summary writing by eguriase s. m. okaka

SUMMARY WRITING

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka A summary is a short version of a passage or text (written or spoken) which contains only the main points of the original. Summary writing is a process of separating important ideas from a text and presenting them in a shortened form, usually in your own words. This involves analyzing information and differentiating central or main ideas. In order words, a summary is shorter than the original text and it repeats the ideas of the original in different phrases and sentences. Basic Summary Writing Terms • Topic Sentence: This is the sentence in a paragraph which summarizes the main idea of that paragraph. It is usually the first, second sentence in the paragraph. It could sometimes be the last sentence. • Thesis statement: This is a statement that states the thesis or argument of the author in an essay or a passage. The thesis statement says what the writer is trying to prove in the passage. It may be in the first paragraph of a passage or essay, or the readers may personally or mentally construct one themselves. Briefly, the thesis statement is a summary of the whole passage. • Paraphrase: This means that you read the writer’s words, and, without referring to the text, write down the writer’s idea in your own words. A good summary should avoid using the exact words of the original passage. • Supporting idea: This refers to some details in the passage or paragraph that are less important than the topic sentence yet add more details to aid understanding. Writing a good Summary Follow the guidelines on how to write good summaries: • Read the passage carefully at least twice. • Identify the topic sentence of each paragraph and write them out. (You may not need to write the topic sentence of the first paragraph as this is usually introductory). • Write the thesis statement of the whole passage. If you cannot find the thesis statement in the first paragraph, construct one yourself from the topic sentence. You have written down. • Write the first draft of your summary by combining thesis and all the topic sentences. • Identify the supporting ideas (significant details from the passage) and combine them with the topic sentences. • Check your summary against the original passage and make necessary adjustments. Longer sentences can be made shorter. • Revise your summary and write a final draft in your own words but remember to include key or technical words from the original passage. • A summary should not include your own opinion. Remain as objective or impartial as possible. Do not include extraneous, irrelevant or unrelated illustrations in your summary. • Do not copy the passage verbatim or word for word. Use your own words as far as possible. • Always prepare rough drafts before the final draft for your summary. Example question: Write the summary of the ‘Life history of a mosquito.’ Topic Sentence Paragraph 1: The female mosquito lays her eggs on a stagnant water, such as swamps, pool, ponds, blocked drains or water in cans and barrels. Paragraph 2: The larva has a comparatively large head, a thorax of three fused segments and nine distinct abdominal segments. Paragraph 3: The pupa has a large anterior end made up of the head and thorax called the cephalothorax. Paragraph 4: The pupal skin splits along the back to release the adult mosquito. Paragraph 5: Mosquitos transmit disease-causing organisms, such as malaria parasites. Thesis Statement The passage describes how the mosquito passes through four stages to become an adult. Supporting Ideas Paragraph 1: Each anopheles egg is boat-shaped with an air-float that keeps the egg afloat. Paragraph 2: The mosquito larva molts four times and changes into a pupa after about ten days. Paragraph 3: Like the larva, the pupa is aquatic but uses atmospheric oxygen. Paragraph 4: The whole process of releasing the imago takes only a few minutes. They also pollinate flowers when feeding on the nectar of flowers. Paraphrased Topic and Sentences and Supporting Ideas Paragraph 1: The mosquito lays eggs in stagnant water. Its boat-shaped eggs float in water. Paragraph 2: The larva has a head, thorax and abdominal segment. It shed it skin and changes into a pupa in ten days. Paragraph 3: The larva and pupa live in water. The pupa has head and thorax called the cephalothorax. Paragraph 4: The pupa skin tears apart to release the image in a few minutes. Paragraph 5: Mosquitoes transfer malaria parasite and pollinate flowers. Complete Summary The passage describes how the mosquito passes through the stages of egg-laying, larva, pupa imago to become an adult. The mosquito lays eggs in stagnant water. The boat-shaped eggs float in water. The larva has a head, thorax and abdominal segments. It sheds its skin and changes into pupa in ten days. The larva and pupa live in water. The pupa has a head and thorax called cephalothorax. The pupa skin tears apart to release the imago in a few minutes. Mosquitoes have economic importance: they transfer malaria parasite and pollinate flowers. Let us consider the under listed story ‘The Thief and his Mother’, and summarized it accordingly. The Thief and his Mother A boy stole a lesson-book from one of his school-fellows and took it home to his mother. She did not only refrain from beating him, but encourage him to continue to steal. He stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of greater values or expensive items. At last he was caught in the very act of stealing and, having hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, ‘I wish to say something to my in her ear’. She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The mother up branded him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, ‘Ah! If you had beaten me when I first stole that lesson-book and brought it to you. I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to disgraceful death.’ NB: The above story is a lesson to all of us. What are you encouraging your children to do? If you are encouraging them to steal from their classmates, mind you that they will grow in it and become a big thief and they will one day meet their waterloo like the culprit in this story. Yes! My father told that ‘there are many days for the thief but one day for the owner of the house.’ Always teach your children good things that they will end up with good remarks. Answer the summary questions Summary Questions • What is the main lesson that can be learned from the story? A. Mothers should always question everything their children give them. B. Children should not give their mothers stolen items. C. Giving stolen items to mother is forbidden. D. A mother should not support a child who does bad things. • The boy stole the second time because A. The mother did not see him steal. B. He was not yet an adult. C. His mother encouraged him. D. He did not steal a big object. • The main point of the third paragraph is: A. A person should not associate with a thief. B. A mother who encourages evil in a child will suffer with him or her. C. Only an unnatural child would bite off his mother’s ear. D. Disgraceful death awaits all unnatural children. • Which of the following best summarizes the passage? A. A boy who stole things was caught. B. A mother who supported her child who stole thing suffered with him. C. A boy who stole cloak was caught. D. A boy who stole things from childhood to adulthood was caught and executed. • What did the boy steal in adulthood? A. Lesson-book B. A cloak C. Things of bigger value D. Clothes Summary Writing Passage 2 Pollution Many activities of man produce waste materials which are often thrown into the environment, e.g., refuse, sewage and industrial waste. Some waste products may not cause significant harm when in small amounts, but they reduce the quality of the environment. Pollution is the release of waste substances or energy into the environment, through human activity, in amount which are harmful to man, crops, or animals. The various types of pollution are named according to the part of the environment polluted. Types of pollution may also be named according to the polluting agent, such as noise, radioactivity. Summary Questions 2 • How are the various type of pollution named? A. According to the part of the environmental pollution. B. According to the agent causing the pollution. C. According to radioactivity. D. A and B above. • Pollution is the A. Release wasteful substance into the environment. B. Discharge of wasteful energy in the environment. C. Release of waste products or energy into the environment. D. Reduction in the quality of the environment. • From the passage, we may conclude that A. Waste products are usually harmful in large quantity. B. Pollutants such as refuse and sewage can be dangerous in a small quantity. C. Human activity does not add pollution. D. Pollutants are harmful to man, not crop. • Select the statement that summaries the whole passage. A. Human activities pollute the environment which in turn affects man, animals and plants. B. Pollution releases energy and dirty into the atmosphere. C. Refuse, sewage and industrial waste pollute the environment. D. Some polluting agents are responsible for the environmental damage. • Which of the following is true? A. Some animals can resist environmental pollution. B. All crops can survival damage from polluting agents. C. Human activities are a major cause of pollution. D. All human activities produce waste materials. By Eguriase S. M. Okaka