II year

ACADEMIC WRITING
I semester
Lesson 4-5.
Summary Writing
Task 1
a. Work in pairs. You have 3 minutes to discuss any topic you like. You should make notes
during the conversation.
b. Now you have about 5 minutes to write the summary of the conversation you had with
your partner.
c. Exchange your summaries. How do your summaries of the same conversation differ?
Enumerate the differences.

Writing A Summary

What is a summary? A summary (a.k.a., synopsis, abstract, or precis) condenses and

restates the content of a text in one’s own words, presenting the reader with only the
information that is necessary to understand the text.
How is it different from a paraphrase? Although both summaries and paraphrases
should be written in the writer’s own words, a paraphrase is about the same length as the
original text, while a summary is significantly shorter.
What is the purpose of summary? A summary gives “just the facts,” allowing the
reader to get the gist of a text without reading all of it. Summaries are sometimes given as
stand-alone assignments, but they are more often used when taking notes for a research
paper, answering essay questions on exams, writing abstracts and executive summaries for
longer papers, and writing critical book reviews that require a brief summary of the text.
Summarizing class readings can also be an effective study tool.
(Taken from S:\CTLT_Services\General\OFFICE pprwk\HANDOUTS\Writing - Summary.doc 08/05 ML)

Task 2
a. Fill the gaps with the given words.
statement brief select academic
condensed original purposes sentences
combine quotations
An 1. ___________ summary tells the main points of a source text in 2. ________ form.
As a 3. _________ version of the source material, it can range anywhere from a couple of
4. __________ to a short summary article, depending on the length of the source and your
5. _________ for writing. In writing a summary, you need to 6. _________ the most
important points of the source text and report on (vs. react to) them using your own words.
You can 7. ____________ several important points from the source into a brief general
8. _____________, or go more in depth and relate minor points as well, again depending
on the purpose of your summary. Experts suggest, however, that a good rule of thumb to
follow is that a summary is never more than about one-quarter the length of the
9.___________, though in most cases it is much briefer. Also, keep in mind that a
summary must always be written in your own words, or if not, should contain direct
10. _________. To ignore this rule is plagiarism.
(Adapted from http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/writing_center/ )

b. Underline the key words and phrases which you can use while speaking about academic
summary.
Academic summary

Before writing the summary:

1. For a text, read, mark, and annotate the original. (For a lecture, work with
the notes you took.)
o highlight the topic sentence
o highlight key points/key words/phrases
o highlight the concluding sentence
o outline each paragraph in the margin
2. Take notes on the following:
o the source (author--first/last name, title, date of publication, volume number,
place of publication, publisher, URL, etc.)
o the main idea of the original (paraphrased)
o the major supporting points (in outline form)
o major supporting explanations (e.g. reasons/causes or effects)

Writing your summary--Steps:

1. Organize your notes into an outline which includes main ideas and supporting
points but no examples or details (dates, numbers, statistics).
2. Write an introductory paragraph that begins with a frame, including
a reporting verb to introduce the main idea. The reporting verb is generally in present
tense.

1. ARTICLE:
In the article, ____________(author's last name) (year) argues / claims / reports /
contends / maintains / states that __________________ (main idea/argument; S + V +
C).
 Example: In his article, Serwer (1997) describes how Michael Dell founded
Dell Computers and claims that Dell’s low-cost, direct-sales strategy and high quality
standards accounted for Dell’s enormous success.

2. BOOK:
In his book The Pearl, John Steinbeck (1945) illustrates the fight between good and
evil in humankind.

3. INTERVIEW:
In an interview __________________ (first name last name) stated that __________
(main idea / argument; S + V + C) (personal communication, month day, year).

Reporting Verbs:

INDICATING
STRONG COUNTERARGU
NEUTRAL RESEARCH SUGGESTION CRITICISM
ARGUMENT MENT
RESULTS
argue state show refute the claim suggest criticize
assert note demonstrate argue against recommend
claim report illustrate
contend explain indicate
maintain discuss point out
insist illustrate (studies/authors) prove
(studies/authors)
posit observe
found

Other examples of frames:

1. According to __________ (author's last name) (year), _________________

(main idea; S + V + C).
2. ___________ (author's last name) (year) argues that ___________________
(main idea; S + V + C).
3. If no author is given, use the title of the article:
According to "____________" (Title of the Article) (year), _________________________
(main idea; S+V+C).
4. _______________ (topic/NP) has had a major impact on the______________
(NP) of ____________ (main idea; NP) (author's last name, year).
5. _______________'s (author's last name) article on __________________
(topic / NP) (year) discusses the _____________ (main idea; Noun Phrase) of
_____________ (NP).
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 article/lecture. Give a full
reference for this citation at the end of the summary (see #6. below).
a. For a one-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a separate
sentence. Give 1-2 explanations for each supporting point, summarizing the information
from the original.
b. For a multi-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a
separate paragraph. Introduce it in the first sentence (topic sentence).
Example: The first major area in which women have become a powerful force
is politics.
4. Support your topic sentence with the necessary reasons or arguments raised
by the author/lecturer but omit all references to details, such as dates or statistics.
5. Use discourse markers that reflect the organization and controlling idea of the
original, for example cause-effect, comparison-contrast, classification, process,
chronological order, persuasive argument, etc.
6. In a longer summary, remind your reader that you are paraphrasing by using
"reminder phrases," such as
 The author goes on to say that ...
 The article (author) further states that ...
 (Author's last name) also states/maintains/argues that ...
 (Author's last name) also believes that ...
 (Author's last name) concludes that
 Restate the article’s/lecturer’s conclusion in one sentence.
 Give a full reference for the citation
(Adapted from http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/AEP/EN104/summary.htm)

Task 3
Think about the book which you read during your Home Reading classes. Write an
introductory sentence to the summary of the book. Provide as many different examples as
possible.

