How to write a Summary

1
Lesson 3

• How to write a Summary

Roberta Grandi Università della Valle dAosta
2

• The material for this contribution is adapted
  from the chapter Summary of Informative Texts
  (written by R. Grandi) in the book Writing
  Techniques. Workbook, a cura di R. Grandi e M.
  Andreola,  Educatt Università Cattolica, Milano,
  2007.

3
A SUMMARY OF A TEXT

• RE-WRITING THE ORIGINAL TEXT IN A SHORTER FORM.
• Summary is the process of re-writing a source
  text into a new and more synthetic text,
  containing the same information, key-concepts and
  data.

4
Concision and Accuracy

• Remember A summary is not a REDUCTION.
• COLLAGE IS NOT ALLOWED

5
In order to summarize a text you need to

• Step FROM TEXT TO MEANING understand the meaning
  of the text as a whole
• Then move FROM MEANING TO POINTS, identifying the
  main concepts and the keywords of the text
• Then back FROM POINTS TO TEXT, creating a new
  text, shorter than the original but which
  maintains its main concepts

6
5 steps towards a good summary

• Read the text carefully to understand the main
  meaning.
• Read again to examine text organization and key
  concepts. Try to identify topic sentence and
  keywords.
• Write an outline of the main concepts and
  connections.
• Rewrite the text
• In paragraphs (Topic sentences etc.)
• In a simplified but cohesive and coherent
  structure (use connectives and linking words).
• In your own words NO COLLAGE.
• Proofread target text for content and form

7
From text to meaning

• Read the text carefully to understand the main
  meaning.
• Try to identify
• text organization and topic sentences
• key concepts and key words

8
TulipomaniaFind this text here (p. 123)
http//www.scribd.com/doc/102223426/Proficiency-
Masterclass-SB

• Tulip Semper Augustus

9
From meaning to points

• Write an outline of the main concepts and
  connections.
• Facts
• Dates
• Data
• Connection between cause and effect
• etc

10
Essential Concepts

1. Tulips arrived in Holland from Constantinople in
   the middle of the sixteenth century.
2. By 1634 owning tulips was a status symbol both
   for the rich and the middle class.
3. Consequently, the price of bulbs rose
   exponentially.
4. The most expensive species was the Semper
   Augustus.
5. By 1636 many Dutch stock markets traded in tulips
   and speculations multiplied.
6. When the rich realized the excess of the trade
   and started selling their tulips, the price
   suddenly collapsed causing the ruin of many.
7. Attempt to find a solution

11

• Summary for a tourist guide
• Are the main points the same?
• How do the readers expectations influence the
  style and the contents of your summary?

12
Outline for a tourist guide

• 1) During the seventeenth century in Holland
  tulips became a craze.
• 2) By 1634 owning tulips was a status symbol both
  for the rich and the middle classes
• 3) Consequently, the price of bulbs rose
  exponentially.
• 4) The most expensive species was the Semper
  Augustus.
• 5) Anecdote a foreign sailor mistook a tulip
  bulb for an onion and ate a 3000 florins Semper
  Augustus
• 6) By 1636 many Dutch stock markets traded in
  tulips and speculations multiplied.
• 7) When the mania wore out, the price of tulips
  suddenly collapsed causing the ruin of many.

13
From points to text

• Rewrite the text
• In paragraphs.
• If possible Opening paragraph, main body,
  conclusion
• In a cohesive and coherent structure
• Coherence organization of meanings in relation
  to one another (order of events or sequences)
• Cohesion the way sentences are linked through
  proper cohesive devises (linkers)
• Paraphrase NO COLLAGE.

14

• CONNECTIVES and TRANSITION WORDS
• to add new ideas also, too in addition to not
  only but also
• to create a cause/effect sequence because, for,
  consequently, therefore thus, as a result, in
  order that, so that
• to reach conclusions so, thus, therefore, hence,
  consequently,finally
• to make a comparison, highlighting the contrast
  despite (the fact that), in spite of, but, yet,
  however, still, rather, on the other hand, on the
  contrary, by contrast whereas while,
• to list concepts, ideas, according to a
  hierarchy first(ly), second(ly), third(ly)
• to clarify in other words, for example,
• To hint, refer, allude to a preceding concept
  the above mentioned with regard to, in regard
  to, speaking of considering
• To follow a chronological order then next
  finally meanwhile in the meantime
  after(wards) initially to begin with as
  already stated most importantly
• To close, conclude, settle a sentence in short,
  all in all, in brief, in conclusion, to conclude,
  to sum up.

15
Generic Synthesis

• Tulips were brought to Holland from
  Constantinople in the middle of the sixteenth
  century. By 1634 they were a must among the rich,
  a sign of good taste and wealth. Very soon the
  middle class too wanted to be distinguished by
  this valuable flower and began spending enormous
  fortunes on tulips. Thus prices rose
  exponentially.
• The most precious kind of tulip was the Semper
  Augustus. In early 1636 in Holland there were
  only two of these, and one of them was bought for
  12 acres of land. When, in 1636 tulip exchanges
  were set up in the stock markets, the speculators
  began causing continuous fluctuations in prices.
  Many grew rich and even the lower classes got
  involved in this market.
• When suddenly the rich realized the
  ridiculousness of the situation and began
  selling, the market collapsed and got out of
  control. Nobody wanted to buy tulips any more and
  many lost everything. Those who were left with
  stores of tulips made an attempt to bring order
  in the market, but the solution they proposed
  succeeded only in displeasing both buyers and
  sellers. People who had made profits from the
  tulip market were allowed to keep them but the
  commerce of the country took many years to
  flourish again.
• (208 words)

16
Synthesis for a tourist guide

• Holland is renowned for its multicoloured tulips
  but the popularity of these flowers has a curious
  origin. During the seventeenth century tulips,
  originally imported from Constantinople, became a
  real craze. By 1634 owning tulips was a status
  symbol both for the rich and the middle classes
  and, consequently, the demand and the price of
  bulbs rose exponentially.
• The most expensive species was the Semper
  Augustus, which was worth acres of land or
  thousands of florins, carriages and horses. Once
  a foreign sailor mistook a tulip bulb for an
  onion and was found eating a 3000 florins Semper
  Augustus.
• By 1636 many Dutch stock markets traded in
  tulips and speculations multiplied but, when the
  mania wore out and the tulip bubble burst, the
  price suddenly collapsed causing the ruin of many
  of those who had incautiously taken part in the
  speculation. (140 words)