|  A
summary is a short version of a longer piece of writing.
The
summary should contain all the important parts of the original,
but expresses them in a shorter space.
Summarising
is a very useful skill when gathering information.
The
summary should be written in your own words. It's more useful to
re-write the contents, rather than copying out parts of the original.
You
might be asked to summarise a passage as a 'comprehension test'.
That is, to prove that you can understand it.
Read
the original quickly, and try to understand its main subject.
Then
you will need to read it again to understand it in more detail.
Underline
or make a note of the main points. Use a highlighter if this helps.
Look
up any words or ideas you don't know. You need to understand the
sentences and how they relate to each other.
Work
through the writing to spot the main sections or arguments. These
might be shown as paragraphs.
Remember
that the purpose of a paragraph is that it deals with just one issue
or topic.
Draw
up a list of the topics - or make a diagram. A simple picture of
boxes or a spider diagram can often be helpful.
Write
a one or two-sentence version of each section. Just express the
main point. Leave out any examples.
Write
a sentence which states the main idea of the original writing.
Use
this as the starting point. Then write a paragraph which combines
all the points you have made.
The
final summary should capture the main point of the original.
Remember
that it should be in your own words. You re-create the meaning
of the original in a way which makes sense for you.
Here's
an example
| Original
At a typical football match we are likely to see players committing
deliberate fouls, often behind the referee's back. They might
try to take a throw-in or a free kick from an incorrect but more
advantageous positions in defiance of the clearly stated rules
of the game. They sometimes challenge the rulings of the referee
or linesmen in an offensive way which often deserves punishment
or even sending off. No wonder this leads spectators to fight
amongst themselves, damage stadiums, or take the law into their
own hands by invading the pitch in the hope of affecting the
outcome of the match. [100 words]
|
| Summary
Unsporting behaviour by footballers may cause hooliganism among
spectators. [9 words]
|
|
