idea first.
Respond: Give a short answer in English.
Ask: Ask for one specific missing point.
Hint: Use a word bank or sentence starter, not a full translation.
Improve: Correct one content point and one language point.
Use again: Reuse the improved phrase in a new sentence.

Before you start: activate what you know

Quick pair talk: What is the difference between a fact and an example? Can two texts be correct but still have a different focus?

30-second challenge: Describe the image. Then add one sentence beginning with This could be evidence for...

Listening and viewing

BBC Learning English: United against food waste. Listen once for the main idea. Listen again and note two solutions, one speaker/example and one useful phrase. The programme is from 2022, so keep the publication date in mind when comparing claims.

What is the main focus: scale, causes, solutions or entertainment?
Which voices or examples are used as evidence?
Which information would you check in a newer source?

VOA Learning English podcast, 2024. Listen only as far as your teacher sets. Notice how presenters introduce a report, a number and a source. You do not need to understand every word.

Listening strategy: First main idea, then keywords, then evidence. Do not stop at every unknown word.

Reading: two information texts

Topic: food waste. Both texts below are short learning texts adapted from public information. They are not quotations.

Text A: The global picture

Food waste is a worldwide issue. The UN Environment Programme reported that about 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022 at household, food-service and retail level. This was around 19% of the food available to consumers in these sectors. Households were responsible for the largest share, about 60%. The report does more than give a big number. It also explains why countries need better measurement: if they know where waste happens, they can plan and check actions to reduce it. The text therefore has a global and data-based focus. Its evidence mainly comes from a large international report and statistics. The perspective is institutional: it looks at the problem across countries and sectors and asks how progress can be measured.

Source basis: UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, checked against the report's key messages.

Text B: Saving food in everyday life

Food waste can also be discussed through practical examples. A BBC Learning English programme follows people who try to stop good food from being thrown away. It talks about ideas such as using food before its use-by date, buying seasonal produce and changing how food moves from farms to customers. Instead of giving many global statistics, the programme uses people, situations and vocabulary to make the issue easier to picture. Its focus is on solutions and everyday decisions. The evidence is mainly examples and speaker experiences, not a new global dataset. The perspective is practical and community-based: it asks what people and businesses can change. Because the programme is from 2022, a reader should check newer figures before using its older numerical claims.

Source basis: BBC Learning English, United against food waste, published 2022.

Compare the texts

Question	Text A	Text B
Information	Global scale of food waste; sectors; measurement	Everyday solutions; examples; food-use habits
Focus	Size of the problem and how to measure progress	What people and businesses can do
Evidence	International report and statistics	Examples, speakers and practical cases
Perspective	Global, institutional, data-based	Practical, community-based, solution-focused

Important: A different perspective does not automatically mean that one text is false. Ask what each text is trying to explain and what evidence fits that purpose.

Reading strategy: four lenses

Use I-F-E-P every time you compare information texts.

Information: What are the main facts, ideas or examples?
Focus: Which part of the topic gets the most attention?
Evidence: What supports the claims?
Perspective: From which position or purpose is the topic presented?

One-minute task: Cover the comparison table. Explain I-F-E-P from memory.

Context vocabulary

Word / phrase	Simple English meaning	Use it
evidence	information that supports a claim	The text uses statistics as evidence.
focus	the main area of attention	Text B focuses on solutions.
perspective	a way of looking at a topic	The texts have different perspectives.
according to	used to name a source	According to UNEP, ...
whereas	shows a contrast	Text A uses data, whereas Text B uses examples.
reliable	likely to be accurate and trustworthy	Check whether the source is reliable.
claim	a statement that may need support	Find evidence for the claim.
up-to-date	using recent information	Check if the figure is up-to-date.

Word-learning rule: Do not translate every word. First use context, word families, images and examples.

Pronunciation and fluency

Speak for meaning, not for a perfect accent. Aim for clear stress and useful chunks.

according to → keep the phrase together.
evidence → stress the first syllable.
perspective → keep a steady rhythm.
whereas → use it to signal contrast clearly.
statistics show → do not rush the final sounds.

Fluency drill: Say this three times, a little more smoothly each time: Text A focuses on global data, whereas Text B focuses on practical solutions.

