Vocabulary Word Map

		Vocabulary Word
	3. Use the word in a sentence or question		4. Recall a sentence with the word from the text.

Appendix 3.

SUMMARY

A. A summary is the expression in a condensed form of the principal content of any
piece of writing. In other words the summarizer should briefly render the main idea in
his own words.

A summary is a good test of your ability to understand what you have read. If you can pick out essential points and then find your own ways of expressing them, you have really understood the passage.

The procedure for preparing a summary of any kind consists of four steps: 1) reading, 2) selecting, 3) writing, 4) comparing. First you must read the passage carefully to understand its meaning, then picking out the essentials, put the idea expressed into your own words.

Having grasped the essentials you now re-read the passage to see how well you have understood the details. Another problem in summarizing is that you should omit examples when possible.

The last step in writing a summary is comparing the written summary with the original passage to make sure that the essence of the original has been reproduced in a distinctly different language, that no idea which was not in the original has been introduced in the summary.

As to the length the summary should be shorter than the original piece of writing. How much shorter is determined by the purpose of the summary. If it is to serve as a self-aid in reviewing, the summary probably need give only a general statement of the essential thought of the original. If it is to serve as a note for possible use in a research paper, the summary should include the main supporting ideas.

B. A summary is the condensation of the main points of a larger work. It should
include all the major ideas of the text (or, in the case of a plot summary, all major actions), but it should also be short, leaving out all superfluous details. When writing a summary, never include dialogue or quotations and leave out most description. When summarizing literary works, use the present tense. Do not give your opinion on the subject matter at this point. Your summary should be between one third and one fifth of the length of the original text. In the case of a plot summary it can be a lot shorter. Here are some hints that will help you write a summary:

Read the text slowly and carefully, if necessary more than once. Take notes while reading the text.

Determine the author's purpose as well as the form of discourse used in the text.

Divide the text into adequate sections (sometimes paragraphs indicate the main parts).

Now make a rough draft, listing the author's major ideas in key words or phrases for each section. In the case of a plot summary list the major events and actions.

Fill out your rough draft in your own words so as to achieve a readable, logical and coherent text.

Useful phrases

the author starts out / off with

puts forward the thesis that

points out

presents, delineates, outlines

deals with

supports, stresses, emphasizes, underlines

dwells upon, concentrates on

proceeds to, continues with

bases his argument(s) on the assumption that

weighs the pros and cons/the advantages and disadvantages

assesses, analyses, evaluates, discusses

illustrates, exemplifies

appeals to, tries to persuade/convince the reader

concludes by saying that...

gives an optimistic/pessimistic outlook for the future

draws the conclusion

Appendix 4.

Writing a Summary

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1005