HOW TO SUMMARISE A TEXT IN ENGLISH… The smart way…

WHERE TO START?? Don’t waste your time on aspects of the text that are not relevant to the “topic” or module you’re doing You should look for evidence from each of your texts which fit with the ideas and focus of your “topic” or module. Your summary / research / analysis of a text is as simple as 1, 2, 3!  1 = locate  2 = select  3 = organise

FOR EXAMPLE – YOUR TOPIC IN ENGLISH THIS TERM IS CALLED “CLOSE STUDY OF A NOVEL – AND OF NARRATIVE STRUCTURE” You will “explore” (not just read) Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD As you explore the novel, you will figure-out how language techniques and structures show all the “IDEAS / BELIEFS / ATTITUDES / VALUES / INDIVIDUALS / SOCIETY / CULTURE AND HISTORY” - which are shown in:  THE CHARACTERS – who is powerful? Who is powerless?  THE EVENTS – which show power over powerlessness?  THE SETTING – how does the setting(s) cause the powerful groups to stay powerful? Does the setting keep group powerless?  THE OPINIONS OF THE COMPOSER - about those in power and those who are powerless?  THE RESPONSES FROM THE RESPONDER – how do you (and others) in different times and places feel about the perceptions of “power and authority” shown in the set text? *Perception = insight – view – opinion – attitude – awareness

LOCATE 1.Get some post-it notes 2.Copy the most “obvious” and main ideas in Lee’s novel onto separate post-it notes The characters – who is powerful? Who is powerless? Who wants to change characters’ attitudes? The events – which show the class and race divisions? Which events shoe success? Failure? Prejudice? The setting – how does the setting(s) cause the different groups in Maycomb to stay “divided? The opinions of the composer - about those in power and those who are powerless? The responses from the responder – how do you feel about the ideas of “prejudice and acceptance” shown in the set text?... Etc…

1.As you study / explore your text… locate the best-matched quotation (in your text) to fit your different post-its 2.“post” each post-it note on the evidence you have located – in the text itself. LOCATE Your English novels, poetry, non- fiction and even your visual texts should be filled with post it notes!

SELECT How are the character’s perceptions about prejudice and tolerance shown? Pg ____ “………………………………… ………………………………… ………” How is your perception of certain groups of people, in the novel, manipulated by the composer How do language features show people in power? Pg # __

You will look for… Personal context – identity / being / individuality / appearance / hobbies Cultural context – customs / leisure activities / work ethic Historical context – time and place / political era / war:peace / pre:post colonial Social context – rich : poor / educated : uneducated / social status / manners / language style / leisure activities / appearance HOW ARE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT Prejudice, acceptance AND ignorance SHOWN IN THE TEXT?

HOW DOES Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO CHALLENGE (AND OPPOSE) THE POWERFUL COMMUNITY OR GROUP? 1 = locate - IDEA 2 = select – 3 QUOTES 3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE

HOW DO DIFFERENT NARRATIVE VOICES (CHARACTERS) REVEAL DIFFERENT ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 1 = locate - IDEA 2 = select – 3 QUOTES 3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE

HOW DOES Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD SHOW: AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHOICE NOT TO BE IN A POSITION OF POWER AND PREJUDICE? BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT AN INDIVIDUAL’S ABILITY TO BE TOLERANT AND INFORMED? 1 = locate - IDEA 2 = select – 3 QUOTES 3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE