WRITING A SUMMARY

A summary is a short and concise representation of the main points, ideas, concepts, facts or statements of a text written IN YOUR OWN WORDS. The new (target) text is: much shorter than the original (source) text does not alter the author's original idea(s) or the degree of certainty with which the ideas are expressed includes a reference to the original source of the words

5 Steps 1.read 2.get close 3.select & eliminate 4.write 5.refer back

Source text Note text references – authour / date / place of publication Look for main thesis / secondary ideas Look for supporting arguments of thesis Look for illustrations and examples Eliminate surplus data / comment

Target text Maintain author’s position Make a CLEAR thesis statement Organise your text into a sequence of related points Reformulate language – reporting verbs / use of passive Use appropriately academic style – lexically dense

Complexity Formality Objectivity Explicitness Hedging Responsibility Always bear in mind the 6 Characteristics of Academic Writing

(1) The text on page 20 of Skillful Reading and Writing Student’s Book 4, published by MACMILLIAN, describes a report which provides information for a city, bidding to host The Olympic Games. (2) In its writing, the cited report draws on a wide range of sources, outlines both positive and negtative effects of holding the Games through illustration of two case studies and ends by making recommendations.

(3) The discussion opens with a detailed account of the necessary financial considerations, citing fonts of both possible income and potential costs.

(4) The text goes on to state that a contending city, and futhermore a country as a whole, will not only benefit from considerable prestige as a result of hosting the Games, but will also perceive an increase in the investment in the country’s infrastructure, development in international trade and a significant rise in levels of tourism.

Final check of target text Maintain author’s position Make a CLEAR thesis statement Organise your text into a sequence of related points Reformulate language – reporting verbs / use of passive Use appropriately academic style – lexically dense

The text on page 20 of Skillful Reading and Writing Student’s Book 4, published by MACMILLIAN, describes a report which provides information for a city, bidding to host The Olympic Games. In its writing, the cited report draws on a wide range of sources, outlines both positive and negtative effects of holding the Games through illustration of two case studies and ends by making recommendations. The discussion opens with a detailed account of the necessary financial considerations, citing fonts of both possible income and potential costs. The text goes on to state that a contending city, and futhermore a country as a whole, will not only benefit from considerable prestige as a result of hosting the Games, but will also perceive an increase in the investment in the country’s infrastructure, development in international trade and a significant rise in levels of tourism.

Core considerations Length : word count = 142 words Reporting verbs Paraphrasing Academic language Reformulation