Writing Summaries

Summaries-- What are they?

Definition: a brief restatement in your own words of a text's main ideas (Holt Handbook, 5th edition); a condensation of an extended idea or argument into a sentence or more in your own words" (Little, Brown Handbook, 5th edition).

Characteristics:

Summaries identify the source of original text.

Summaries demonstrate your understanding of a text's subject matter.

Summaries are shorter (at least 60% shorter) than the original text--they omit the original text's examples, asides, analogies, and rhetorical strategies: (Holt Handbook, 5th edition).

Summaries differ from paraphrases--paraphrases more closely follow the original text's presentation (they still use your words, but they are longer than summaries).

Summaries focus exclusively on the presentation of the writer's main ideas--they do not include your interpretations or opinions.

Summaries normally are written in your own words--they do not contain extended quotes or paraphrases.

Summaries rely on the use of standard signal phrases ("According to the author..."; "The author believes..."; etc.).

Tips on Writing Summaries

Step One (Prewriting): Read the article quickly. Try to get a sense of the article's general focus and content.

Step Two (Drafting): Restate the article's thesis simply and in your own words. Restate each paragraph's topic simply and in your own words.

Step Three (Revising): Combine sentences in Step Two to form your summary; Organize your summary sentences in the same order as the main ideas in the original text. Edit very carefully for neatness and correctness.

Criteria for Effective Writing Skills

Criteria for Effective Writing Skills
(words in parentheses indicate highest level of proficiency)

Writer's ability to . . .

Overall
a) stay (completely) focused on topic and task
b) organize ideas (logically)
c) exhibit (exceptional) word usage
d) demonstrate (exceptional) writing technique
e) (effectively) adjust language and tone to task and reader

Specific Areas
Ideas
a) unify theme or main idea
b) not go off on tangents
c) fully accomplish the task (summary, essay, article...)
d) fully explore many facets of the topic

Organization
a) create a cohesive, meaningful whole (i.e. introduction, body, and conclusion)
b) progress in an order that enhances meaning
c) make smooth transitions between ideas, sentences and paragraphs to enhance meaning of text

Style
a) choose vocabulary to make explanations detailed and precise, descriptions rich, and actions clear and vivid
b) demonstrate control of a challenging vocabulary
c) use varied sentence patterns and complex sentences (yet fluent and easy to read)
d) uses writer's techniques (i.e. literary conventions such as imagery, humor etc.)

Voice
a) choose appropriate register (i.e. formal, personal, or dialect) to suit task
b) display a strong sense of audience (the readers)
c) have a unique perspective; may be original, authoritative, lively and/or exciting

Mechanics
a)words should have no or few capitalization errors
b) sentences should have no or few punctuation errors
c) words should have no or few spelling errors
d) sentences should have no or few grammar or word usage errors
e) good writing has no or few paragraphing errors
f) good writing has no or few run-on sentences or sentence fragments

Writing Activities from College Writer Text

English 82A Written Communication College Writer Text
For English 82A -- Written Communication -- our course textbook, The College Writer, has the following excellent web site:
http://college.hmco.com/english/vandermey/college_writer/1e/students/


College Writer: Writing Activities
Step-by-Step Writing Assignments
Reading Notes: One Writer's Process, several mini-assignments with a topic and raw material, including source articles and research links

Annotated ReadingsJournal SupportInteractive journal assignments that reflect the content of each chapter

Test Your Reading Comprehension Answer questions about a short reading(image placeholder)(image placeholder)

Visual Activities Writing assignments based on visuals to help readers learn to see the visual environment and to think critically or interpret it

Music Activites Extensive activities based on musical passages that demonstrate the principles for the patterns of writing development

Game Fun ways to help you learn how to revise an essay into a unified and coherently organized whole

Interactive Calendar A planner that helps you schedule the time needed for a each stage of a writing assignment

Publishing Your Work A resource center for venues that accept student papers, advice on submitting your work

Real-World Web Links Links to sites and subjects that demonstrate the underlying principles for the patterns of writing development

100 Words to Know Increase your vocabulary using these flashcards derived from The American Heritage College Dictionary list of the top 100 words you should know.

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