The Department of English language Studies

University of Finance and Economics

Q Skills for Success EAP 115

How to write a summary and response essay
Lecturer: Dorjsumiya Yo, (Ph.D)
(2019-2020 academic year)
Content
-What is a summary?
-What is a summary and response essay?
- A summary and response essay organisation
- Tips to consider
What is a summary?

A Summary is a shortened version of a text

such as an article or textbook part.It is an
objective piece of writing that does not
contain any of your opinions or ideas.
 What is a summary and response essay?
A summary and response essay has two
objectives.
1/The primary paragraph restates the main
ideas of a text.
2/The response paragraphs give your personal
reactions to the main ideas.
What to include in response paragraph

Your reactions can include:

 ideas you agree or disagree with
 your own personal experiences that relate to
the topic
 facts and examples that support or disprove the
main ideas in the text.
A summary and response essay
organisation

Introduction
-Introduce
the

Body
informati -Write the
on about main ideas

Conclusion
author’s in the
name, order they
title of appear. Do -briefly
the text, not restate
the include the main
source of details
ideas
the
informati found in
on and the
the topic reading
What to do pre-during and post writing

Before writing During writing After writing

-Read the text -Write a draft of -Make sure that
attentively/find out the summary summary is much
the main ideas using your own shorter than the
words-paraphrase original text
  -Read the summary
and eliminate any
unnecessary details
and revise and edit it
TIPS/Advice

 Always use your own words- Do not copy

author’s words
 Do not overuse quotes-Use mostly indirect
speech-A short quotation of a key phrase may
be included
 Do not change author’s ideas and opinions
 Model essay analysis
Introduction R/W book pages 214-219 (Unit7)
   Background information:
         1. Author: Sam Jones

         2. Source: The Guardian

         3. Article: Children as Young as 11 Use Sunbed Salons

Thesis statement: This article raises many important issues:
children should not use tanning salons, the rules regulating tanning
salons have to be enforced, and the risks associated with sunbeds
need to be better publicized.
 Body
Summary paragraph
(Main idea 1)
children are using tanning salons too
much despite the risks involved
( Main idea-2)
the essay writer responds to has to do
with enforcing existing laws.
 
  (Main idea 3)
the essay writer responds to is that
teens don’t know about the dangers of
tanning salon use.
Response paragraph
(Main idea 1)
The essay writer’s reaction is to suggest
that children should be barred from using
tanning salons.
(Main idea 2)
the essay writer states that existing laws
must be strictly enforced.
(Main Idea 3)
The essay writer responds by calling for a
publicity campaign to inform people of
the risks and dangers associated with the
use of tanning salons.
Conclusion

The essay writer briefly restated the content of

the reading