Summary Writing2

Summary Writing
Chapter 2
Objectives
1. Give an appropriate definition
for a summary
2. Know the characteristics of a
good summary
3. Learn the techniques in
summary writing
4. Learn the steps in summary
writing
5. Practice
I. What is a summary?
A summary is a shortened passage,
which retains the essential information
of the original. It is a fairly brief
restatement --- in your own words
---of the contents of a passage.
Note: you simply report back what the
writer has said, without making value
judgments.
II. Characteristics of a good
summary
Can be understood without
reference to the original;
Is a faithful reproduction of, or
contains only the ideas or
information of, the original;
Is brief without any unnecessary
detail;
Is a readable unified whole
III. Techniques in summary
writing
1. Paraphrasing
To paraphrase means to
completely and correctly express
other people’s ideas in one’s own
words.
Examples:
1. You’ve cooked us all a hot potato.

(a troublesome person or issue)
2. Prevention is better than cure.
(It is better to prevent something
unpleasant from happening than try
to put it right afterwards.)
The importance of paraphrasing
★It helps us understand the

original better.
★It helps us grasp the central idea
and the main points.
★It helps us write summaries that
are brief and to the point, and in
our own words.
Steps of paraphrasing
★Read the original carefully
and comprehend its
meaning wholly and
correctly.
★Consider the original article
as a whole, not in isolated
sentences.
Techniques in summary writing
3. Ways of condensation
 Use synonyms or synonymous phrases
He had a good command of English.
(He knew English well.)
 Change the structure of simple
sentences
My brother has an appreciation of modern
art.
(My brother appreciates modern art.)
 Turn complex sentences into simple
sentences
He received a welcome that was as cold as
ice.
(He received an icy welcome.)
 Combine the sentences
Hurry up. If you don’t, you’ll miss the train.
(Hurry up or you’ll miss the train.)
4. Finding the topic sentence and making an
outline
topic sentence / outline
IV. How to write a summary?
1. The importance of summary
writing
2. Necessary elements for a good
summary
 Proper citation
title, author, source;
date of publication and the text
(journal articles)
Grammar and the structure of
writing
avoid direct quotation;
use transitional words
Length
1/4 to 1/3 of the
original
3. Steps in writing a summary
 Read the article
To understand the article and
find the general theme.
 Reread the article
Divide into sections and label
each section.
Understand the important parts.
 Write one-sentence summaries
Summarize each section of
thought.
 Formulate the thesis statement
Weave the one-sentence section-
summaries together.
 Write the first draft
A. In the first sentence or two:
1. The author’s name
2. The article’s or chapter’s name
3. The author’s thesis statement
B. Then the summary sentences for each
paragraph or section.
C. Express in your own words,
to avoid plagiarism.
C. Occasional supporting ideas if
necessary.
Note:
1. Eliminate unnecessary words and
repetitions.
2. Eliminate personal ideas and inferences.
3. Use transitions for a smooth and logical flow
of ideas.
4. Conclude with a ‘summing up’ sentence.
 Edit the draft
• Is all the important information in the
summary?
• Am I listing things out?
• Am I saying the same thing over and over
again?
• Have I left out my personal views and ideas?
• Does my summary ‘hang together’?
• Is my grammar, punctuation, and spelling
correct?
 Write the final draft
The paragraphs below are each
followed by two summaries. Judge
which is the better summary of each
paragraph. Remember that
summaries should begin with an
overall summary statement, have
supporting summary statements as
necessary, and name the source.
Writing Summaries Practice

During the year 1903 a forty-year-old Detroiter named Henry Ford,
having left the employ of the little Detroit Automobile Company
with the idea of going into the manufacturing business for himself,
designed and built a big and powerful racing car. Why did he do
this? He had no great interest in speed; his idea was quite
different: he wanted to make a small, light serviceable vehicle. The
reason he built a racing car was that he wanted capital, and to
attract capital he had to have a reputation, and in those days when
automobiles were thought of as expensive playthings in which the
rich could tear noisily along the dusty roads, the way to get a
reputation was to build a car that could win races. (Frederick
Lewis Allen, The Big Change; New York: Harper, 1952, p. 109)
Summary 1:
According to Frederick lewis Allen, Henry Ford built his first
automobile, a powerful racing car, in order to gain a reputation with
the wealthy as an automobile builder. Once he had attracted capital,
he would build the kind of car he wanted to build: a small, practical
one. (The Big Change; New York; Harper, 1952, 109)
Summary 2:
In 1903 Henry Ford built a big and powerful racing car. He didn't want
to do this; instead he wanted to build a small, sensible car. But in
order to get the capital he needed, he first had to have a reputation, so
he cleverly built the racing car to get the attention of the rich and
famous people who drove cars like that and had the money to invest
in building them (The Big Change; New York: Harper, 1952, 109)
A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

B. Summary 2 is the better summary.
The early sagas spoke, too, of the abundant fruit of excellent
quality growing in Greenland, and of the number of cattle that
could be pastured there. The Norwegian settlements were
located in places that are now at the foot of glaciers. There are
Eskimo legends of old houses and churches buried under the
ice. The Danish Archaeological Expedition sent out by the
National Museum of Copenhagen was never able to find all of
the villages mentioned in the old records. But its excavations
indicated clearly that the colonists lived in a climate definitely
milder than the present one. (Rachel L. Carson, The Sea Around
Us; New York: Oxford, 1951, p. 180)
Summary 1:
In the past, says Rachel L. Carson, abundant fruit and cattle were
raised in Greenland. There were settlements in places that now would
be at the foot of glaciers. Eskimos tell of houses and churches buried
under the ice, and the Danes found in their archaeological
expeditions that the climate of Greenland was once milder than it is
today (Rachel L. Carson, The Sea Around Us; New York: Oxford,
1951, 180).
Summary 2:
There is evidence that the climate of Greenland used to be milder
than it is today, according to Rachel L. Carson in The Sea Around Us.
Old records tell of colonists successfully raising fruit and cattle and
of villages located where glaciers now stand (New York: Oxford,
1951, 180).
A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

B. Summary 2 is the better summary.

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Summary Writing

1. You’ve cooked us all a hot potato.

★It helps us understand the

Writing Summaries Practice

A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

A. Summary 1 is the better summary.

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