Guidelines for writing

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Guidelines for writing

• a SUMMARY

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A summary

• A summary is condensed version of a larger
  reading.  A summary is not a rewrite of the
  original text and does not have to be long nor
  should it be short. 
• To write a summary, use your own words to express
  briefly the main idea and relevant details of the
  text you have read.  

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A summary

• The purpose of a summary is to give the reader,
  in about 1/3 of the original length of a text, a
  clear, objective picture of it and to give the
  basic ideas of the original reading what was it
  about and what did the author want to
  communicate? 
• Most importantly, the summary restates only the
  main points of a text. 

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Skills practiced

• Note-taking, paraphrasing (using your own
• words and sentence structure).
• While reading the original work, take notes of
  what or who is the focus.
• Ask the usual questions that reporters use Who?
  What? When? Where? Why? How? 
• Using these questions to examine what you are
  reading can help you to write the summary.

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Writing your summary Steps

• Before writing the summary
• Highlight the topic sentence
• Highlight key points/key words/phrases
• Highlight the concluding sentence
• Outline each paragraph in the margin
• Take notes on the main idea of the original, the
  major supporting points and explanations

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Before writing the summary

• Sometimes, the central idea of the text is stated
  in the introduction or first paragraph, and the
  supporting ideas of this central idea are
  presented one by one in the following paragraphs.
  
• Always read the introductory paragraph
  thoughtfully and look for a master statement. 
  Frequently, however, the central idea, is implied
  or suggested. 
• Pay attention to the title and any headings and
  to the opening and closing lines of paragraphs.

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Writing your summary Steps

• Writing the summary
• Organize your notes into an outline which
  includes main ideas and supporting points.
• The main idea or argument needs to be included in
  this first sentence. 
• Then mention the major aspects/factors/reasons
  that are discussed in the text. 
• Discuss each supporting point in a separate
  sentence.  Give 1-2 explanations for each
  supporting point, summarizing the information
  from the original. 

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Writing the summary

• Support your topic sentence with the necessary
  reasons or arguments raised by the author.
• Write an introductory paragraph that begins with
  an outline including introducing the main idea.
• Use discourse markers that reflect the
  organization and controlling idea of the
  original cause-effect, comparison-contrast,
  classification, process, chronological order,
  persuasive argument, etc.

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Reporting verbs
In paraphrasing , use some of the reporting verbs
like

• explain,
• discuss,
• illustrate,
• observe,
• recommend,
• argue against

• argue,
• claim,
• maintain,
• insist,
• state,
• report,

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Sentence connectors

• generally speaking,
• however,
• in accordance with,
• in contrast,
• in such a way that,
• moreover,
• namely,
• not only but,
• once,
• that is why,
• thus,
• unlike

• accordingly,
• along with,
• as an example,
• as opposed to,
• consequently,
• either or,
• evidently,
• for example,
• for the purpose of,

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Remember

• Do not rewrite the original piece.
• Keep your summary short.
• Use your own wording.
• Refer to the central and main ideas of the
  original piece.
• Read with who, what, when, where, why and how
  questions in mind.
• Do not put in your opinion of the issue or topic
  discussed in the original text.