Recordings are voluntary and private. Do not upload recordings unless your teacher has explicitly planned a safe platform and you choose to take part.

Speaking

Compare in 45 seconds. Use at least three of these frames:

Both texts inform the reader about...
Text A focuses on..., whereas Text B...
Text A supports its points with...
Text B gives the reader...
The perspective in Text A is..., while...
For this question, I would check... because...

Partner follow-up: Your partner asks one spontaneous question. Answer in two or three sentences.

Writing

Write 100–130 words comparing the two texts. Include:

one sentence on the shared topic,
one contrast in focus,
one contrast in evidence,
one sentence on perspective,
one final sentence about what you would check before using the information.

Useful structure: Both texts... / However,... / Text A..., whereas Text B... / This evidence helps the reader... / Before using the information, I would check...

Functional grammar for comparing

You do not need a new grammar chapter. Use grammar to make the comparison clearer.

Contrast: whereas, while, however, unlike

Similarity: both, also, similarly

Source language: According to..., The report states..., The programme gives the example of...

Careful language: This suggests..., This may help..., The evidence supports the claim that...

Avoid: Text A is better. Improve: Text A gives more numerical evidence for the global scale of the problem.

Mediation

First understand the short German note. Then explain the key point in English to an exchange student. Do not translate sentence by sentence.

<details> <summary>Deutscher Ausgangstext für Mediation</summary> Der UNEP-Bericht bezieht sich auf Daten für 2022. Er unterscheidet Haushalte, Gastronomie und Einzelhandel. Neuere Texte können dieselben Daten noch zitieren. Deshalb musst Du immer prüfen, auf welches Datenjahr sich eine Zahl bezieht. </details>

Your task: Give the exchange student a 3-sentence explanation. Use data year, source and check.

Help levels

Level 1 – keywords: topic – focus – evidence – perspective – source – date – example – statistic

Level 2 – sentence starters: Both texts... / Text A focuses on... / In contrast,... / The evidence in Text B is... / I would check...

Level 3 – model opening: Both texts deal with food waste, but they present it differently. Text A gives a global overview with statistics, whereas Text B uses practical examples.

Use the smallest help level that lets you continue.

Feedback: improve, do not replace

Use this short feedback routine:

Content: Did I compare all four lenses?
Evidence: Did I name what supports the claims?
Language: Did I use at least two linking words?
Accuracy: Did I keep source and data year clear?
Revision: Change two sentences yourself.

If you use AI-supported feedback, do not paste private data. Ask for feedback on your own text, keep your original version and check every suggested fact, source and correction before accepting it. Do not allow an external AI tool to upload or reuse your work without your knowledge.

Error analysis

Draft sentence	What is the problem?	Better version
Text A is more true.	Too general; no criterion	Text A gives more numerical evidence about the global scale.
According UNEP food waste is big.	Missing to and vague wording	According to UNEP, food waste is a global issue.
Text B have examples.	Subject–verb agreement	Text B has examples.
The number is from 2024.	Publication year and data year are mixed up	The report was published in 2024, but the estimate refers to 2022.

Your turn: Add one real error from your own draft and explain how you fixed it.

Transfer

Look at the image. Imagine two future texts: Text C explains food waste with scientific definitions. Text D reports on a school project.

Without reading them, predict what kinds of focus, evidence and perspective each text might use. Then say what you would need to check before trusting either text.

Can-do check

Mark each statement for yourself: yes / almost / not yet.

I can find the main information without translating every sentence.
I can explain the focus of each text.
I can name the evidence used.
I can describe perspective with neutral language.
I can use whereas or while to compare.
I can separate publication year from data year.
I can improve my own text after feedback.

