Download Writing a summary

Writing a
Summary
Characteristics of a Good
Summary
objectivity
 completeness
 brevity
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Purpose
to show understanding of the essay
 to inform the thesis of the essay to
other people
 to prepare for a response to the essay
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Structure
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How is the summary organized? What
is the typical beginning of a summary
to an essay? Can you identify the stage
of thought?
Language

Can you find some specific language
features for the kind of summary—
grammar, vocabulary, sentence
structure?
The First Sentence
The name of the author
 The source
 The controlling idea of the text
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Summary Beginnings
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Jeffrey Pfeiffer, in his article “The Ambiguity of
Leadership,” states / explains /argues /
describes…
In the seventh chapter of his book Psychology,
author Charles G. Morris states / explains
/argues / describes…
According to Gilbert Couts in his report
entitled “Working Conditions and Their Effects
on Employees,” (+ Controlling Idea)…
The author of “Barriers to Communication”
states / explains /argues / describes…
[article of an unknown author]
Some Useful Phrases
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In this article [about________] the author asserts, ‘…’
In this article [about________] the author asserts that
‘…’
(alternative verbs: states, claims, declares, insists,
holds, says)
The thesis of this article is [that]…
(alternative nouns: main point, main idea, central
theme)
According to the writer,…
In the writer’s opinion,…
Based on his/her research, the writer believes that…
Write the First Sentence of a
Summary

Are the Firstborns Better?
Freud, Kant, Beethoven, Dante, Einstein and
Julius Caesar—what do they have in common?
All of these eminent men were first children.
Although many later-born children also
become famous, certain studies hint that a
first born child is more likely to excel. For
example, more firstborns become National
Merit Scholars, earn doctor’s degrees and rate
mention in Who’s Who.
The Writing of the First
Sentence

The author of “Are Firstborns Better”
states that the first child in a family is
more likely to have achieved excellence
than are those children who are born
later.
Pre-Paraphrasing Techniques
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Alternating active and passive
Social motives play a very important role.
A very important role is played by social motives.
You can see that social motives are very
important.
It can be seen that social motives are very
important.
Pre-Paraphrasing Techniques
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Alternating word forms
1. Regan succeeded Carter as President of the United States.
Regan was Cater’s successor.
Cater’s successor was Regan.
2. A manager’s success is often due to perseverance.
A manager often succeeds because of perseverance.
Perseverance leads to managerial success.
Successful management s often a result of perseverance.
A manager who preservers often succeeds.
Pre-Paraphrasing Techniques

Use of a synonymous word or
expression
Researchers suggest…
Scientists explain…
Although many late-born children also become famous,
certain studies hint that a firstborn child is more likely
to excel.
The first child in a family is more likely to achieve
excellence than are those children who are born later.
Pre-Paraphrasing Techniques
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Alternating clause/phrase
structures
[reductions]
Although neurons come in many different shapes and
sizes, they are all specialized to receive and transmit
information. [adv. clause]
Despite their different shapes and sizes, neurons are all
specialized to receive and transmit information. [adv.
phrase]
The different shaped and sized neurons are all specialized
to receive and transmit information. [noun phrase]
The axons that run from the base of the spinal cord…[adj.
clause]
The axons running from the base of the spinal cord…[adj.
phrase]
The axon fiber is very thin. [sentence]
The very thin axon fiber… [noun phrase]
[expansions]
The short cells branching out around the cell body are called
dendrites. [adj. phrase]
The short fibers which branch out around the cell body are called
dendrites. [adj. clause]
Short fibers branch out around the cell body; they are called
dendrites. [sentences]
In common with all other cells, a neuron has a nucleus. [noun phrase]
What a neuron has in common with all other cells is a nucleus. [noun
clause]
A neuron has something in common with all other cells, and that is a
nucleus. [sentence]
Questions to Judge a Valid
Summary
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Did you include all the important ideas?
Did you omit the unnecessary words and
phrases?
Does the summary read smoothly? A. use of
transitions; B. use of sentence combining
Would a reader of your summary who had not
read the article have a clear idea about the
article?