Summary Writing2

8/8/2019 Summary Writing2

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ObjectivesObjectives

1. Give an appropriate definitionfor a summary

2. Know the characteristics of agood summary

3. Learn the techniques insummary writing

4. Learn the steps in summarywriting5. Practice


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I. What is a summary?I. What is a summary?

y A summary is a shortened passage,

which retains the essential information

of the original. It is a fairly briefrestatement --- in your own words ---of

the contents of a passage.

y Note: you simply report back what the

writer has said, without making value

judgments.


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II. Characteristics of a goodII. Characteristics of a good

summarysummaryy Can be understood without

reference to the original;

y

Is a faithful reproduction of, orcontains only the ideas or

information of, the original;

y Is briefwithout any unnecessary

detail;

y Is a readable unified whole


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III. Techniques in summaryIII. Techniques in summarywritingwriting

1. Paraphrasing

To paraphrase means to

completely and correctly express

other peoples ideas in ones own

words.


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Examples:Examples:

1. Youve cooked us all1. Youve cooked us all a hot potatoa hot potato..

(a troublesome person or issue)(a troublesome person or issue)

2. Prevention is better than cure.2. Prevention is better than cure.

(It is better to prevent(It is better to prevent

somethingsomething unpleasant fromunpleasant fromhappening thanhappening than try to put ittry to put it

right afterwards.)right afterwards.)


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It helps us understand the

original better.

It helps us grasp the central idea

and the main points.

It helps us write summaries that

are brief and to the point, and in

our own words.

The importance of paraphrasing


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Read the original carefullyand comprehend its

meaning wholly andcorrectly.

Consider the original article

as a whole, not in isolatedsentences.

Steps of paraphrasing


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Techniques in summary writingTechniques in summary writing

3. Ways of condensationy Use synonyms or synonymous phrasesHe had a good command of English.

(He knew English well.)y Change the structure of simple

sentencesMy brother has an appreciation of modern

art.(My brother appreciates modern art.)


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y Turn complex sentences into simple

sentences

He received a welcome that was as cold asice.

(He received an icy welcome.)

y

Combine the sentencesHurry up. If you dont, youll miss the train.

(Hurry up or youll miss the train.)


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4. Finding the topic sentence and making anoutline

topic sentence/ outline


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IV. How to write a summary?IV. How to write a summary?

1. The importance of summary writing2. Necessary elements for a good

summaryy Proper citation

title, author, source;date of publication and the text

(journal articles)


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yGrammar and the structure ofwriting

avoid direct quotation;use transitional words

y Length

1/4 to 1/3 of theoriginal


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Read the articleTo understand the article and

find the general theme. Reread the article

Divide into sections and labeleach section.Understand the important parts.

Write one-sentence summariesSummarize each section of

thought.

3.Steps in writing a summary


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Formulate the thesis statement

Weave the one-sentence section-summaries together.

Write the first draftA. In the first sentence or two:1. The authors name

2. The articles or chapters name

3. The authors thesis statement

B. Then the summary sentences for eachparagraph or section.


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C. Express in your own words,

to avoid plagiarism.

C. Occasional supporting ideas ifnecessary.

Note:1. Eliminate unnecessary words and repetitions.

2. Eliminate personal ideas and inferences.

3. Use transitions for a smooth and logical flowof ideas.

4. Conclude with a summing up sentence.


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Edit the draft Is all the important information in the summary?

Am I listing things out?

Am I saying the same thing over and over again? Have I left out my personal views and ideas?

Does my summary hang together?

Is my grammar, punctuation, and spelling

correct?Write the final draft


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Writing Summaries PracticeWriting Summaries Practice

y The paragraphsbelow areeach

followed by two summaries.Judgewhich is thebetter summary ofeach

paragraph. Remember thatsummariesshould begin with an

overall summary statement, havesupporting summary statements asnecessary, and name thesource.


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During the year 1903 a forty-year-old Detroiter named Henry Ford,

having left the employ of the littleDetroit Automobile Company

with the idea of going into the manufacturing business for himself,

designed and built a big and powerful racing car. Why did he do

this? He had no great interest in speed; his idea was quitedifferent: he wanted to make a small, light serviceable vehicle.The

reason he built a racing car was that he wanted capital, and to

attract capital he had to have a reputation, and in those days when

automobiles were thought of as expensive playthings in which the

rich could tear noisily along the dusty roads, the way to get a

reputation was to build a car that could win races. (Frederick

Lewis Allen, The Big Change; New York: Harper, 1952, p. 109)


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Summary 1:

According to Frederick lewis Allen, Henry Ford built his first

automobile, a powerful racing car, in order to gain a reputation with

the wealthy as an automobile builder. Once he had attracted capital,

he would build the kind of car he wanted to build: a small, practical

one. (The Big Change; New York; Harper, 1952, 109)

Summary 2:

In 1903 Henry Ford built a big and powerful racing car. He didn't want

to do this; instead he wanted to build a small, sensible car. But in

order to get the capital he needed, he first had to have a reputation, so

he cleverly built the racing car to get the attention of the rich andfamous people who drove cars like that and had the money to invest

in building them (The Big Change; New York: Harper, 1952, 109)

A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

B. Summary 2 is the better summary.


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The early sagas spoke, too, of the abundant fruit of excellent

quality growing in Greenland, and of the number of cattle that

could be pastured there.The Norwegian settlements were

located in places that are now at the foot of glaciers.There are

Eskimo legends of old houses and churches buried under theice.The Danish Archaeological Expedition sent out by the

National Museum of Copenhagen was never able to find all of

the villages mentioned in the old records. But its excavations

indicated clearly that the colonists lived in a climate definitely

milder than the present one. (Rachel L. Carson, The Sea AroundUs; New York: Oxford, 1951, p. 180)


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Summary 1:

In the past, says Rachel L. Carson, abundant fruit and cattle were

raised in Greenland.There were settlements in places that now would

be at the foot of glaciers. Eskimos tell of houses and churches buried

under the ice, and the Danes found in their archaeological

expeditions that the climate of Greenland was once milder than it is

today (Rachel L. Carson, The Sea Around Us; New York: Oxford, 1951,

180).

Summary 2:

There is evidence that the climate of Greenland used to be milder

than it is today, according to Rachel L. Carson in The Sea Around Us.

Old records tell of colonists successfully raising fruit and cattle and

of villages located where glaciers now stand (New York: Oxford, 1951,

180).

A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

B. Summary 2 is the better summary.

Summary Writing2

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