1. Summary Writing
E. Siler

2. Topic
• Purpose: To explain something in such a way
as to provide background information about it
so that a reasonable opinion question can be
formed.
• Audience: Someone who has not read the
book, but someone who is intelligent.
• Focus: This is a teaching summary --- your
purpose is to explain something to someone.

3. Possible Topics to Consider
• Using information from the book summarize
what Lester R. Brown says about one of these
concepts:
• > national security; indirect costs; food
security; food bubbles; deforestation;
shrinkage/shortage of irrigation water; aquifers;
dust storms; soil erosion; dust bowls; melting
ice; land acquisitions; environmental refugees;
rising seas; demographic fatigue; LEDs and CFLs;
geothermal energy; tidal power; wind energy;
solar energy.

4. Parameters
• 450 wpm
• Written out, but delivered orally.
• Must involve ALL the material that Brown
mentions about the subject up to chapter 9.
• Do not just restate what he says on one page.
• Should primarily be in your own words, with
careful use of quoting from him.

5. Continued
• Should use definite signal phrase markers such as
“In Chapter X”
• Should mark direct quotes with direct quote
markers such as “What he calls” or “As he points
out” or “as he puts it.”
• Should make it clear where he borrows
information from a source by attributing that
source (Ex: The failed states index).
• Because it is descriptive and explanatory, should
be mostly in the present tense except when
presenting historical information.

6. Next Steps
• 1. Find a way to make an MP3 using either
your cellphone or your laptop.
• 2. Choose a topic. If you don’t like the list of
topics and have another, you need to contact
me.
• 3. Draft a 450-word teaching summary
explaining your topic and have it ready for
Friday.