Summary Writing

PART 2
Summary writing in CSEC
The following are tips for writing a good summary:
Before Writing the Summary
1. Read the instructions carefully.
2. Read the information that you have been given to summarise.
3. Underline the main ideas and /or cross out irrelevant details.
(ARIESO)
4. Combine similar ideas where necessary.
When Writing the Summary…
1. Write down only the main ideas. Look at the topic sentences in
each paragraph.
2. Use your own words, but not your opinion!
3. Organise your summary in a logical manner using appropriate
transitional words and phrases.
4. Stick to the word limit. (Remember that only the words that fall
within the word limit will be read and assessed by the examiner.)
When Writing the Summary
5. Write the main idea of each paragraph. This accounts for 5 marks
of your total mark (25 Marks) so it is an important step.
6. Write the number of words at the bottom of your final summary
passage.
After writing the Summary
Re-read your work to ensure that you captured the main ideas and
they flow logically.
Summarising
Irrelevant details
When summarising, one must filter out the Irrelevant Details found in
the passage and retain only the pertinent points and main ideas.
We can do this by remembering the acronym (ARIESO).

Anecdotes - a brief amusing tale or story which pertains to the topic

Repetition - words and ideas that are constantly repeated.
Illustration – When the writer uses words to paint an image in the
reader’s mind.
Irrelevant details
Examples – examples on the given topic. These can be omitted or
classified. Look out for signal words that indicate examples (for
instance, for example, like, includes, etc)
Statistical Data – numerical data that you do not have to include.
Opinions - the opinions of others.
Finding the Main Idea
Identifying the main idea is very important in summary writing. In a
passage, each paragraph has a main idea.
Here is a video to further help with finding the main idea of a
passage

Main Idea | Summarising | Reading Strategies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbO3lRXT0ww
Finding the Main Idea
Strategies to find the Main Idea are:
1. Use headings and titles
2. Use topic sentences. Please note that not all topic sentences appear as the first sentence in a
paragraph.
3. Use concluding sentences.
4. Look for repeated ideas.
Lets apply what we learnt:
Read and summarise the following paragraph:

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are in danger. Many of the threats are caused by humans.
Sometimes, turtles get stuck in old fishing nets. When a turtle becomes
tangled in one of these nets, they cannot swim. This means that they
may drown. Another threat to sea turtles is plastic bags that have been
thrown in the water. Turtles think that these plastic bags are jellyfish
and try to eat them. This makes the turtle sick and they often die.
Read and summarise the following paragraph:

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are in danger. (Topic sentence) Many of the threats are caused by humans.
Sometimes, turtles get stuck in old fishing nets. When a turtle becomes tangled in one of these
nets, they cannot swim. This means that they may drown. Another threat to sea turtles is plastic
bags that have been thrown in the water. Turtles think that these plastic bags are jellyfish and
try to eat them. This makes the turtle sick and they often die.

Main Idea – Humans are endangering sea turtles. Do you agree with this main idea? Explain
why.
Here is another:
Flooding can occur as a result of water pollution. When garbage or refuse is thrown into our
waterways, they remain there and create a blockage. Heavy rainfall will result in a tumult of
water that cannot flow freely as it is intended to do. As a result, the water overflows the banks
of the river and enters houses and roadways. Many experience loss of property, vehicles and
even life. This also leads to an economic drain on a country. Therefore, this is one of the most
dangerous effects of water pollution.
Here is another:
Flooding can occur as a result of water pollution. When garbage or refuse is thrown into our
waterways, they remain there and create a blockage. Heavy rainfall will result in a tumult of water that
cannot flow freely as it is intended to do. As a result, the water overflows the banks of the river and
enters houses and roadways. Many experience loss of property, vehicles and even life. This also leads
to an economic drain on a country. Therefore, this is one of the most dangerous effects of water
pollution.
Main Idea - One major effect of water pollution is flooding.
Do you agree that this is the main idea? Explain why
Lastly…
What is the main idea of the following paragraph?
Water

Imagine that you get up in the morning with the sweet sound of rain against the
windows. You look out and the world sings to you. Water makes it possible. Crystal
clear water is available right in the comfort of your home. Shortage is not even in the
back of your mind because you know the process of getting the water to you is in the
hands of responsible persons.
What is the main idea of the following paragraph?

Some forecasts show that by 2025 more than 3 billion people will face water scarcity,
but this is not because the world lacks water. The world water crisis is a crisis of
management – not one of scarcity. At the global scale, there is enough water to provide
“water security” for all, but only if we change the way we manage and develop it. The
scarcity of water is a very relative concept that can only be seriously addressed by
looking at a basket of factors, including socio-economic, technical and institutional
aspects of water use.