Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation

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Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation

• A Sequence for Academic Writing
• Chapter 1

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What is summary?

• A brief restatement, in your own words, of the
  content of a passage.
• Focus should be on the central idea of the
  passage.
• A good summary has three qualities
• Brevity
• Completeness
• Objectivity

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Can a summary be objective?

• If you make a conscious, good-faith effort to be
  unbiased and to not allow your own feelings on
  the subject to distort your account of the text
  this is an attempt to be objective.

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Using the Summary

• Dont use summary as a substitute for analysis
• Writing summaries helps you to understand what
  youve read, and improve your general writing
  habits.
• Summaries are useful to your readers.
• Summaries are frequently required in college
  level writing.

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Where do we find written summaries?

• Pg. 4

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The Reading Process

• Think of reading as a process try to enjoy it!
• Think of reading as a circular movement through a
  text rather than a linear movement.
• Stop reading periodically and sum up what you
  have read in a sentence or two.
• Flag difficult passages with notes or question
  marks.
• Watch for different stages of thought place
  where you can break the text into sections.
• Ask questions about the text as you read.
• READ ACTIVELY!!!! Think of reading as a kind of
  conversation. You have the right to ask
  questions, to pick apart points made, to disagree!

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Critical Reading for Summary

• Pg. 6

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How to Write Summaries

• Read, re-read, and underline!
• Divide into stages of thought.
• Write a one or two sentence summary for each
  stage of thought.
• Write a thesis A one or two sentence summary of
  the entire passage.
• Write the first draft of the summary.
• Combine thesis sentence with one sentence section
  summaries.
• Combine thesis sentence, section summaries, and
  carefully chosen details.
• Final draft

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How Long Should a Summary Be?

• The length of the summary depends on the length
  of the original source as well as the purpose of
  the summary.
• Approximately ¼ the original size.
• Length will be determined by purpose thesis
  summary vs. complete summary.

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Summarizing Narratives

• The summary will not be a narrative. Instead it
  will be an overall synopsis of a narrative or
  personal account.
• Name and describe the main characters and the
  main actions/events.
• Describe the significance of the actions/events
  on the characters.

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Paraphrase (pg. 33)

• Recasting a passage into your own words
  requiring your complete understanding of the
  material.
• Generally about the same length as the original
  passage.
• How to write a paraphrase (pg. 42)

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Quotation (pg. 45)

• A quotation records the exact language used by
  someone in a speech or in writing.
• Quote only when
• Memorable language
• Clear and concise
• Need the solid reputation

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In-class Group Activity pg. 55-57

• In groups, practice summary writing using the
  process discussed in this chapter.
• Read and re-read Goodwins, The Political Genius
  of Abraham Lincoln.
• Break the reading into stages of thought.
• Write a 1-2 sentence summary for each stage of
  thought.
• Write a 1-2 sentence summary which encapsulates
  the authors main idea or thesis.
• Use the thesis summary and section summaries to
  write a summary in draft form.
• Polish and finalize a draft.
• Submit for a grade.