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Writing the Summary. Ex. 1. Have you learnt the differences between abstract, annotation, and summary? Test yourself. Answer the questions and tick the right box.
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Writing the Summary
When writing the summary, you should follow some basic requirements:
1. The summary should cover the original as a whole.
2. The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.
3. The summary should be a condensed version of the material, presented in your own words.
4. Do not include anything that does not appear in the original.
5. Do not include your own comments or evaluation.
6. Begin with a good introductory sentence – in one sentence identify your source (the author, title, date and place of publication) and provide a general overview of the article.
7. Remember: the length of the summary depends on how long the original document is. Usually it is about one third ofthe length of the original article.
Sample one-paragraph summary:
In his paper Global Implications of Patent Law Variation, Koji Suzuki (N. Y., 1991) states that lack of consistency in the world’s patent laws is a serious problem. In most of the world, patent ownership is given to the inventor that is the first to file for a patent. However, the United States maintains the first-to-invent policy. In view of this, patent ownership can change depending on the country. Multiple patent ownership can result in economic problems; however, most striking is the international tension it causes. The fact that the United States does not recognize patent ownership in other countries, in violation of the Paris Convention on Industrial Properties, has prompted the World Intellectual Properties Organization (WIPO) to push the United States to review its existing patent law principles.
For a multi-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a separate paragraph.
Ex. 1. Have you learnt the differences between abstract, annotation, and summary? Test yourself. Answer the questions and tick the right box.
| Which of three | abstract | annotation | summary |
| … is written in your own words? | |||
| … is evaluative and must include your personal opinion? | |||
| … is protected under copyright law? | |||
| … doesnot include minor details? | |||
| … begins with the complete bibliographic entry? | |||
| … does not include any bibliographic data? | |||
| … is aimed at helping the reader to decide whether or not to read the complete work? | |||
| … is aimed at giving the reader a condensed version of the whole piece? | |||
| … can be descriptive in its style? | |||
| … characterizes only your personal piece of writing? | |||
| … can be of several pages long? |
LANGUAGE TRAINING
Ex. 1. Fill in the correct word from the list. Choose any phrase and make up a sentence.
Objective, in your own, opening and closing, original, thesis, one, shed, multi-paragraph, condensed, supporting, preliminary, minor.
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Ex. 2. In a summary, what verbs can we use speaking about an author? Group the verbs in the list according to the headings. Be sure you know all the verbs.
Claim, state, argue, contend, suggest, report, explain, discuss, criticize, recommend, maintain, argue against, illustrate, posit, write, insist, emphasize, point out, mention, go on with, stress, examine, analyze, inform, conclude, propose, reveal, focus.
STRONG ARGUMENT…e. g. claim ……………………………………………………………….
NEUTRAL …e. g. state . …………………………………………………………………………...
COUNTERARGUMENT …………………………………………………………………………...
SUGGESTION …………………………………………………………………………………….
CRITICISM………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ex. 3. What introductory words and phrases can we use in a summary? Group the words in the list around the bubbles according to the headings.
At the beginning; first; at the end; in the first part; in the final part/ section; in the next part; in the main part; in the introduction; then; afterwards; at last; moreover; in (the) conclusion; in addition to that; next; finally; summing up his / her thoughts.
Ex. 4. Study the examples. Using the words and phrases from the exercises above, make up sentences according to the frames[15].
e. g. The article “Gold and Silver” by Joe Lawrence, found in the September 3, 2002 issue of Newsweek on pages 29-32, states that gold and silver are still the precious metals to invest in because their value never goes down.
In the article “Gold and Silver” (Newsweek; September 3, 2002; pp. 29-3), Joe Lawrence states that gold and silver are still the precious metals to invest in because their value never goes down.
In conclusion, the author makes several assumptions of silver and gold investment growth in the nearest future.
1. The article ____________by _________________, found in the ______________ issue of
(title) (author's last name) (date: M/D/Y)
______________________ on pages __________, states that ____________.
(name of the journal) (main idea)
2. ___________'s article on ______________ (year) discusses the _____________.
(author's last name) (topic) (main idea)
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3. __________________, in his/her article, " ________________" argues that ____________.
(author's last name, year) (title of the article) (main idea)
4. According to ___________________ (year), __________________________________.
(author's last name) (main idea)
5. In the article _______________ (_______________________________________________),
(title of the article) (title of the journal; date of issue M/D/Y; pgs)
____________________ states that ________________________.
(author’s last name) (main idea)
6. _______________, the author/ researcher/ scientist/ reporter _____________________ that…
(introductory word) (any appropriate verb)
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