SUMMARY WRITING

Objective of lesson:
Summarizing summary
writing 
What is a summary?

Give it a try and keep the answers coming!

 A brief statement or account of the main points of
something. It is a shortened version of a longer text,
containing key points in as few words as necessary.

"The purpose of a summary is to give a reader a

condensed and objective account of the main ideas

Summary and features of a text. Usually, a summary has

between one and three paragraphs or 100 to 300 words

Writing: Summary writing emphasises four basic skills:

1) Identifying key points of the passage. 2)

Articulating in own words. 3) Sequencing points
cohesively. 4) Writing within the word count
 It is important to be able to read texts and to find information
within them that is important to your task.

‘Skimming’ and ‘scanning’ are the key skills you need to develop
to summarise texts.

But is it REALLY important?

 Writing a summary is an important skill that students
will use throughout their academic careers.
In addition, summarizing improves reading skills as

Why is
students pick out the main ideas of a reading; it also
helps with vocabulary skills as students paraphrase a
reading, altering the vocabulary and grammar as they

summary do so.

In addition, critical thinking skills are improved as

writing students decide on the main ideas of the reading to

include in the summary.

important? Finally, writing and editing skills are improved as

students draft and edit the summary. Students can also
work with peers throughout the writing and revision
process, so it also helps with cooperative learning.
Therefore, many benefits exist to teaching
summarizing skills.
 ● Before you can begin to analyse the
language or techniques being used by
a writer, the effects these create and
How to the methods used, it is important to
be able to find the key information
summarise a that you will analyse.

text ● There are a number of techniques to

use when finding information from a
text, two of which
are skimming and scanning.
 ● Skimming is letting your eyes and mind
‘skim’ over the text to get a quick but
very general idea of it. You can’t read
the text closely when skimming it, but
instead you aim to pick out key words
and sentences and get the general feel

SKIMMING and meaning of the text.

● A topic sentence is often the first

Skill #1 - sentence in a paragraph. You should
always read it fully even when
skimming as this will give you a
summary of that paragraph’s subject
and help you to gain a general idea of
the content.
 ● Scanning is the method of
looking for key words or
phrases to find
out specific information.

SCANNING
Skill #2
 TIPS
Content: Answer the question directly and focus on relevant points only! Use as much of the material as possible,
however, be wary of some parts that are not covered in the question. Be reminded that points must be taken from the
passage, and do not repeat similar points even if it was made twice.

Language: Write in your own words as much as possible. Although the message needs to be the same, wordings need to
be different. It is important that the replaced words convey the essence of the point. No need to find synonyms for
technical objects, e.g. solar heaters, and only change words when appropriate. Lifting a few words is acceptable as long
as it is evident that you understand and focus on the key details of the passage. Do avoid over-lengthy lifting and quoting
straight from the passage. Find precise words to use and vary your choices. Use accurate language (linking words,
conjunctions and structured paragraphs)

Writing Style: Organise and sequence points cohesively by connecting your ideas into a paragraph. Aim to write in
complex sentences rather than simple or compound structures and make sure that the spelling, punctuation, and
grammar are correct. Also do not copy the text/ lift words for more than two points. Copying big chunks of texts is not
going to show your understanding, just your handwriting! Practice connecting phrases to create sentences, and
connecting sentences to create paragraphs and use appropriate synonyms (do not change the essence of the meaning).

Opinion: Your opinion about the passage should NOT appear in the writing piece.
When writing a summary, remember that
it should be in the form of a paragraph.
A summary begins with an introductory
sentence that states the text’s title, author
and main point of the text as you see it.
After the introductory para, you may start
your para like: According to Didion “…
passage 1…” Didion also writes “…passage
2…”
TIPS -
● Read and underline the relevant material in pencil (so that you can change your mind easily if needed)
● Transfer the points into a plan, whilst changing them into your own words
● Group the points logically (using arrows/brackets); put them in order (using numbers), and decide which ones
can be combined into one sentence
● Do not drift away from the passage.
● Show evidence of a clear and concise summary style throughout. Make sure to structure your answer,
sequence your ideas, and use a wide range of original and appropriate language.
● Keep within the specified word limit.
● The summary must be based on the text you have read. Keep to the topic at all times!
● Read the instructions carefully. Do not waste your time reading unnecessary parts of the passage.
● Identify all the relevant points according to the question. Include all the key facts relating to the subject of
your summary. NO OPINIONS PLEASE.
General procedure you can use [for composing a
summary]:
Step 1: Read the text for its main points.
Step 2: Reread carefully and make a descriptive outline.
Step 3: Write out the text's main point.
Step 4: Identify the text's major divisions or chunks. Each division develops one of the
stages needed to make the whole main point.
Step 5: Try summarizing each part in one or two sentences.
Step 6: Now combine your summaries of the parts into a coherent whole, creating a
condensed version of the text's main ideas in your own words.
OVERVIEW -
AN EXAMPLE -
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S
STONE SUMMARY EXAMPLE-
It is a story about Harry Potter, an orphan brought up by his aunt and uncle because his
parents were killed when he was a baby. Harry is unloved by his uncle and aunt but
everything changes when he is invited to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry and he finds out he's a wizard. At Hogwarts Harry realises he's special and his
adventures begin when he and his new friends Ron and Hermione attempt to unravel the
mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.

(Word count: 84 words)

SAME BOOK, DIFFERENT SUMMARY
After murdering Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter, evil Lord Voldemort puts a killing curse on Harry,
then just a baby. The curse inexplicably reverses, defeating Voldemort and searing a lightning-bolt scar in
the middle of the infant's forehead. Harry is then left at the doorstep of his boring but brutish aunt and
uncle, the Dursleys.
For 10 years, Harry lives in the cupboard under the stairs and is subjected to cruel mistreatment by Aunt
Petunia, Uncle Vernon and their son Dudley. On his 11th birthday, Harry receives a letter inviting him to
study magic at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry discovers that not only is he a wizard, but he is a famous one. He meets two best friends, Ron
Weasley and Hermione Granger, and makes his first enemy, Draco Malfoy. At Hogwarts the three friends
are all placed into the Gryffindor house. Harry has a knack for the school sport, Quidditch, and is
recruited onto the Gryffindor team as its star Seeker.
Perusing the restricted section in the library, Harry discovers that the Sorcerer's Stone produces the Elixir
of Life, which gives its drinker the gift of immortality. After realizing that Voldemort might be after the
stone, Albus Dumbledore had it moved it to Hogwarts for safekeeping.
Harry finds out that when she died, Lily Potter transferred to her son an ancient magical protection from
Voldemort's lethal spells. This protection is what allowed Harry as an infant to survive Voldemort's attack.
It also helps Harry keep Voldemort from possessing the Stone, which Dumbledore agrees to destroy.
(Word Count – 264 words).