The Summary Question

How to identify main points

By the end of the lesson, students would be able

to:

State the features of the summary Appreciate what examiners want Practice the steps required to carry out a summary Practice writing a summary

(Adapted from Longman’s, Effective Guide to O’ Level English, Pearson Education, 2000, Singapore)

Introduction

Two basic things you must understand

about summary questions:

It is a test of whether you have selected relevant information

Once selected relevant information…it needs to be RE-PHRASED!!! (i.e. expressed in your own words)

Features of a Summary

Students have to show the following in their

answer:

Selecting the correct and relevant information from the passage that relates to the question.

Expressing the information, (putting it in your own words) fluently.

What examiners want

4 Steps:

Step 1: Read the summary question very carefully

Step 2: Re-read the part in the passage covered by the question, mark out all relevant information

Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of all points you have marked out.

Step 4: Write up your notes in complete sentences.

The 4 Step method of Summary Writing

Look at the Summary Question and break it

up accordingly to:

Introduction Basic Instruction The Topic Reminders Length Question tells you how to start

(Refer to the template provided in your worksheet)

Analyse the Summary Question

Question:

The writer establishes that women may have done more of the hunting in primitive times than commonly thought. Write a summary of the roles that women may have played, using your own words, as far as possible

Use material from Line 28 to 71

Your account should be in continuous writing , must not be longer than 160 words, including the 11 words given below. You should use your own words to rephrase the points, and not copy large chunks from the passage.

Begin: “In pre-historic times, It was not only men who hunted. Women…”

Sample Question

Using the template introduced to you…break

up the question into its parts…

You have 5 minutes to do this…

Your Turn…

Now you are ready to begin…(Total time:

10mins)

Place the template on the table in front of you Read the passage based on the relevant lines

(28-71) and mark out the relevant information. As you begin work – go back to the “TOPIC” and

keep referring to it as you mark out the information.

Focus on finding relevant information…do not worry about expressing this in own words

Also keep track of your marking out: Too much? Too Little?

Practice in Class

Compare your marked out portions of the

passage with the sample annotated passage…did you leave out any points…

Practice in Class

Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of

all the points you have marked out.

Copy The TOPIC on the paper you are going to write out the summary

Check whether your notes are in correct logical order. Refer to the question again for some suggestions

Remember to use your own words and as few words as possible

Practice in Class

Step 4: Write up your notes in grammatically

correct English

Concentrate on building sentence structures

Put aside the passage. Trust your notes

You may combine points into one sentence

Practice in Class

Compare your summary with the sample

summary…how does this compare?

Missed out points? Not in your own words? Poor sentence and grammar

Practice in Class

Do not stop there…

Count the words and write down Check for accuracy of:

Verb agreements Spellings Consistency – American usage or British English

After the Summary

List what are the 4 steps to summary writing:

Step 1: ________________________________ Step 2: ________________________________ Step 3: ________________________________ Step 4: ________________________________

Key Points – Take-a-ways