Grade 10: Summary Writing Notes

Summaries can have 2 distinct focuses:

1. SUMMARY WRITING: FOCUS ON SYNTHESIS (Find only relevant information to create
something new / shorten information given into your own words )
2. SUMMARY WRITING: FOCUS ON REGISTER (Formality of language use according to the
purpose)
What is register?

What is the purpose?

Look to see why the summary piece is being written and ensure that it achieves the goals it is
intended for.

When writing a summary you must:

1. Follow the instructions very carefully.

2. Use your own words as much as possible.
3. Give a relevant title as requested.
4. Give an accurate word count at the end. If you go over the required word count you will be
marked down.
5. You MUST do a draft and then a neat version. This will ensure fluency, accuracy of language
and correct word length.
The summary marking rubric is as follows:

Very Below
Good Average Very Weak
Good Average
8½ 7 5½ 4 1
9 7½ 6 4½ 2
10 8 6½ 5 3

SUMMARY GUIDELINES
1. Read the instructions because the instructions will usually include an explanation of the
purpose of the summary (context) and its intended audience. In other words, you will
be told for whom you are writing your summary and how it will be used. (format). The
audience for whom you are asked to write will help you determine the correct style and
register for the piece (i.e. how formal or informal it needs to be).

2. Skim the text(s) Skim read the provided text(s) to identify the main ideas. Read the title,
introduction, first paragraph, sub-headings and scan the rest of the content

3. Read the instructions again, carefully. Make sure you understand what you are required to
do, and what information you will need to prioritise in your summary.

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4. Read the text(s) carefully and thoroughly. Think about what you are reading and pause at
the end of each paragraph to identify and underline the main idea that is being
communicated. Highlighting or underlining important points will help you find them easily
later.

5. Write a rough draft in your own words once you have read and understood the text(s) -
Make sure you are sticking strictly to information provided in the text(s) as you may be
penalised for unconsciously adding your own thoughts and opinions on the topic.

6. Edit your work and read through your rough draft again and ensure that you have conveyed
the meaning of the text(s) accurately. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and ensure
your punctuation is correct. Double-check the required word length and adjust your
summary if necessary.

7. Write your final draft neatly. Remember to include a title, if required, and the word count at
the end. Don’t include the title in your word count.

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SUMMARY PRACTICE
Instructions
1. You have been asked to summarise the article about short-term smoking.
2. You must write a fluent paragraph, using your own words.
3. Your summary should 90bwords in length.
4. You are NOT required to include a title for the summary.
5. Indicate your word count at the end of your summary.

Smoking just a few cigarettes harmful: study

Despite decades of public health campaigning, many smokers think it's okay to just smoke a few
cigarettes a day, yet they underestimate their risks, according to researchers in France.

"It seems that people are aware of the dangers of tobacco for health, but might consider that the risks
are not for themselves, but only for other people," says Dr Laurent Greillier.

Dr Greillier and his team surveyed 1,602 French people between the ages of 40 and 75 of which
1,463 had no history of cancer. Of the component that had never experienced cancer, 481 were
former smokers and 330 were current smokers, puffing away 14.2 cigarettes per day, on average.

Of the total participant group, 34 percent wrongly believed that a daily consumption of up to 10
cigarettes was not associated with the risk of lung cancer, according to results.

"The risk for lung cancer is most dependent on duration of smoking, but of course the number per day
matters also," says Dr Carolyn Dresler, a US-based board member of the International Association for
the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). "The risk for cardiovascular disease starts with that one cigarette
per day."

Half of the current smokers seemed to realize their increased risk for lung cancer over the non-
smoking population. Less than 40 percent of participants were aware that the increased risk
never returns to that of a non-smoker even after quitting.

"It is essential that public health policies continue to focus on the tobacco pandemic," says Dr Greillier.
"Our findings suggest to urgently initiating campaigns concerning the risk of any cigarette. The war
against tobacco is not over!"

Current smokers should also be aware of a 2013 study that suggested that long and ultra-long
cigarettes could further increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

"We found that smokers of long or ultra-long cigarettes have higher concentrations of tobacco specific
carcinogens in their urine than smokers of regular or king size cigarettes," said Constantine Vardavas,
MD, senior research scientist, Harvard School of Public Health.

SOURCE : Adapted from www.timeslive.com