SUMMARY WRITING

1. What is a summary?

A summary is a shortened text, which contains only the essential information of the
original text. It is a brief restatement of the contents or main ideas of the writer in our own.
Summarization does not include writer’s personal opinions, arguments, statements,
illustrations, interpretation, examples, description and comments.

Example:
Women entrepreneurs in the developing world often face challenges that limit their
chances for success and growth. They often have less access to education than men and
have difficulty getting financing on their own. But with an understanding of the essential
aspects of doing business – such as planning, financing, networking and marketing – they
can overcome those obstacles. That’s where the 10,000 Women Initiative comes in. As
Faiza Elmasry tells us, it's an investment in education with dividends that benefit the
businesswomen, their local communities and their national economies.” (Goldman Sachs
invests in educating women in business, voice of America).

Note:
 The italicized and underlined phrases in the above original text are essential
information of the original text which brings the main idea of the text to the readers.
 The rest of the information of the original text are supporting statements, examples
and illustrations.

Summary of the original text

The 10,000 Women Initiative helps women entrepreneurs in developing nations to
understand the cornerstones of the business world, overcoming various challenges they
encounter due to have limited access to find source of income, and helping their
communities and countries.
2. Steps to be followed when summarizing the text

Step 1: Read, comprehend and understand the text

Step 2: Identify the main ideas and key points
Step 3: Express the main ideas and key points in own words

3. Characteristics of a good summary

1. Understanding the main idea of the text/passage

2. Omitting author’s personal comments: introductions, long explanations, examples,
definitions and visuals
3. Keeping only the key information and ideas of the original text
4. Omitting supportive information such as illustrations
5. Omitting modifying words (Adjectives and Adverbs)
6. Paraphrasing (Put important information using your own words)
7. Can be understood without reference to the original text

4. Techniques in Summering Texts/Passages

1. Read the original text carefully at least twice to.

2. Understand the text and grasp the central ideas/theme of the text.
3. Divide the text into sections and label each section.
4. Identify the thesis statement or formulate a thesis statement. (The line or statement
which carries the main idea (s) of the original.)
5. Express your summery in own words to avoid plagiarism.
6. Use synonyms or synonymous phrases. (Ex: He had a good command of English. - He
knew English well.)
7. Turn compound/complex sentences into simple sentences. (Ex: He received a
welcome that was as cold as ice. - He received an icy welcome.)
8. Formulate summary sentences for each paragraph or section.
9. Avoid direct quotation; use transitional words.
10. Make your summary 1/4 to 1/3 of the original text.
Note:
 Eliminate unnecessary words and repetitions.
 Eliminate personal ideas and inferences.
 Use transitional words/cohesive devices for a smooth and logical flow of ideas.
 Conclude with a ‘summing up’ sentence.

Exercise

01. Write a summary of the following text. You may use any number of sentences
but do not use more than 35 words.

Reading newspapers and taking an interest in current affairs programs on radio and
television is a good way of building up information, so that the views you express are
based on evidence rather than prejudice. All newspapers have some sort of bias, but you
will find more reasons and explanations backing up the points of view in the quality
papers, whereas tabloid papers tend to present their readers with opinions which appeal
to emotions rather than logical thought. Editorial and opinion columns from any
newspaper are a good starting point for discussing points of view. The less reasoned they
are, the more you will find to say to put an opposing point of view.
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................

02. Read the following text and summarize it into one third of its length and give a
suitable title. Indicate the number of words in the end.
Another method of classifying law is to divide it as ’public’ and ‘private’ law. Criminal,
constitutional and administrative laws are classified as public law. It is easier to see why
the latter two would be considered public, since they deal with ‘public’ relationships, i.e.
between the state and individuals, as opposed to relationships between two or more
private persons. In this case of criminal law, although it deals with wrongs committed by
individuals against others, the impact of crime on the community is regarded as so serious
that it is treated as an offense against the State. It is the State that usually takes action
against or prosecutes the wrong doers and punishes him/her. Because of the public
element, criminal law also falls within the public law category. Private law on the other
hand refers to disputes between individuals. This category therefore consists of all civil
actions. Private law can be used as another term for civil law. Although this branch of law
deals with matters between private persons, it is not untouched by State intervention. The
laws which govern and regulate these matters are passed by the State as are all laws
and they are heard before courts set up by the State.

However, the private element of civil law is brought out by the fact that civil actions are
between private parties. The affected individual institutes the case against the individual
whose action he/she is complaining about. The State, any state agency or official does
not need to be a party. In contrast, criminal proceedings generally are instituted by the
State, while in constitutional and administrative law cases, the State, government
department, other institution or official is made a respondent. I.e. of the parties against
whom the case is taken. The purposes of civil and criminal law are different. Criminal law
aims to punish the offenders whereas in civil law, the object is to compensate the affected
party.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………….