Content
Before doing the second assignment in the Final Evaluation, let's take some time and review the summary.
What is a good Summary?
- A good summary should give an objective outline of the whole piece of writing. It should answer basic questions about the original text such as "Who did what, where, and when?” or "What is the main idea of the text?” "What are the main supporting points?” "What are the major pieces of evidence?” It should not be a paraphrase of the whole text using your own words.
- You should not give your own ideas or criticisms as part of the summary. However, if you want to comment on a piece of writing it is usual to begin by summarizing it first as objectively as possible.
- A good summary should not include selected examples, details, or information that is not relevant to the piece of writing taken as a whole.
- A good summary should probably include the main idea of each paragraph, and the main evidence supporting that idea, unless it is not relevant to the article or essay as a whole. A summary does not need a conclusion, but if the original ends with a message to the reader this should not be left out.
- A good summary may use key words from the original text but should not contain whole phrases or sentences from the original unless quotation marks are used. Quotations should only be made if there is a reason for using the original words, for example because the choice of words is significant, or because the original is so well expressed.
- Rearranging the words used in the original, or keeping the same structure but just substituting different words is not enough. You must express the sense of the original using your own words and structures.
A summary reviews the most important points of the text. The goal of writing a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book is to offer as accurately as possible the full sense of the original, but in a more condensed form.
Here are some tips to remember about a good summary:
- It should be brief (short).
- The summary should be written as much as possible in your own words.
- It contains only the main ideas.
- It does not include much explanation or examples.
What is the process?
The process of summarizing enables you to better grasp the original, and the result shows the reader that you understand it as well. In addition, the knowledge gained allows you to better analyze and critique the original.
The beginning process for gathering information for the summary requires the application of Pre-reading and During Reading strategies you acquired in Activities 1, 2 and 3. Here are some suggestions for proceeding.
- Read the passage carefully.
- Determine its structure.
- Try to find the main idea in the reading; it’s usually in the title and the first paragraph.
- Next, skim through the article, glancing at any headings and graphics.
- Then, read the conclusion. The intent here is both to give yourself a review of the work and to effectively engage yourself with it.
- Identify the author's purpose in writing - this will help you to distinguish between more important and less important information.
- Reread, label, and underline – apply during reading strategies of your choice. Underline key ideas and terms. Go back and read the original text carefully, jotting down notes on or highlighting the important points.
- Once you clearly understand the writer's major point, identify the stages of thought. The author's use of paragraphing will often be a useful guide. Note the central idea and the author’s reasons (purpose and intent) for holding this viewpoint.
- This time underline the points supporting the central idea; these should be words or phrases here and there rather than complete sentences.
- Note the supporting elements the author uses to explain or back up her/his main information or claim.
- Omit specific details, examples, description, and unnecessary explanations. Note: you may need to go through the article twice in order to pick up everything you need.
Gathering Information using a Graphic organizer:
Go back and read the original text carefully, noting all the highlighting of the important points. Note the central idea and the author’s reasons for holding this viewpoint. Note the supporting elements the author uses to explain or back up her/his main information or claim.
Make an outline that includes the main idea and the supporting details. Arrange the information in a logical order, for example, most to least important or chronological using a graphical organizer. The order need not be the same as that in the original, but keep the related supporting points together.
The way you organize the outline may serve as a model for how you divide and write the summary.
Writing Your Summary
When writing your summary, here are a few tips to remember:
- Be concise.
- Conclude with a final statement reflecting the significance of the article - not from your own point of view but from the writer's.
- Throughout the summary, do not insert your own opinions or thoughts; instead summarize what the writer has to say about the subject.
Revising Your Summary
After you've completed a draft, read your summary and check for accuracy. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you read and revise your summary:
- Does your summary make the same point as the article?
- Have you omitted anything important?
- Does your summary read smoothly with all parts clearly related?
- Keep in mind that a summary should generally be no more than one-fourth the length of the original
Editing Your Summary
- Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, looking particularly for those common in your writing.
- Write a clean draft and proofread for copying errors.
Stop or Before You Proceed
If you have any questions, please ask your teacher before proceeding to the second assignment in the Final Evaluation.
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Overview | Expectations | Content | Assignment
