I2CI

SUMMARIZING TEXTS ON
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ISSUES
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 A summary is a shorter
version of a longer piece of
writing. The summary
captures all the most
important parts of the
original, but expresses
them in a (much) shorter
space.
 Summarizing exercises are
usually set to test your
understanding of the
original, and your ability to
re-state its main purpose.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Summarizing is also
a useful skill when
gathering
information or doing
research.
 Summary is the
basic building block
of writing. Mastering
it, will give you the
foundation you need
to do more
sophisticated writing
later on.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Things you will need to summarize: (1) a copy
of the original text, (2) notes in the margins
and (3) enough time to fully comprehend and
digest the original material.
 The summary should be expressed, as far as
possible, in your own words. It’s not enough
to merely copy & paste parts of the original.
 The test question will usually set a maximum
number of words. If not, aim for something
around ONE FOURTH of the original. A
summary which is half the length of the
original can not be considered as a summary.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Read the original quickly, and try to
understand its main subject or purpose.
Then you will need to read it again slower,
to understand it in more detail.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Failure to read carefully is
the most common reason
why a summary goes
wrong….!
 Give yourself time to read,
comprehend and digest the
material. Try to identify the
structure of the text.
 But most important: make
sure you have understood
what you've just read.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Underline or make a
marginal note of the
main issues. Ask
questions in the
margins as this will
help you to put
important passages in
your own words later.
 Look up any words or
concepts you don’t
know, so that you
understand the
author’s sentences
and how they relate
to each other.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Work through the
text to identify its
main sections or
arguments. These
might be
expressed as
paragraphs.
 Remember that
the purpose and
definition of a
paragraph is that
it deals with only
ONE issue or
topic.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Draw up a list of the topics, or make a
diagram. A simple picture of boxes or a
spider diagram can often be helpful.

 Write a one or two-sentence account of

each section you identify. Focus your
attention on the main point. Leave out any
illustrative examples and non-relevant data.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Write a
sentence which
states the main
central idea of
the original text

 Use this as the

starting point
for writing a
paragraph
which combines
all the points
you have made.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 The final summary should concisely and
accurately capture the central meaning of
the original.
 Many summaries spend too much time
listing examples or focusing on topics that
are secondary to the text's primary focus.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Be sure that the idea
that dominates in
your summary is the
same one that is
essential in the
original text.
 Remember that it
must be in your own
words. By writing in
this way, you help to
re-create the
meaning of the
original in a way
which makes sense
for you.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Do not evaluate. A summary is an
objective description of an original text.
 That means there is no room for
evaluation or opinion on the text
(Comentario de Texto). Do not use
phrases like:
“I disagree with the author when he
says that…" or “This text is about…”
 Just eliminate the pronoun "I" in order
to detach yourself from the text
contents.
I2CI: Summarizing Texts
 Generally speaking, use the present tense
for a summary.
 Think of an author, even an old one or a
dead one, as someone who is contributing
to a current conversation.
 For instance, even though Adam Smith has
been dead for over two-hundred years, his
ideas are relevant today.
 So, if summarizing one of his articles, you
can write something like this: "In this
article, Adam Smith explains how to
promote the wealth of nations"
I2CI: Summarizing Practice

Follow the previous

suggestions and practice
summarizing different
texts on international
trade issues in the
exercise sheet.