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Summarizing
This lesson teaches you how to summarize
a paragraph and gives you an exercise to check your summarizing skills.
HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY:
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The first sentence of the first paragraph
of your summary should state the author's name, the title of the
article and the author's purpose in writing.
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Use the present tense when writing about
someone else's work.
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Write one sentence only for every idea
that the author has written.
First find the:
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main point - What is the most important
thing that the author wants the reader to know about the topic?
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....then the supporting point(s) - What
two or three important facts does the author use to convince the
reader about the main idea? If the author gives contrasting ideas
(advantages and disadvantages of something, or comparing points of
view), make sure you write down important facts for both points of
view.
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..... and then finally the conclusion
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Use connectors (eg. because, although, in
addition, moreover) to help join the ideas together.
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Check your spelling and grammar.
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Now practise your summarizing skills: Go
to the Famous People Site
(http://history1900s.about.com/library/misc/blpeople.htm) and choose
one famous figure to read about. Make a short summary about this
person.
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Write your summary on a page and hand it
in to your teacher.
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