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What is Summarizing?

According to Buckley (2004), in her popular writing text Fit to Print, summarizing
is reducing text to one-third or one-quarter its original size, clearly articulating the
author’s meaning, and retaining main ideas.
According to Diane Hacker (2008), in A Canadian Writer’s Reference, explains
that summarizing involves stating a work’s thesis and main ideas “simply, briefly, and
accurately”.
From dictionaries, it is defined as taking a lot of information and creating a
condensed version that covers the main points; and to express the most important
facts or ideas about something or someone in a short and clear form.
From the definitions, take a look on the pool of words and phrases

reducing text “simply, briefly, and accurately”.

clearly articulating condensed version
thesis most important facts or ideas
main ideas short and clear form.

Various techniques in summarizing a variety of academic texts

1. Read the work first to understand the author’s intent. This is a crucial step
because an incomplete reading could lead to an inaccurate summary. Note: an
inaccurate summary is plagiarism!

2. One of the summarization techniques you can do is to present information

through facts, skills and concept in visual formats. You can provide the cause
and effects charts, time lines, and Venn diagrams, templates for outlines, use
flow charts or infographics.

3. To avoid difficulty, you need first to know the main points and the supporting
details. You can exclude any illustrations, examples or explanations.

4. You need to analyze the text to save time in thinking what you will do.

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 5. Think what information you will put in your summary. Be sure to cover the main
points and arguments of the document.

6. One of the best things to do in auto summarizing is restating the words into
different one. You should avoid using the original words of the author instead;
use your own vocabulary but be sure to retain the information.

7. You will fully understand what the document is when you organize all ideas.

8. One of the things you can do is to write down all information in a coherent and
precise form. Keep in mind that a summary is a condensed version of the
original paper, so avoid making it long.

9. You can also decide to represent information through using dimensional

constructions in representing concepts, skills or facts.

10. Paraphrasing is one of the skills you can do in writing a summary. With it, do
not use the same words with the author.

With the tips above, you will no longer worry whenever you need to summarize
because it is your one stop solution to having a fantastic summary that offer nice
details to readers. Follow the tips and you will not make mistakes.

Here’s how you start writing your summary.

Example 1:

Japanese Rail Tunnel

Due to an increase in traffic between the various island which make up Japan,
and predictions of a continuing growth in train travel, a rail tunnel was built to connect
the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. The Seikan Tunnel in Japan is today the longest
tunnel in the world, with a length of almost 54km. When the tunnel was opened in
1988, all existing trains went through it. However, newer Japanese bullet trains have
never used the tunnel because of the cost of extending the high speed line through it.
Consequently, the train journey from Tokyo to Sapporo still takes about ten hours. In
contrast, the journey by air takes only three and a half hours. This has combined with
the fall in the cost of flying, has meant that more people travel by plane than train and
the tunnel is not used as much as forecasters had predicted.

 Increase in traffic
 connect Islands (Honshu & Hokkaido )
 Predictions and continuing growth
 The longest rail tunnel
 opened 1988
 54km
 Opened in 1988

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  Bullet trains
 Never used tunnel
 Fall in the cost of flying
 Not used as much as forecasters predicted

Summary
The longest railway tunnel in the world links the islands of Honshu &
Hokkaido. This 54km tunnel was inaugurated in 1988 to deal with the predicted
increase in rail traffic. However, the fall in the cost of flying and the fact that high
speed trains cannot use the tunnel have resulted in the tunnel being less widely
used than expected.

Example 2
The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous architectural wonders of
the modern world. Instantly recognisable both for its roof shells and its impressive
location in Sydney harbour, it has become one of the best known images of
Australia.Situated close to Sydney Harbour Bridge, this large performing arts centre
was started in 1959 and completed in 1973. After a competition to choose the design,
the Danish architect Jorn Utzon was chosen. The Opera House includes five theatres,
five rehearsal studios, two main halls, four restaurants, six bars, and several
shops.The construction of the Opera House was fairly controversial as the final cost
of the building was much higher than predicted. It was expected to cost $7 milllion, but
in fact, the final cost was $102 million. This was due to difficult weather conditions,
problems with structural design, and changes to contract. The remarkable roof shells
were also difficult to construct. Furthermore, the construction too longer than planned.
Completion of the building was initially expected in four years, in 1963. Unfortunately,
because of the many problems and changes which were necessary in the design, the
building was not completed until ten years later, in 1973.It was inaugurated by Queen
Elizabeth 2 on 20th October 1973, and millions of people attended the ceremony. The
event was televised, and included a fireworks display and classical music
performance.
 Most famous architectural wonders of the modern world
 Recognisable both for its roof shells
 Location in Sydney harbour
 Performing arts centre
 Started in 1959 and completed in 1973

