Download Model Summary based on Chapter 13 of Focus on Vocabulary 2

Model Summary based on Chapter 13 of Focus on Vocabulary 2 textbook*
The article “Exploding sales for bottled water” (Schmitt & Schmitt, 2011) explores the
reasons for the sharp increase in bottled water consumption in America, define the different
types of bottled water, and argue that consumers may not be making the smartest choice.
The authors give three main reasons for drinking tap water: health, taste, and status. They
argue that while bottled water used to contain extra minerals, today the concern is primarily
purity because of possible pollution. In terms of taste, they point out that tap water may be
unpleasant to drink because of the chlorine treatment. The last reason given is that
Americans are drinking more bottled water so that they can feel richer and more
fashionable. This may be further enhanced by the marketing and packaging done by the
companies. The authors then move on to defining the different types of bottled water,
whether carbonated or non-carbonated. First, they note that adding more than one percent
of things like sweeteners results in changing the official type to a soft drink. Similarly,
mineral content cannot be too high. They next name and define the various types of bottled
water: artesian, mineral, distilled, sparkling, spring, and drinking. The two major American
brands fall under this final category, which has the least possible health benefits. The final
point the authors make is about the branding of the water. No matter the variety,
companies use words like pure and pristine to make their water seem healthier.
Furthermore, they use pictures of mountains and lakes to imply cleanliness. The authors
conclude by restating that although there is a growing demand for bottled water, it may be
a result of companies’ manipulations rather than an actual need for cleaner water.
*Please see next page for common problems in writing summaries
Here are some guidelines for writing summaries:
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the first sentence must contain
o name of the article, the author(s) and the year
o the MAIN IDEA of the whole reading
it must include the WHOLE reading – careful not to over-emphasize the first part of
the reading
edit for details; only include the main ideas
organize it the same way the author does: you are showing how the author makes
his/her point
aim to write approximately 25-30% of your
be VERY careful of accidental plagiarism: do not have 3 or more content words in a
row