LESSON 4: Summarizing and Paraphrasing AcademicText

TERMINOLOGIES:
 Alphanumeric System – Number-Letter System which makes the use of Roman and HinduArabic
numbers as well as uppercase and lowercase letter. 

Decimal System – Make use of the symbols that looks like decimalnumbers in outlining.

 Outlining - A skeletal framework of ideas.

 Paragraph – Consist of three or more sentences that consist of a topic sentence and supporting
sentences.

 Paraphrasing – Writing something in your own words that still expresses the original idea.

 Summarizing – A condensed version of the original composition.

An outline is a writer’s or a speaker’s plan “blueprint.” used to unify written ideas about a certain topic
that will be or have been discussed.

Outlining is a logical way of putting things in order in short. It is the skeletal framework of ideas that
helps the author to arrange the topic based on its importance. Outlining is used by the author to
summarize the main points or to draw the outer edge of something. There are two systems of outlining
the alphanumeric system and the decimal system.

ALPHANUMERIC SYSTEM - Is the most common type of outline and instantly recognizable to most
people. This system makes use of alphabet letters and numerical numbers.

DECIMAL SYSTEM

It has the same format to alphanumeric outline. It shows clearly how each level is related to the larger
whole. Also, it is use to note the main topics and subsequent subheadings

1. Main point
1.1 Sub point
1.1.1 Detail
1.1.1.1 Subtopic
1.1.1.1.1 Sub detail
Ex. Decimal System
1. Choose your desired college
1.1 Visit and evaluate college Campuses
1.2 Visit and evaluate college websites
1.2.1 Look for interesting classes
1.2.2 Note important statistics
Outlines are classified into three these are: topic outline, sentence outline, and paragraph outlines.
These three classifications are different from each other based on their structures and entries.

 TOPIC OUTLINE - comes in the form of words, phrases and clauses and it does not end with a
periodmark.

 SENTENCE OUTLINE - A complete sentence is used for each topic and subtopics.
 PARAGRAPH OUTLINE - An outline that uses the main topic (main idea) of theparagraph.

Ex. TOPIC SENTENCE: “Although the vocabulary of English is the area that shows the most Native
American influence, it is not the only area of US culture that has been shaped by contact with Native
Americans contributions.”

Summarizing and paraphrasing a text after you read it is one of the common activities in your journey
towards junior high school. To the layman summarization and paraphrasing may seem similar.

Summarization is the short or condense version of the original piece and it helps you to eliminate and
separate the essential information by reducing it to its key ideas. On the contrary, paraphrasing is
creating a new version of the original piece by translating the text into your own words.

In summarizing, use the following steps:

 Read and skim the text

 Know the main idea all the facts must retain

 Jot down notes and underline the key ideas in the selection

 Write a sentence using the key ideas and facts in the selection

 Connect sentences using transitional words or linking words

In paraphrasing, use the following steps:

 Begin your first sentence at a completely different point of view than the original source

 Change the structure of the sentence in active or passive voice

 Separate the information into different sentences

LESSON 5: Definition of Reaction Paper

 Actual writing - You will write and make use of all the ideas you have collected in the pre-writing stage
 Post-writing - revision stage of writing

 Pre-writing - process of gathering and outlining of ideas before writing

 Reaction Paper - type of written assignment that requires the writer to analyze, give his reaction, and
personal opinion on a given article 

Writing – process that we use to express our ideas and thoughts using characters, symbols, or letters
The writing process is consisting of three (3) stages:
 Pre-Writing - Is the first stage in writing that includes the organization of ideas (Outlining),
brainstorming, listing, clustering, and questioning.

 Writing or Actual Writing - This stage includes the act of composing text (drafting). You will write and
make use of all the ideas you have collected in the pre-writing stage.

 Post-Writing - Once the rough draft is done, you need to proofread, revise, and edit your composition
until it is ready for the final copy to publish.

Reaction paper

(Response Paper) is a type of subjective written assignment that requires the writer to analyze, give his
reaction, and personal opinion on a given article. However, it is still objective as it is based on facts.
Moreover, a good reader must able to criticize what he reads and one of his tasks is to classify facts from
opinion and its difference to a claim. The difference between a reaction paper and a review is that a
reaction paper includes commentary, personal reaction, take or stand regarding the topic. On the other
hand, a review synthesizes the topic, and is subjective in manner. A review focuses on strengths and
weaknesses. It uses evidence to draw conclusion, whether something will be useful for, or interesting to
its readers and purpose. In doing a review, you need to state your opinion or judgement and support it
with evidence and presenting reasons.

Here are some tips in writing a review:

1. Read and watch or listen to the work more than once.

2. Provide essential information.

3. Understand your audience.

4. Take a stand

5. Explain how you are judging the work.

6. Introduce the evidence to support your criteria.

7. Know the conventions of the genre.

8. Compare and contrast.

9. Do not summarize the entire plot.