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  Competition: the Danish architect Jorn Utzon
 Five theatres, five rehearsal studios, two main halls, four restaurants,
six bars, and several shops.
 Controversial: expected $7 milllion / the final cost $102
 Difficult weather conditions, problems with structural design, and
changes to contract.
 Inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth 2 on 20th October 1973

Summary
The Sydney Opera house, has been described as ‘one of the wonders of
the modern world’, is located in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Designed by Danish
Architect, Jorn Utzo, this large performing art centre with numerous theatres,
restaurants and other facilities, took fourteen years to build at a cost of over
$100 million. The construction was seen as controversial as it was estimated to
only cost $7 million but adverse weather, design difficulties and contractual
problems made expenses spiral out of control. It was inaugurated by Queen
Elizabeth II in 1973 at a ceremony televised to the world.
Adapted from Philpot, S & Curnick, L. 2011. Headway Academic Skills, Level 3. OUP

Another 5 Easy Techniques in Summarizing Various Academic Texts

Technique 1: Somebody Wanted But So Then

“Somebody Wanted But So Then” is an excellent summarizing strategy for

stories. Each word represents a key question related to the story's essential elements:

 Somebody: Who is the story about?

 Wanted: What does the main charter want?
 But: Identify a problem that the main character encountered.
 So: How does the main character solve the problem?
 Then: Tell how the story ends.

Here is an example of this strategy in action:

 Somebody: Little Red Riding Hood
 Wanted: She wanted to take cookies to her sick grandmother.
 But: She encountered a wolf pretending to be her grandmother.
 So: She ran away, crying for help.
 Then: A woodsman heard her and saved her from the wolf.

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After answering the questions, combine the answers to form a summary:

Little Red Riding Hood wanted to take cookies to her sick grandmother, but she
encountered a wolf. He got to her grandmother’s house first and pretended to be the
old woman. He was going to eat Little Red Riding Hood, but she realized what he was
doing and ran away, crying for help. A woodsman heard the girl’s cries and saved her
from the wolf.

Technique 2: SAAC Method

The SAAC method is another useful technique for summarizing any kind of text
(story, article, speech, etc). SAAC is an acronym for "State, Assign, Action, Complete."
Each word in the acronym refers to a specific element that should be included in the
summary.

 State: name of the article, book, or story

 Assign: the name of the author
 Action: what the author is doing (example: tells, explains)
 Complete: complete the sentence or summary with keywords and important
details

This method is particularly helpful for students who are learning the format of a
summary and need reminders to include the title and author's name. However, SAAC
does not include clear guidance about which details to include, which some students
might find tricky. If you use SAAC with your students, remind them of the types of
details that belong in a summary before instructing them to work independently.

Here is an example of SAAC in action:

 State: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

 Assign: Aesop (a Greek storyteller)
 Action: tells
 Complete: what happens when a shepherd boy repeatedly lies to the
villagers about seeing a wolf

Use the four SAAC cues to write out a summary of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
in complete sentences:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf, by Aesop (a Greek storyteller), tells what happens
when a shepherd boy repeatedly lies to the villagers about seeing a wolf. After a while,
they ignore his false cries. Then, when a wolf really does attack, they don’t come to
help him.

Technique 3: 5 W's, 1 H

The 5 W's, 1 H strategy relies on six crucial questions: who, what, when, where,
why, and how. These questions make it easy to identify the main character, the
important details, and the main idea.

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  Who is the story about?
 What did they do?
 When did the action take place?
 Where did the story happen?
 Why did the main character do what he/she did?
 How did the main character do what he/she did?

