Transcript What Is Summary?

LECTURE FOURTEEN
SUMMARY WRITING
SUMMARY WRITING
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Definition and characteristics
Steps in writing a summary
How to write a summary
Writing Practice
What Is Summary?
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A summary is a shortened passage,
which retains the essential information
of the original. It is a fairly brief
restatement --- in your own words --- of
the contents of a passage.
Note: You simply report back what the
writer has said, without making value
judgements.
Characteristics of a good
summary
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Briefness
omit unnecessary details like examples, explanations
and other unimportant information. (length: 1/4-1/3
of original text)
Completeness
to include all the main and supporting points
delivered in your own words in a condensed manner
Coherence
rather than an outline listed as key words and phrase,
a summary is a paragraph with necessary transitions
and function structures to make it flow.
Objectivity
to contain only the ideas or information of the
original. Do not include your own ideas or emotions
on the topic.
Steps in Writing a Summary
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Read the article
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Divide the article into sections of ideas.
Each section deal with one aspect of the
central theme.
Label each section with a general phrase
that captures the subject matter of the
section.
Highlight or underline the main points and
key phrases.
Steps in Writing a Summary
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Write One-Sentence summaries
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Write a one-sentence summary for each
section of thought on a separate sheet of
paper.
Steps in Writing a Summary
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Formulate the Thesis Statement
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Formulate a central theme that weaves the
one-sentence section summaries together.
Steps in Writing a Summary
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Compress supporting details
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Omit the details
Reduce the examples
Simplify the descriptions
Eliminate all repetitions
Compress wordy sentences and change clauses
or sentences to phrases and phrases to words.
Use general words instead of specific words
Use the shortest possible transitions
Avoid figurative language
Put the main points of a dialogue in indirect
speech
Steps in Writing a Summary
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Write Your First Draft
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Begin with a proper citation of the title,
author, source, and date of publication of
the article summarised.
Combine the thesis statement and your
one-sentence segment summaries into a
one-to-two-paragraph summary.
Use transitions for a smooth and logical
flow of ideas.
Conclude with a “summing up” sentence
by stating what can be learned from
reading the article. (optional)
Beginning a Summary
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Begin your summary with the title,
author of the work
In Catherine Coleman’s ESL 33
Spring 2008 syllabus…
Beginning a Summary
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Introductory sentence should be
general – in one sentence try to provide
a general overview of the article
…the instructor provides details for
students' successful completion of the
class.
Beginning a Summary
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In Catherine Coleman’s ESL 33 Spring
2008 syllabus, the instructor provides
details for students' successful
completion of the class.
Some introductory phrases
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2.
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4.
5.
(The author) states in (this article) that...
(The author, in (this article) shows that...
In (this article), (the author) writes that...
As (the author) says in (this article), ...
The main idea of (the author's article) is
Organize the supporting
details
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Evaluate supporting details
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Cover all of the author’s major supporting
ideas.
Show the relationships among these ideas.
Omit specifics, such as illustrations,
descriptions, and detailed explanations.
Omit all personal opinions, ideas, and
inferences. Let the reader know that you
are reporting the author’s ideas.
Organize the supporting
details
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Academic Language Reporting Verbs
Other words you can use instead of “says” or “tells”
or “talks about”
reports
points out
finds
asks
advises
describes
insists
asserts
claims
believes
implies
contends
reveals
declares
proposes
observes
notes
establishes
maintains
suggests
explains
Using transitions in the body
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You will have to use transitions and other
kinds of language to make your summary
flow.
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First the author ………….
The author begins by stating that users
should……….
He then points out that…….
In the second part of the article……..
In the final section of the article, the author
suggests……………..
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Identify the main
idea in each part.
Paraphrase the
main idea
Compile sentence
paraphrases
Paragraph
paraphrase
Main idea
Main idea
Main idea
Main idea
Rough Summary
Summary
Points to Remember
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Do not write an overly detailed
summary: the point is to reduce the
work to its essence.
Use your own voice.
Quote from the material sparingly to
illustrate major ideas -- stick to
paraphrase for the most part.
Preserve the balance and proportion of
the original work.
Writing Practice
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Write a summary of about 150 words
on the article: Practical and Poetic
People