Ss

                                              SUMMARY



   In summarizing, you want to capture the essence of what the author has said but in fewer
   words. Summary provides the gist – essential elements and arguments.

   

   A.     To summarize, follow these steps:

   

   1.      Quickly read through the text to gain an impression of the information, its content
   and its relevance to your work, underline/highlight the main points as you read.

   2.      Re-read the text, making a note of the main points and/or make a mind map.

   3.      Put away the original and rewrite your notes in your own words.

   4.      Begin your summary. Restate the main idea at the beginning of your summary, indicating
   where your information is from.

   5.      Mention other major points.

   6.      Change the order of the points if necessary to make the construction more logical.

   7.      Re-read the work to check that you have included all the important information clearly
   and expressed it as economically as possible.

   

   B.     In a short summary, you may follow these steps:          

   

   a.       Read the passage several times.

   b.      Decide on the essential points; write down key words and expressions that remind you
   of these essential points.

   c.       Expend your key words into a sentence or two.

   

   

   To sum up, the original text can be shortened by means of several techniques

   

   ·        deleting

   ·        selecting

   ·        note taking

   ·        miniaturizing

   

   

   C.   Discuss the characteristics of an effective summary.

         Are the following statements true or false?

   

   a.       The same order of facts and ideas as the original

   b.      Similar wording to the original with occasional phrases exactly the same

   c.       Different sentence patterns from the original

   d.      Additional information, which the original writer omitted but which helps an
   understanding of the subject

   e.       A personal comment on the subject

   f.        Simpler vocabulary than the original

   g.       Identification of key points in the original

   

   

                                        Summary – Vocabulary



   When writing about something you have read, you will often want to refer to what the writer
   says. The word ´says´, however, is a neutral one. Some other words can be used to indicate an
   author´s writing or argument strategy. For example: If, instead of writing “the author says“,
   you write “the author compares“ or “the author defines“,  your reader will know something
   about how the author develops his or her ideas.

   

   +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |declares               |explains              |assumes               |ridicules             |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |states                 |analyzes              |implies               |laughs at             |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |asserts                |considers             |indicates             |makes fun of          |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |                      |pokes fun at          |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |notes                  |informs               |                      |assures               |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |writes                 |reviews               |                      |                      |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |mentions               |compares              |suggests              |stresses              |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |contrasts             |recommends            |                      |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |advocates             |                      |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |remarks                |connects              |advises               |emphasizes            |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |comments               |correlates            |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |claims                 |                      |                      |                      |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |approves of            |argues                |reasons               |introduces            |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |applauds               |criticizes            |recalls               |concludes             |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |agrees                 |complains             |remembers             |                      |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |favours                |disapproves of        |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |is shocked by         |                      |                      |
   |-----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
   |                       |                      |believes              |protests              |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |thinks                |resolves              |
   |                       |                      |                      |                      |
   |                       |                      |decides               |                      |
   +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

   

   These words are all in the present tense. This is one of the conventions of academic writing.
   Even though the author wrote the book or article in the past, you are reading it now, and so,
   in a sense, the author is talking to you now.

   Examples:

               The author criticizes the President for failing to review this problem more
   thoroughly.

               The author recalls an event that took place years ago.

               Although the author assures the reader that he has researched his topic, he
   doesn´t             document his evidence.

   According to the author, Albany is full of corrupt politicians. – This is the author´s opinion
   an opinion that others might challenge.

   

   The author attempts to persuade the reader to support his cause

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

                                          Transition words



   show how ideas are connected to each other, helping the reader follow the writer´s train of
   thought.

   

   

   +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |although                      |since                         |briefly                       |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |however                       |because                       |in conclusion                 |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |while                         |consequently                  |                              |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |nevertheless                  |thus                          |                              |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |but                           |                              |                              |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |still                         |                              |                              |
   |------------------------------+------------------------------+------------------------------|
   |on the one hand               |then                          |certainly                     |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |on the other hand             |therefore                     |obviously                     |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |in contrast                   |as a result                   |of course                     |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |comparing                     |so that                       |                              |
   |------------------------------+------------------------------+------------------------------|
   |likewise                      |moreover                      |for example                   |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |similarly                     |furthermore                   |for instance                  |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |                              |in addition                   |in other words                |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |                              |first, second, third, etc.    |                              |
   |------------------------------+------------------------------+------------------------------|
   |next                          |                              |before                        |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |later                         |                              |after                         |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |finally                       |                              |                              |
   |------------------------------+------------------------------+------------------------------|
   |                              |                              |above                         |
   |                              |                              |                              |
   |                              |                              |below                         |
   +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+