Try this technique with a familiar fable such as "The Tortoise and the Hare."

 Who? The tortoise

 What? He raced a quick, boastful hare and won.
 When? When isn’t specified in this story, so it’s not important in this case.
 Where? An old country road
 Why? The tortoise was tired of hearing the hare boast about his speed.
 How? The tortoise kept up his slow but steady pace.

Then, use the answers to the 5 W's and 1 H to write a summary of in complete
sentences.

Tortoise got tired of listening to Hare boast about how fast he was, so he
challenged Hare to a race. Even though he was slower than Hare, Tortoise won by
keeping up his slow and steady pace when Hare stopped to take a nap.

Technique 4: First, Then, Finally

The "First Then Finally" technique helps students summarize events in

chronological order. The three words represent the beginning, main action, and
conclusion of a story, respectively:

 First. What happened first? Include the main character and main event/action.
 Then. What key details took place during the event/action?
 Finally. What were the results of the event/action?

Here is an example using "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

First, Goldilocks entered the bears' home while they were gone. Then, she ate their
food, sat in their chairs, and slept in their beds. Finally, she woke up to find the bears
watching her, so she jumped up and ran away.

Technique 5: Give Me the Gist

When someone asks for "the gist" of a story, they want to know what the story
is about. In other words, they want a summary—not a retelling of every detail. To
introduce the gist method, explain that summarizing is just like giving a friend the gist
of a story, and have your students tell each other about their favorite books or movies
in 15 seconds or less. You can use the gist method as a fun, quick way to practice
summarizing on a regular basis.

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When summarizing is useful?

Summarizing is useful in many types of writing and at different points in the

writing process. Summarizing is used to support an argument, provide context for a
paper’s thesis, write literature reviews, and annotate a bibliography. The benefit of
summarizing lies in showing the "big picture," which allows the reader to contextualize
what you are saying. In addition to the advantages of summarizing for the reader, as
a writer you gain a better sense of where you are going with your writing, which parts
need elaboration, and whether you have comprehended the information you have
collected.
www.umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning

References
Buckley, J. (2004). Fit to Print: The Canadian Student’s Guide to Essay Writing. (6th
ed.) Toronto: Nelson. Hacker, D. (2008). A Canadian Writer’s Reference. (4th ed.)
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

WHAT'S MORE

ACTIVITY 1

Directions: Following the techniques above, summarize the texts by completing the
sample graphic organizer below. Write your summary in your notebook.

Essay 1: Importance of Education

Education is a process that involves the transfer of knowledge, habits and skills
from one generation to another through teaching, research and training. It can be in a
formal or informal setting. Formal education involves institutionalized learning based
on a curriculum. In today’s society, education and learning play an indispensable role
in shaping the lives of individuals and the society at large. The most effective way of
boosting economic growth, reducing poverty and improving people’s health is by
investing in education.

Human labor is essential for economic growth. A highly educated labor force
further stimulates economic growth. Additionally, a highly educated labor force can
easily adapt to new working environments and conditions. In view of that, it is evident
that education serves as the driving force for innovation of new products and services.
Educated workers exchange ideas in the work place and come up with new ideas that
help in the growth of the economy.
Education reduces poverty in a number of ways. One way is by creating
employment opportunities for educated people. Through employment, one is able to
afford a decent living. Education helps to increase economic security, create income
opportunities and improve livelihoods of the economically disadvantaged by
providing
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sustainable environmental management mechanisms. Education further alleviates
poverty through skills acquired in the learning process. Skills such as carpentry,
plumbing and masonry are relevant in non-formal economies. One can acquire these
skills through technical and vocational training.

Educated people are health conscious and live longer than their counterparts
because they engage in healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising
regularly and going for medical check ups. By investing in education, one will also be
investing in their health. Education serves to create room for technological
advancements in the field of medicine and agriculture. Advanced technology used for
conducting surgery has replaced traditional methods. This has seen an improvement
in people’s general health and an increased life expectancy. Most developing
countries have a low life expectancy compared to developed countries. This can be
attributed to high illiteracy levels present in developing countries. This translates to
poor health and poor eating habits.

