Writing a Summary
Learning Objective: - Summarize a reading in one complete, concise summary paragraph.
|
LESSON
A summaryA brief restatement of an author’s main idea and major supporting details. Summaries are factual and should be written in the third-person with an objective point of view. is a brief restatement of an authorA person who wrote a text.'s main ideaThe most important or central thought of a reading selection. It also includes what the author wants the reader to understand about the topic he or she has chosen to write about. and major supporting detailsStatements within a reading that tie directly to the work's main idea. These can be provided in examples, statistics, anecdotes, definitions, descriptions, or comparisons within the work. . The length of the summary depends on the length and complexity of the readingA piece of writing to be read. A reading can either be a full work (i.e., a book) or partial (i.e., a passage).. For example, if a reading is only a few paragraphsA selection of a writing that is made up of sentences formed around one main point. Paragraphs are set apart by a new line and sometimes indentation. long, its summary would probably be three to four sentencesA group of words, phrases, or clauses that expresses a complete thought. A complete sentence has these characteristics: a capitalized first word, a subject and a predicate, and end punctuation, such as a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).. If a reading is a few pages long, the summary may be one longer paragraph, or possibly two if the reading is filled with complex ideas. In this lesson, you will learn how to summarize a reading in a complete, conciseDescribes writing that only uses words that are necessary for clarity, meaning, and interest. summary paragraph.
An important reminder about summaries is that they cannot include any opinionPoint of view that shows a personal belief or bias and cannot be proven to be completely true.. You must write them like a reviewer—as one who is telling another about the reading. Since you are writing like a reviewer, you cannot use any first-personA narration style where the writer uses personal pronouns such as I, me, and we. This point of view is often taken when a writer chooses to share personal information or experiences. Example: It took me years to get used to the sounds of the city at night; I couldn't sleep with the police sirens blaring at all hours. or second-personA narration style where the writer uses pronouns such as you and yours. This point of view is often taken when a writer wishes to directly address or instruct the audience. Example: It could take you years to get used to the sounds of the city at night; you might have trouble sleeping with the police sirens blaring at all hours. voice, meaning no "I" or "you" statements. Summaries should be written in the third-personA narration style where the writer uses pronouns such as he, she, one, it, they. This point of view is often used in academic or professional writings. Example: Some people find that it takes years to get used to the sounds of the city at night; they often have trouble sleeping with the police sirens blaring at all hours. with an objectivePoint of view where the writer is non-biased. Information is based on facts as opposed to personal feelings or opinions. The writer displays no tendency toward a preference. This style of writing is seen as more credible than a biased viewpoint. point of view.
Summary Writing Process
Use a four-step process to write a summary of a reading.
Step 1: Identify the main idea of the reading. Create a main idea statement from what you have read.
Step 2: Identify the supporting detailsStatements within a reading that tie directly to major details that support the main idea. These can be provided in examples, statistics, anecdotes, definitions, descriptions, or comparisons within the work. of the reading. Note that it is important to maintain the order of these points.
Step 3: Identify the author's purposeThe reason the writer is writing about a topic. It is what the writer wants the reader to know, feel, or do after reading the work. for writing. Do this by asking yourself, "Why did the author write this? What did the author want me to know, think, or do after reading this?"
Step 4: Write a summary of the reading. Bring Steps 1, 2, and 3 together. The following is one way you could do this:
- Sentence 1: Introduce the reading, stating the title and the author's name. You should also state the author's main idea. This may be as simple as adding the title and author to your main idea statement from Step 1.
- Sentence 2: Write a sentence describing the supporting points you noted in Step 2 in order. You may need to write more than one sentence if the reading is long or has several supporting points.
- Sentence 3: Write a sentence that brings this information together and states the author's reason for writing that you noted in Step 3.
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONWriting a summary is a skill you can use when thinking critically about an articleA non-fiction, often informative writing that forms a part of a publication, such as a magazine or newspaper. in a newspaper, an editorial blogA website that hosts a series of articles, photos, and other postings, sometimes by a single writer (blogger) or by a community of contributors., or even a movie. You can also use a summary to communicate your education and experiences on your resumeA brief written history of a person's education, work, and volunteer experience, submitted for the purpose of obtaining a job.. If you choose a professional career, you can use summaries to present concise research information or to communicate with others about business reports and proposals.
+ EXAMPLERead the following short essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. and then go through an example of the Summary Writing Process.
College Success
By Marcea Seible
Adapting to college life can be challenging for some people because of how it affects them mentally, physically, and financially. These challenges present new situations that are sometimes difficult to work through. It takes a dedicated person to persevere through this new and unfamiliar surrounding called "college."
First, college can provide a mental challenge. Students often find themselves in classes that are difficult and that require extra study time and effort. Such classes require students to set aside as many as six additional hours of study time a week. This may be very different from what students were used to in a high school environment.
Second, college can present some physical challenges, as well. College campuses are usually spread out and require students to walk, and sometimes run, from building to building to get to their classes on time. Sometimes buildings are as far as a block apart. On some larger campuses, the buildings may be spread around the city. This means a student may choose to ride a bike or take a bus to get from one class to another. This can provide a physical challenge when a student is limited on time and when he or she is carrying around several books.
Finally, one of the most common challenges associated with college is finances. College is expensive and often requires large amounts of money to get through two, three, four, and sometimes more years of schooling. A student needs to understand how to file for financial aid and be disciplined enough to work and save money to make the financial challenge less severe.