Next step: If two or more points are not yet, repeat the reading comparison with shorter notes. If most points are yes, continue with E9 M - Evaluate sources and write a comparison.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main purpose of I-F-E-P? (To compare information, focus, evidence and perspective) (!To translate every sentence) (!To learn irregular verbs) (!To count paragraphs)

Which evidence is central in Text A? (An international report and statistics) (!A fictional diary) (!A poem) (!A private social-media post)

What is the main focus of Text B? (Practical solutions and everyday decisions) (!The history of farming) (!A grammar rule) (!A sports result)

Which word is useful for showing contrast? (whereas) (!because) (!yesterday) (!perhaps)

What should you check when a text gives a number? (The source and the data year) (!Only the font size) (!Only the title colour) (!Only the first sentence)

What does perspective mean in this course? (The way a text looks at a topic) (!The number of pages) (!The spelling of the title) (!The reading speed)

Which sentence compares evidence clearly? (Text A uses statistics, whereas Text B uses examples) (!Text A is nice and Text B is nice) (!Food waste is food waste) (!I read both texts yesterday)

What is a good first listening strategy? (Listen for the main idea) (!Stop after every unknown word) (!Translate every sound) (!Write a full transcript immediately)

What should happen after AI-supported feedback? (You check and revise the suggestions yourself) (!You delete your original text) (!You accept every suggestion automatically) (!You upload private data)

Which statement is accurate about the UNEP figure used here? (The report was published in 2024 and the estimate refers to 2022) (!The estimate refers to 2024) (!The report is a fictional source) (!The number comes from a private profile)

Memory

Information	main facts and ideas
Focus	main area of attention
Evidence	support for a claim
Perspective	way of looking at a topic
Statistic	numerical support
Example	concrete case

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Global statistics	Text A
Practical examples	Text B
Institutional perspective	Text A
Community perspective	Text B
Measurement of progress	Text A

Kreuzworträtsel

Evidence	What supports a claim?
Focus	What is the main area of attention?
Source	Where does information come from?
Compare	What do you do when you look for similarities and differences?
Statistic	What do you call numerical evidence?
Context	What can help you understand an unknown word?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Headline match: Write one suitable English headline for Text A and one for Text B. Explain each choice in one sentence.
Evidence hunt: Mark three pieces of evidence in the course and label each as statistic, example or source.
Image response: Choose one Wikimedia image on this page and write four English sentences explaining how it connects to the topic.
Question maker: Write four questions you would ask before trusting a new information text.

Standard

One-minute comparison: Give a one-minute spoken comparison using information, focus, evidence and perspective. A private recording is optional.
Comparison paragraph: Write 100–130 words comparing the two texts and revise two sentences after peer feedback.
Source-date check: Find publication year and data year in the UNEP source and explain why the difference matters.
Mini mediation: Explain the German mediation note in clear English for an exchange student without translating sentence by sentence.

Schwer

Third text: Find a short, age-appropriate public information text on food waste. Compare it with Text A using I-F-E-P and cite the source.
Evidence quality: Choose one claim from a new text and evaluate whether its evidence really supports that exact claim.
Two-perspective presentation: Create a two-slide or poster presentation showing how the same topic can be framed from an institutional and a community perspective.
Transfer challenge: Apply I-F-E-P to two short texts on a new topic such as fast fashion, school transport or screen time. Present similarities, differences and one question that remains open.

Lernkontrolle

Compare purpose and evidence: You receive two new short texts on the same topic. Explain how their purposes influence the evidence they use.
Check a statistic: A text gives a striking number without a clear date. Describe a sensible three-step checking process before using it in your own work.
Rewrite for neutrality: Change an unfair sentence such as Text B is bad into a precise comparison based on focus, evidence or perspective.
Transfer to video: Compare a short video report and a short written text. Explain which evidence is easier to check in each medium and why.
Choose evidence: You want to argue that a problem is widespread. Decide whether a personal example, a current large dataset or a slogan is most useful for that claim and justify your reasoning.
Revision explanation: Show one sentence from a first draft and your improved version. Explain what changed in meaning and language.

Lernnachweis

For a strong learning record, show that you can:

understand two B1-oriented information texts without full translation,
identify main information and focus,
name and compare evidence,
describe perspective neutrally,
use clear comparison language in speaking and writing,
distinguish source date from data year,
check important facts and AI-supported suggestions,
revise your own text instead of replacing it with generated text,
transfer I-F-E-P to a new topic.

No external uploads are required. Private recordings remain voluntary.

OERs zum Thema

Background on the sample topic:

English background for language work:

Verified source used for Text A: UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024

Free media used on this page: Wikimedia Commons files are linked through their file names and retain their licence information on the respective Commons pages.

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