SUMMARY WRITING

FORM TWO
 TIPS
1. Pick out the main ideas in a passage.
2. Read the passage twice.
3. Underlined the important details
4. Don’t copy sentences from the original passage.
You need to use your own words.
5. Leave out unnecessary details such as repeated
information, pronoun, definition and examples.
6. Use the same tense in your summary.
7. Write in one paragraph.
8. The name of person, place or an animal is counted as
one word.
9. State the number of words. Make sure your words not
more than 60 words.
10. It would be helpful to turn the summary task into an
actual question.
Ex: Write a summary on the uses of water.
Change the task into a question:
What are the uses of water?
11. You must have 5 contents in the passage.

Contents – 5 marks
Language – 5 marks
_________________________________________________________

10 marks
HOW TO PICK OUT MAIN IDEAS
PASSAGE MAIN IDEA
Write a summary on how to prepare 1. Draw up a
well for an exam.
study
You can draw up a study timetable timetable.
to follow, which includes time for
breaks, time for exercise, meal and
sleep.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEA
Write a summary on the importance 1. Children do
of a healthy breakfast.
better in
Studies conducted show that the school.
most important meal of the day is 2. Adult perform
breakfast. Children who eat a healthy better at work.
breakfast do better in school. Adult
perform better at work if they have a
healthy breakfast.
EXERCISE 1
What are the tips to face examination with
confidence?
PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Many students fear

examinations. There are many tips
for students to face examinations No main point
with confidence.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Do not burn the midnight oil at 1. Start your

the last minute. Start your revision
early. Prepare for the examination revision early
as early as possible. Set a time 2. Set a
table and follow it strictly. timetable
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Discussion with classmates is 3. form group

equally important. Form group discussion
discussion with your classmates.
You would be able to help each Or
other. Those who are good in Discussion with
certain subjects can help the classmates
poorer ones.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Have a good sleep the day before the

examination. Enough sleep is 4. Have a good
important as it keeps your mind sleep
clear. You need lots of
concentration and strength during OR
examinations.
Have enough
sleep
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Do not panic when you enter the

examination hall. You might forget 5. Do not panic
everything that you have learnt. when enter the
Relax before you enter the examination hall.
examination hall.
EXERCISE 2
 What are the uses of the coconut
tree?
PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Drive along any coastal area and No main point

you will find the beaches lined with
rows and rows of coconut trees. These
trees not only make add to the beauty of
the place, they actually serve a purpose.
To be exact, the coconut trees serve
many purposes. They are known as trees
of a hundred uses.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

First of all, the fruit of the coconut tree 1. flesh can be

can be used for many things. The white
juicy flesh can be eaten or scraped to eaten or scraped
obtain coconut milk. In many asian 2. the coconut
homes, the coconut milk is essential to milk is essential
make curries and local cakes. In to make curries
addition to that, the clear coconut water and local cakes.
is a refreshing drink. It is believed to
have healing and cooling properties. 3. the clear
coconut water is
a refreshing
drink.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
Besides the fruit, even the leaves can be
used. Many villagers use the coconut 4. leaves to make
leaves to make roofs of their huts or roofs
houses. Furthermore, in traditional 5. leaves are then
homes, womenfolk collect the leaves, woven into
dry them and then dye the leaves into
different colours. These leaves are then mats.
woven into mats.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
The trunk of the coconut tree is very
strong and solid. Because the trunk of 6. The trunk is
the tree is usually straight, it can easily used to build
used to build houses or bridges, and houses or bridges.
once the trunks are old and rotten, the
villagers can easily replace them with
another one.
 EXERCISE 2
IN PAIRS, UNDERLINE AND WRITE DOWN THE
MAIN POINTS FROM THE PASSAGE GIVEN.
What one can do in Pangkor?
PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
Dear Mum,
I’m having a great time here in Pangkor. 1. Swimming
My friends and I have been spending our 2. Enjoy water-
days swimming in the sea. The water is sports
warm and inviting. In fact, we are enjoying
ourselves so much that we would only get
out of the water when the sun sets. We also
enjoy water-sports activities such as jet
skiing and para-sailing.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
Yesterday, we took a boat to another 3. Fishing
island off the west coast to do some
fishing. We didn’t catch any fish though,
just some old shoes and plastic bottles!
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
We also took a day tour round the
island that offered us a glimpse of some 4. Visit historical
historical sights that date back to the time site
of the Dutch. The tour also included visits 5. Visit batik-
to some cottage industries such as a batik- making factory.
making factory. The nights are the best for
us. The streets come alive with little stalls 6. Little stalls
selling all sort of things and we really like selling at night.
strolling along the streets then.
 PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS
We will be leaving the island No main idea
tomorrow to continue our journey up
north to Penang. I will write again soon
to tell you about my adventures there.
Bye.
Love, Nicole