Unit 3-Lesson 5-Basics of Summarizing
Unit 3-Lesson 5-Basics of Summarizing
Basics of Summarizing
Objectives
Evaluate summaries.
Summarize Details of the Film “Parents”-Award winning short film
It is often used to determine the essential ideas (gist or main idea, useful information, or key
words or phrases) in a book, article, book chapter, an article or parts of an article.
It is generally done after reading, but can also be done while reading a text.
Is Summarizing Important?
YES, because:
It makes us concentrate on the gist or main idea and key words presented in the text;
and
It teaches us to capture the key ideas in the text and put them together clearly and
concisely.
What is Not Summarizing?
- everything;
- a summary that has the same length or is longer than the original text.
How Should We Summarize?
Read the text and understand the meaning. Do not stop reading until you understand the message of
the author. Then, locate the gist or main ideas of the text either at the beginning, middle or end.
Select, underline or encircle the key ideas and phrases while reading, or annotate;
Write on the margins, or in your notebook all the key ideas and phrases identified in
bullet form.
Use a concept map to connect key ideas and phrases without looking at the text.
Refrain from adding comments about the text. Stick to the ideas presented.
Record details of the original source (author, publication date, title, publisher and address,
and URL (if online). There is no need to indicate page number/s of the original text.
Format your summary properly. When combining summaries, use different formats to
show variety in writing.
Formats in Summarizing
Example:
Benchmarking is a useful strategy that has the potential to help public officials improve the
performance of local services (Faiz, 2004; Ammons, 2001) Once the practice of a particular city is
benchmarked, it can be a guidepost and the basis for the other counterparts to improve its own.
Formats in Summarizing
Vary the verbs used to make your writing more interesting and to show important to
each of your sources.
Use either the past or the present tense depending on your meaning.
Using the past tense indicates that you view the idea as outdated and you want to
negate it.
Using the present tense indicates that you view the idea as relevant and agreeable.
Reporting Verbs (from left to right, most common to least common)
Discipline
Biology Describe Find Report Show Suggest Observe
Marketing Suggest Argue Find Demonstrate Propose Show
Linguistics Suggest Argue Show Explain Find Point
out
Sociology Argue Suggest Describe Note Analyze Discuss
Philosophy Say Suggest Argue Claim Point out Hold Think
Overall Suggest Argue Find Show Describe Propose Repor
t
Test for Good Summarizing or Not
- Maria wrote down the general and specific ideas of the text.
- Steph added some of his related research to the information presented in the text.
- Lalaine extended the message of the textand included some of her interpretations.
Summarizing Activity
• With a partner, scan the text of the sixth State of the Nation Address of former
President Benigno S. Aquino III on July 27, 2015.
• Follow the link:
- http://www.gov.ph/2015/07/27/english-president-aquino-sixth-sona/
- Identify five ideas or topics from the text.
- Next, describe each of these five ideas as discussed in the text, but use your own
words. Use reporting verbs properly.
- Use a sheet similar to the following:
______________________________________________________________________
Idea or Topic / Your Description
______________________________________________________________________
_______________/______________________________________________________
_______________/______________________________________________________
_______________/______________________________________________________
_______________/______________________________________________________
_______________/______________________________________________________