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A summary allows you to reproduce someone’s work by
acknowledging the source.

A summary serve many purposes :

i. To understand the main points.

ii. To understand the writer’s argument.

iii. To share understanding with others

iv. To present the context of the information.

v. To cite the source and acknowledgement the writer’s idea in

your own words.

3.0 INTRODUCTION
3.1 TYPES OF SUMMARIES
Informative
An informative summary maintains the tone of the original
text.
It focuses on the content (does not cite the writer & title of
the text)

Example :

The Blue Ocean Strategy was introduced in

2005.This strategy emphasizes on the value of
a company or an organization by competing in
an exclusive new market with fewer rivals. It
encompasses an analytical framework and
instruments to determine the new uncontested
market.
Descriptive
It focuses on the original text rather than content.

It adopts an objective view as it differentiates between the

writer of the text and the writer of summary.

It usually used in book reviews , essay analysis and text

analysis.

Example

Kim and Mauborgne (2005) advocate the Blue Ocean

Strategy in creating value for an organization. The
writer propagate the use of new market space ,where
there are fewer competitors as the space is relatively
new.
Strategy 1 : Selection and Deletion

i. Suitable for text that are rich with clear

ideas, detailed elaboration, example
and digressions.
ii. Search for key word/points and
highlight ,circle or underline them.
iii. Delete less essential points & identify
the controlling idea and central idea.

3.2 SUMMARIZING
STRATEGIES
Strategy 2 : Note Taking
i. Take note of the main ideas.
ii. This techniques is useful if a
complex idea is developed in
many sub-sections.
 3.3 REPORTING VERB
Use reporting verb to refer to the work/the
writer of the original text.
Include your intention in reporting the work
– neutral, speculative or making strong
claims.
Example
Neutral Speculative Strong
state suggest refute the claim
report posit argue
explain propose claim
discuss imply insist
assume speculate contend
3.4 DISCOURSE MARKER
Words or phrases that help to connect a
text and assist readers in
understanding it.
Example
Function Discourse Marker
- To compare Similarly, exactly , also
-To contrast Still, however, unlike
-To conclude or summarise In short, in brief, to end
-To clarify In other word
- To show cause-effect So, because, thus
-To show example For instance, to be exact
A summary consist of two or three
parts.
i. The introductory sentence
ii. The body
iii.The conclusion (optional)

3.5 ANATOMY OF A
SUMMARY
Both informative and descriptive summaries
can be in one paragraph or more.
A one paragraph summary include
i. Thesis statement
ii. Main ideas
iii. Controlling ideas
iv. Concluding sentence in one paragraph
o A multi- paragraph requires you to write a
topic sentence for each paragraph.

3.6 LENGTH OF THE

SUMMARY
Make a Thesis Question
 Take essay topic idea and turn it into a question.
 E.g. smoking / How does smoking affect human?
Brainstorm Answers
 Write down as many ideas as you can think of.
 E.g. smoking can affect human’s brain. Smoking can
also affect human blood circulation

SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE A THESIS

STATEMENT
Pick a Thesis Answer
 Look at your brainstorming and decide your main answer.
 E.g. how does smoking affect human? Smoking can cause
damages to human’s body.
Make a Thesis Road-Map
 Choose at least three answers to your questions
 E.g. Smoking can cause damage to human’s body because the
circulation of tar in the blood, damages the heart and increases the
chance for stomach cancer.
Add Emphasis
 Although (what many people might answer), in reality (your
answer) because: (your three or more reasons).
T - TOPIC
O - OPINION
R – REASONS
 SMOKING (TOPIC)
 BAD (OPINION)
 SMOKING DAMAGES HUMAN CELLS, SMOKING
DAMAGES LUNGS, SMOKING DESTROY TEETH
(REASONS)
SMOKING IS BAD BECAUSE IT DAMAGES
HUMAN CELLS, LUNGS AND DESTROY TEETH.

THESIS STATEMENT
STEP TIPS
1 Identify main ideas
2 Determine the type of summary
3 Choose summarizing strategy
4 Check main ideas/supporting details against original text
5 Paraphrase main ideas/major supporting details
6 Cite the source of summary
7 Introductory sentence( thesis statement using own words)
8 Write concise and coherent sentence
9 Edit your summary

3.7 NINE STEP TO WRITE

GOOD SUMMARY