Writing a Summary

Writing a Summary

What is a summary?

• a shorter version of a longer original source (summaries are not the same length as the original)

• goal 1 = present a large amount of information in a short and concise text

• goal 2 = explain the main message of the text to someone who hasn't read it

• includes only the most important ideas of the original text

A summary usually ...

• states the main idea of the whole text

• tells the source with an attribution phrase ("According the article Urban Visionary by Adem Brown..."

• provides major supporting details (if the original text is more than 1 paragraph)

• a concluding sentence telling the result or conclusion of the text (if the original text is more than 1 paragraph)

A summary does not include...

• your opinion

• copied phrases and sentences from the original text

• specific details, examples that are unnecessary to explain the main message of the text

Now let's see what you've learned...

Multiple Choice

Based on what you just learned about summary writing, is this an effective summary?

Original: “The movement toward education by computer is developing fast. Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, are changing how people learn in many places. For years, people could receive study materials from colleges or universities and take part in online classes. But such classes were not designed for many thousands of students at one time, as MOOCs are.” (MOOCS Are Moving Forward , Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)

Summary: Computer education is growing fast. MOOCs are influencing how we study. People received materials from universities for a long time to be able to take classes online. MOOCs are the only ones thousands can take at a time.

• Yes, it's effective.

• No, it's not effective.

Multiple Choice

Based on what you just learned about summary writing, is this an effective summary?

Original: “The movement toward education by computer is developing fast. Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, are changing how people learn in many places. For years, people could receive study materials from colleges or universities and take part in online classes. But such classes were not designed for many thousands of students at one time, as MOOCs are.” (MOOCS Are Moving Forward , Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)

Summary: According to a Voice of America article, a fast-growing MOOCs movement allows thousands to take online classes at once, changing how we learn.

• Yes, it's effective.

• No, it's not effective.

How to write a summary

• Read the text a few times until you understand well.

• Identify the main idea, message of the whole article (write in your own words).

• Take notes on the text in short phrases/key words.

• Put the text away and use just your notes to write a summary --- don't look at the original text.

• Include a sentence at the beginning show the main idea and the original source (title, author).

• Check your summary with the original to make sure the meaning hasn't changed.

Now let's see what you've learned...

Open Ended

What is the first step in preparing the write a summary?

Multiple Choice

Complete this sentence: For the 4th step, make sure to ______ before you start writing your summary. This will help you make sure you write the summary in your own words and don't take phrases/words from the original text.

• look at the original text

• identify the main idea

• put the original text away

• highlight key words in the text

Multiple Select

Complete this sentence: In the 5th step, your summary should start by _____ and expressing the ____ of the original text in your own words.

• giving an attribution phrase / main idea

• stating your opinion / main idea

• stating the main idea / conclusion

• introducing background info / major & minor details

Multiple Choice

Imagine you were writing a summary of "The Costs of Renting a Home" on pg. 10 in Journey to Success 6. Which would be the best way to write that?

• The article focuses on...

• The costs of renting a home talks about how....

• In the article, "The Costs of Renting a Home", the author discusses...

• Journey to Success 6 talks about...

Open Ended

Imagine you were writing a summary of "Buying a Home" on pg. 12 of Journey to Success 6. How would you cite your source at the beginning of your first sentence?

Multiple Choice

Complete this sentence: In the 6th step, you need to check that your summary ____.

• includes words and phrases from the original text

• has not changed the original meaning

• provides your response to the original text

• includes specific examples

That's It!

Now it's your turn to apply these tips in preparing to write your own summary