SUMMARY WRITING

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SUMMARY WRITING

• ESL 295/Becktold
• Fall 1999

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Definition

• A summary is a paraphrase of the important
  information found in a reading selection.

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• A summary should
• include the main idea, major supporting details
  or explanations, and the authors conclusion.
• be approximately 1/4 the length of the original
  selection,
• be in your own words.

• A summary should not
• include your opinion.
• be what you think think the author should have
  said.
• be copied (plagiarized) material or a series of
  quotes from the selection.

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HOW?

• First, read the selection several times to make
  sure you understand it.

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• Second, answer questions about the selection,
  such as
• What is the topic?
• What is the author saying about the topic? This
  answer will give you the main idea of the
  selection.
• What are some of the explanations, examples, or
  proof that support the main idea?
• What is the authors conclusion?

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• Third, the first sentence should include the
  following information
• Title of the selection
• Authors name, if this information is available
• Main idea of the selection

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SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCES

• In the article,________________________,
• (TITLE)
• ____________________________________
• (AUTHORS NAME)
• (claims/discusses/states) that _____________
• ____________________________________.
• (MAIN IDEA -- IN YOUR OWN WORDS)

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OR
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• According to __________________________
• (AUTHORS NAME)
• in his/her article, _____________________,
• (TITLE)
• _____________________________________
• ____________________________________.
• (MAIN IDEA-- IN YOUR OWN WORDS)

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• Four, compare your summary with the original
  selection. Have you included all the necessary
  information
• ? Main idea
• ? Supporting details
• ? Conclusion
• Have you added your opinion? Remember
• a summary is of the authors ideas NOT
• yours.