In conclusion, education is the only means of alleviating poverty, improving

people’s health and increasing economic growth. Improving literacy levels in
marginalized societies will go a long way in improving human living standards.

Paragraph 1
• main idea:
• details:

paragraph 2
• main idea:
• details:

paragraph 3
• main idea:
• details:

paragraph 4
• main idea:
• details:

paragraph 5
• main idea:
• details:

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Essay 2: Why is Education Important in Our Society?

Introduction
Education is more than just learning from books, and it is a shame that a lot of
schools do not see that it is more than just a curriculum and school score. A good
education can teach a child how to learn so that the child may take up independent
learning as an adult. Education may also teach a child how to reason so that a child
does not grow up to be ignorant.

Persuasive point 1:
The biggest selling point for education in our society is the fact that it helps
people learn “how” to learn. It is not about the knowledge they accumulate, it is the
way a child is taught how to “learn” things. A child may come away from school not
knowing a lot of the course, but if that child has been taught how to learn, then that
child may become an adult that learns everything he or she needs in life. Otherwise,
that child may grow up to be a person that cannot see the obvious because he or she
cannot reason and consciously learn new things.

Persuasive point 2
Education teaches people how to reason, and if they are taught how to reason
well, then they help subdue their own thoughts of ignorance. For example, there are
lots of posts and websites on the Internet about childhood vaccinations and how
dangerous they are. Ignorant people than never learned how to reason will look at
them, believe them and support them. If a person is taught how to reason then he or
she will know how to recognize empirical evidence.

Persuasive point 3
That person would look at all the people in the US that have had childhood
injections (most of them) and then look at all the people with autism. They would
reason that if childhood vaccinations caused autism then most of the people in the US
would have autism. If a person is taught how to reason then that person may see how
people that smoke seem more likely to develop emphysema than people that do not
smoke. They would then reason there is a link between smoking and emphysema.
This sort of reasoning can be taught in schools, and if children are not taught it then
they walk around risking their children’s lives by not vaccinating them, and walk around
smoking because their daddy smoked for years and it never hurt him.

Persuasive point 4

Conclusion
If education is not seen as important, then one day it will just be all about school
scores and hitting the factors of a curriculum. There will be a day when children start
to hate learning because school put them off it for life (this already happens in some
cases). Plus, without education teaching people how to reason things out and teaching

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them how to separate what is fact from what is faulty evidence, then our society will
become more and more ignorant until a smarter country simply marches over and
takes our country from under out ignorant noses.

ACTIVITY 2

Directions. From the essay #2, complete this organizer with persuasive points for
each of the paragraphs following the thesis statement below. Write your answer in
your notebook following the format below.

Thesis statement: I will show you the two best reasons why education is important in
our society.

ACTIVITY 3

Directions: After identifying the persuasive points, in your notebook, write a

summary of the text.

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NOTE TO THE TECHER:
You can use the rubric below to rate the summary of the student. Also, decide the scoring of
this activity Thank you.

: Summarizing

Nearing
Proficient Advanced
Proficiency
2 pts 3 pts
1 pts

Accuracy of Nearing Proficiency Proficient Advanced

information
Some information Almost all of the key All information is
was correct. There pieces of correct and represents
were places that it information are what the original
is evident the correct. contained.
student did not fully
understand what
they had read.

Content clarity Nearing Proficiency Proficient Advanced

It is difficult to The information is All information is clear

understand the clearly written and to understand. There
meaning of what is is understandable. is a connection
written. Many There is a flow to between all ideas
disjointed thoughts. most of the presented and the
Flow and continuity thoughts and ideas. flow of thought makes
is lacking. Some connections it very
between understandable.
ideas/sentences are
evident.

Original thought Nearing Proficiency Proficient Advanced

Some of the Most of the All of the sentences

sentences are in the sentences are in the are in the student's
student's words. student's words. words. Some original
Some are exactly thought is shown by
as written in the elaborating on topic.
original text.

Sentence Structure Nearing Proficiency Proficient Advanced

Only some Most sentences All sentences are

sentences show show correct grammatically
correct grammar grammar and correct, show good
and structure. structure. sentence structure
and correct spelling.

Rated by: Score:

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