Overall, when deciding to attend college, a student needs to consider all aspects of college life. Three of these include some significant challenges: mental, physical, and financial. In the end, it is up to the student to do his or her best to meet these challenges head-on and work through them to succeed.
Step 1: Identify the main idea of the reading.
First, create a main idea statement from what you have read.
Main idea statement: College presents several challenges.
Step 2: Identify the supporting details of the reading.
Next, list the supporting details in order.
Supporting details: Mental challenges, physical challenges, financial challenges
Step 3: Identify the author's purpose for writing.
Now, answer the questions, "Why did the author write this? What did the author want me to know, think, or do after reading this?"
Author's purpose: To persuade the reader to consider challenges associated with attending college so he or she will be successful.
Step 4: Write a summary of the reading.
Finally, bring the three steps together to write the summary.
- Sentence 1: Introduce the reading stating the title and the author's name.
In her essay "College Success" by Marcea Seible, the author describes how college presents many challenges for new students.
- Sentence 2: Write a sentence describing the supporting points of the reading in order.
She lists three main ideas to support this including mental challenges, physical challenges, and financial challenges.
- Sentence 3: Write a sentence that brings this information together and states the author's purpose for writing.
The author believes it is important for any new college student to think about these challenges and to prepare for them.
Final Summary: Bring these sentences together to create a summary.
In Marcea Seible's essay, "College Success," the author describes how college presents many challenges for new students. She lists three main ideas to support this including mental challenges, physical challenges, and financial challenges. The author believes it is important for any new college student to think about these challenges and to prepare for them.
+ YOUR TURNRead the following short essay and then complete the Summary Writing Process to create a complete, concise summary paragraph.
Are You Superstitious?
By Patricia Williams
"Wow! Somebody sure got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!" How many times have you heard this cliché (a commonplace expression) and what does it even mean? Clichés like this one belong to a group of ideas called "superstitions," which are beliefs people have that bad things can happen as a result of some mysterious circumstance. For example, when someone says, "You must have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed this morning," that person is really referring to a belief that if you do not get out of bed on a certain side, you are doomed to have a bad day. Such superstitions may sound silly, but many people believe in them. Chances are, you have heard of or may even believe in some of them yourself without even realizing it.
One popular superstition is the belief that opening an umbrella indoors will cause bad luck. As we know, umbrellas are used to shield a person from wind, rain, and even the sun, but how would opening one inside bring bad luck? Some people believe that doing so is changing the purpose for using an umbrella. After all, why would a person need to open one inside? In this case, changing the umbrella's purpose is thought to invite bad luck.
Another common superstition is that breaking a mirror causes seven years of bad luck. This comes from two different beliefs: first, that a mirror reflects a person's soul. Second, that a mirror can be used to ward off evil spirits. When a person breaks a mirror, the belief is that person's image has been destroyed, thus destroying his or her future. Or, if one believes mirrors keep away evil spirits, that person believes such spirits may soon arrive through a broken mirror, bringing bad luck.
Finally, how many of us have seen a black cat coming toward us and thought about moving away so it would not cross our paths? For centuries, people connected black cats with witches. As a result, people saw them as a sign that something bad will happen if they come into contact with such a creature. But what is the likelihood that a cat can change your luck?
Superstitions are beliefs, and how one views them all comes down to what a person chooses to believe can or cannot happen in this world. For some, superstitions such as these are entirely serious. However, for others, they are just folklore, tales passed down from generation to generation that hold no real meaning. The next time you find yourself acting on any superstitions, it may be a good time to take note and reflect on what you believe.
Step 1: Identify the main idea of the reading.
Create a main idea statement from what you have read.
Some people believe in superstitions.
Step 2: Identify the supporting details of the reading.
List the supporting details in order.
- Getting out of bed from the wrong side
- Opening an umbrella indoors
- Breaking a mirror
- Crossing paths with a black cat
Step 3: Identify the author's purpose for writing.
Answer the questions, "Why did the author write this? What did the author want me to know, think, or do after reading this?"
To inform readers about superstitions and ask them to think about what they believe.
Step 4: Write a summary of the reading.
Bring the three steps together to write the summary.
- Sentence 1: Introduce the reading stating the title and the author's name.
In her essay "Are You Superstitious?" by Patricia Williams, the author describes superstitions some people believe in.
- Sentence 2: Write a sentence describing the supporting details of the reading in order.
She describes four examples of superstitions including getting out of the wrong side of bed, opening an umbrella indoors, breaking a mirror, and crossing paths with a black cat.
- Sentence 3: Write a sentence that brings this information together and states the author's purpose for writing.
The author informs readers about these superstitions so they will think about whether they believe in superstitions themselves.
Final Summary: Bring these sentences together to create a summary.
In her essay, "Are You Superstitious?" by Patricia Williams, the author describes superstitions some people believe in. She describes examples of superstitions including getting out of the wrong side of bed, opening an umbrella indoors, breaking a mirror, and crossing paths with a black cat. The author informs readers about these superstitions so they will think about whether they believe in superstitions themselves.
+ METACOGNITIVE QUESTIONSWhen you describe a movie or TV show to a friend in just one sentence, what part of the summary are you giving her?
When applying for a job and the supervisor asks you what kind of experience you have that makes you suitable for the job, what is he asking you to summarize?
He is asking me to summarize the jobs I have had and the things I learned from those jobs that show that I am the best person for this new job.
Copyright ©2022 The NROC Project