Task 4
Study the stages of summary writing below, which have been mixed up.Put them
inthe correct order (1–5). Discuss each stage.
1. Write the main idea of the entire text in one or two sentences.
2. Divide the text into sections, either single paragraphs or groups of paragraphs
focused on the same topic.
3. Develop a full paragraph, beginning with the sentences that summarize the entire
text and following with the main ideas from the body of the text. Do not include
examples, facts or statistics.
 4. Ask someone who is not familiar with the original text to read the summary for
clarity and relevance of information. Revise if necessary.
5. Write the main idea of each section in one or two sentences.

Task 5
Read examples of summaries. Evaluate the summaries using the checklist below.

A Checklist for Evaluating Summaries

"Good summaries must be fair, balanced, accurate, and complete. This checklist of
questions will help you evaluate drafts of a summary:
 Is the summary economical and precise?
 Is the summary neutral in its representation of the original author's ideas, omitting
the writer's own opinions?
 Does the summary reflect the proportionate coverage given various points in the
original text?
 Are the original author's ideas expressed in the summary writer's own words?
 Does the summary use attributive tags (such as 'Weston argues') to remind readers
whose ideas are being presented?
 Does the summary quote sparingly (usually only key ideas or phrases that cannot be
said precisely except in the original author's own words)?
 Will the summary stand alone as a unified and coherent piece of writing?
 Is the original source cited so that readers can locate it?"
(John C. Bean, Virginia Chappell, and Alice M. Gillam, Reading Rhetorically. Pearson Education, 2004)

1. The study of the origins of English words is fascinating. Many words have their origins
in other languages. TALLER is a German word that became DOLLAR in the English
language. BALLOT, the English word for a list of candidates, came from the Italian word
PELLOTE.

2. In “Sex, Lies and Conversation; Why is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each
Other?” linguist Deborah Tannen suggests that the problems of communication in
marriage can be solved if couples learn that men and women have different styles of
communication. Tannen notes that research shows that women create intimacy in
relationships through looking at one another, sharing similar problems, and interrupting by
making supportive comments or sounds; however, she reports that this type of
communication style often makes men feel threatened and like women are not listening to
them. Instead, Tannen reports that men, because of their need to relate inside a hierarchy
in other same sex relationships, see support in a conversation as telling someone the
problem isn’t so bad, or finding a way to fix it. Women, Tannen says, feel that sort of
communication as intimidating and unsympathetic. What is the solution? According to
Tannen, teaching men and women each other’s conversational styles can help people
understand what the other person is really trying to communicate and head off
misunderstandings, which can strengthen marriage relationships, and prevent divorce
(Tannen 2-4).
(Taken from https://owlcation.com/academia/Examples-of-Summary-Quotation-and-Paraphrase)

1. So there's a film where a man's wife is brutally murdered by a serial killer and his
son is left physically disabled. In a twist of events, the son is kidnaped and kept in a tank
while his father 2 Created in 2015 chases the kidnapper thousands of miles with the help
of a mentally challenged woman. Finding Nemo is quite the thriller.
(Taken from https://awc.ashford.edu/PDFHandouts/Guidelines_Summarizing_Sources08.14.2015.pdf)

2. It's the story of a young prince of Denmark who discovers that his uncle and his
mother have killed his father, the former king. He plots to get revenge, but in his obsession
with revenge he drives his sweetheart to madness and suicide, kills her innocent father,
and in the final scene poisons and is poisoned by her brother in a duel, causes his mother's
death, and kills the guilty king, his uncle.
(Taken from https://www.thoughtco.com/summary-composition-1692160)

Task 6
a. Read the article. In small groups of 3-4 students write a summary of the article.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Physical fitness is really very much important in our life. Now-a-days, in the modern life,
most of the people are moving towards more sedentary lifestyle which is increasing the
risk of diseases because of reduced daily activity level, bad cardiovascular fitness and
increased body weight. People, who are involved in the inactive lifestyle, must know the
benefits of health and physical fitness so that they can involve themselves in the daily
routine physical exercises in order to remain away from diseases and be fit.

Being active is very necessary for keeping our body functioning at a high level. Regular
physical exercises help in maintaining the performance of lungs, heart and other major
body organs. It burns off excess calories and keeps our weight under control. It also
improves the muscle and bone strength, increases the joint flexibility as well as improves
muscle endurance. Most importantly, daily physical activities decrease the risk of heart
diseases, risk of stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, etc.

Regular exercise increases the overall happiness in our life which keeps us mentally happy
and peaceful too. It relieves the symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety and other mental
disorders. We can get something good to our life, if we maintain our health and fitness.
There are many activities which can keep us fit and happy for long time such as walking,
cycling, swimming, biking, using gym, community center, and other various sports
activities.
b. Exchange your summaries with the students from another group. Peer edit the
summary.

Task 7
Follow the link https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-career-guidance-525498?
Read an article and write its summary.

Task 8
a. Study the Book Review Template . What are its essential parts?
b. In groups of 3-4 students write the summary of the book you read during classes of
Practical English previous year.
c. Exchange your summaries with another group. Peer edit them using A Checklist for
Evaluating Summaries from Task 5.
d. Discuss summaries in the class.

Task 9
Write a summary of your favourite book.

Task 10.
If you still experience some difficulty in writing summaries, follow the links and complete
some online activities.
http://www.uefap.com/writing/exercise/report/safefram.htm
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072996277/student_view0/chapter18/summarizi
ng_and_paraphrasing.html#