2. Introduction
By the end of the lesson, students would be able to:
State the features of the summary
Appreciate what examiners want
Practice the steps required to carry out a summary
Practice writing a summary
(Adapted from Longman’s, Effective Guide to O’ Level English, Pearson
Education, 2000, Singapore)
3. Features of a Summary
Two basic things you must understand about
summary questions:
It is a test of whether you have selected relevant
information
Once selected relevant information…it needs to be RE-
PHRASED!!! (i.e. expressed in your own words)
4. What examiners want
Students have to show the following in their answer:
Selecting the correct and relevant information from the
passage that relates to the question.
Expressing the information, (putting it in your own
words) fluently.
5. The 4 Step method of
Summary Writing
4 Steps:
Step 1: Read the summary question very carefully
Step 2: Re-read the part in the passage covered by the
question, mark out all relevant information
Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of all
points you have marked out.
Step 4: Write up your notes in complete sentences.
6. Analyse the Summary
Question
Look at the Summary Question and break it up
accordingly to:
Introduction
Basic Instruction
The Topic
Reminders
Length
Question tells you how to start
(Refer to the template provided in your worksheet)
7. Sample Question
Question:
The writer establishes that women may have done more of the hunting in
primitive times than commonly thought. Write a summary of the roles
that women may have played, using your own words, as far as possible
Use material from Line 28 to 71
Your account should be in continuous writing , must not be longer than
160 words, including the 11 words given below. You should use your own
words to rephrase the points, and not copy large chunks from the passage.
Begin: “In pre-historic times, It was not only men who hunted. Women…”
8. Your Turn…
Using the template introduced to you…break up the
question into its parts…
You have 5 minutes to do this…
9. Practice in Class
Now you are ready to begin…(Total time: 10mins)
Place the template on the table in front of you
Read the passage based on the relevant lines (28-71)
and mark out the relevant information.
As you begin work – go back to the “TOPIC” and keep
referring to it as you mark out the information.
Focus on finding relevant information…do not worry
about expressing this in own words
Also keep track of your marking out: Too much? Too
Little?
10. Practice in Class
Compare your marked out portions of the passage
with the sample annotated passage…did you leave
out any points…
11. Practice in Class
Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of all the
points you have marked out.
Copy The TOPIC on the paper you are going to write
out the summary
Check whether your notes are in correct logical order.
Refer to the question again for some suggestions
Remember to use your own words and as few words
as possible
12. Practice in Class
Step 4: Write up your notes in grammatically correct
English
Concentrate on building sentence structures
Put aside the passage. Trust your notes
You may combine points into one sentence
13. Practice in Class
Compare your summary with the sample
summary…how does this compare?
Missed out points?
Not in your own words?
Poor sentence and grammar
14. After the Summary
Do not stop there…
Count the words and write down
Check for accuracy of:
Verb agreements
Spellings
Consistency – American usage or British English
15. Key Points – Take-a-ways
List what are the 4 steps to summary writing:
Step 1: ________________________________
Step 2: ________________________________
Step 3: ________________________________
Step 4: ________________________________