WHAT IS A SUMMARY?
A summary is a shortened version of writing in which you use your own wording to express the main idea of a longer piece of information.
Summarizing is a real-life skill used by everyone: news reporters, police officers, you, et cetera.
WHAT THREE POINTS ARE EMPHASIZED IN LEARNING SUMMARY SKILLS?
When learning summarizing skills, three points should be emphasized:
(1) summaries are shorter than original texts,
(2) they contain the main ideas of a text, and
(3) they are written in reported speech and present tense.
HOW DO I DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RELEVANT AND IRRELEVANT DETAILS?
Relevant vs Irrelevant details
Relevant: Finding the Main Idea
The main idea is defined as one or two sentences that say what the author is trying to tell us about something. It is not usually a sentence that comes straight from the reading, but one that you have to come up with that summarises what the reading (paragraph, long passage, article, story, etc.) is mainly about.
Irrelevant: Elaborating details
When you read your original summary the second time, mentally or physically with a pencil, exclude any of the following:
1. Minor details
2. Opinions
3. Repetitions
4. Examples
5. Figures of speech
6. Evaluations/conclusions
7. Dialogue/ Quotations
8. Statistical data
IS THERE AN APPROACH THAT I CAN USE TO COMPOSE A SUMMARY?
The process can be broken into these steps:
STEP I – Analyse the INSTRUCTIONS to make sure you understand how to answer.
… how to write? Continuous prose
… word limit? 120 exact
STEP II – Read the passage ONCE to get a general understanding; TWICE to start making notes.
STEP III – Make NOTES of the main ideas in the text.
The Five W’s & How can be useful in helping you write the main points
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1. Identify the theme/topic that is mentioned throughout the passage (what is extract talking about?)
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2. Create a topic sentence that summarises main
points
3. Ask yourself, what is the writer trying to tell me
about the topic?
*list FIVE main points
*use your own wording as far as possible to
paraphrase in sentence form what you found
(these become the main points/relevant info.)
*ensure you do not have any MORE FEDS
4. Organize main points sentences logically, which
means they do not have to appear in the order presented
in passage
STEP IV – Add transitions to make coherent
Use appropriate transitions to join and transition sentences.
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STEP V – Read over and proofread
þ Your range of vocabulary is helpful as you condense a number of words/details
þ Change any direct speech into reported speech
þ Keep the language: (SC²)
Simple – easy to understand Clear – easy to see Concise – brief and to the point
Recommendations for Teachers
- While students MUST use their own words, ― "in your own words"/wording does not require avoidance of keywords of the passage. The technical jargon (scientific terms, specialized vocabulary) of some passages cannot be avoided when students are writing summaries.
- Students need to undertake extensive practice in organizing their answers, using transition words to help the reader with understanding and readability and using simple, correct language.
- Students should be reminded that to reuse the words of the passage entirely (whether as a whole chunk or by joining phrases from all over) attracts no marks — as the student has not presented any of his/her own words for assessment. Staying within the word limit is another area for practice.
- Build vocabulary and spelling skills to help with comprehension.
Example Summary:
Example Summary:
In Against the Odds is an informational text, that provides the heroic actions of an airline pilot, "Sully" Sullenberger when faced with adversity. On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger was the pilot on Flight 1549. Sullenberger thought he
was in for an average flight. But, at 3,000 feet, a flock of geese headed toward the plane and struck the engine.
The passengers felt a powerful thud against the airplane. Sullenberger made a radio call to air traffic control
and explained the situation. They discussed the options: of returning back to the airport or land in New Jersey. Sullenberger knew the plane couldn't make it too either of the places. He decided to land the plane in the Hudson River. “Brace for impact!” came the captain’s voice over the intercom. He picked his landing spot
and went for it.” After the plane landed Sullenberger made sure that everyone was off the plane. All the passengers' thanked Sully for being a hero. According to him, he was just doing his job.
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