SUMMARY SKILLS – Paper 1

SELECTIVE SUMMARY – Q. 1(f)

•Question 1(f) asks you to write A SELECTIVE

SUMMARY using information from a passage.

•You are asked to summarise the points made

about one or two specific topics. No other
information is relevant.

•You will lose marks if you include points that are

not directly relevant to the topic you have been
asked to write about.
 Assessment Objectives
Reading (10 Marks)
R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings
and attitudes
R5 select and use for specific purposes.

Writing (5 Marks)
W2 organise and structure ideas and opinions for
deliberate effect
W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence
structures appropriate to content
W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
Techniques in summary writing
1. Paraphrasing :

To paraphrase means to completely and

correctly express other people’s ideas in one’s
own words.
 Activity
Decide which paraphrase is better.
1. Adverts are a major part of everyday life.
Paraphrase 1 – Advertising is an important feature of daily life.
Paraphrase 2 – The influence of adverts can be felt in all aspects
of
our lives.
2. Adverts for the soft drink, Tango, have recently been
banned for possibly encouraging playground bullying.
Paraphrase 1 – Advertising for the fizzy drink, Tango, have been
disallowed recently for potentially leading to school
bullying.
Paraphrase 2 – A ban on Tango adverts has been implemented
recently, as some felt the content could encourage school
bullies.
 Activity
Paraphrase the following.

1. For many people across Europe, the introduction of the

Euro has led to rise in prices of everyday goods.

2. Women have traditionally been seen as mothers and

home makers and it is only in recent years that they
have been making significant inroads into the job
market. There is still a long way to go before they
achieve complete equality with men but the situation
has definitely improved.
 Activity
Paraphrase the following.

1. For many people across Europe, the introduction of the

Euro has led to rise in prices of everyday goods.

2. Women have traditionally been seen as mothers and

home makers and it is only in recent years that they
have been making significant inroads into the job
market. There is still a long way to go before they
achieve complete equality with men but the situation
has definitely improved.
 Techniques in summary writing
2. Ways of condensation:

a) Use synonyms or synonymous phrases.

He had a good command of English.

(He knew English well.)
Replace the underlined part with a word that expresses the
same idea and rewrite the sentence.

1. My friend had the special right or advantage of

visiting England as the official guest of the Queen.
2. He spent most of his life abroad as one sent out of his
country.
3. The Mona Lisa is the best among the works of
Leonardo da Vinci.
4. The country is passing through a critical phase.
5. He is in debt because of his habit of spending money
wastefully.
Techniques in summary writing
b) Use Connectives to combine two ideas together.

The film is long and boring.

The book is thrilling and well-written.

(The film is long and boring, whereas the book is

thrilling and well-written.)
 Activity
Complete the blanks with the appropriate connective from
the list at the bottom:
1. I put a note beside his cereal bowl; ________, he
would not notice it.
2. She married him _________ he was extremely rich.
3. You should study more, _________ you might fail your
exams.
4. Sarah was not smiling. _____________, Sarah was
already lonely.
5. I will go for a walk if the weather is nice; ________,
you can ride your bike.
(since, because, furthermore, otherwise, likewise)
Techniques in summary writing
c) Combine simple sentences to form one complex
sentence:

He got the first prize. He was happy.

(He was happy when he got the first prize.)

 Activity
Combine the given simple sentences to form a complex
sentence:
1. The day was cold. Our hands were warm. We wore our
new mittens.
(Hint) Although _______because _________________.
2. I can’t buy the new bike. The bike I want. The bike
shop opens.
(Hint) _____________that _________ until
______________
3. Carol cooked the raw fish. The fish was ready to eat.
(Hint) Carol______________ until ____________________.
Writing a summary
Step 1:
Read the question and underline the key words.

Ask yourself: What information is it I am being asked

to select for this summary?

E.g. ‘Write a summary of the ways in which modern,

international city life is taking over in Beirut and
Bangkok and of the signs of the past that remain.’
You are being asked to select 2 types of information:
1) ways in which modern, international city life is
taking over 2) signs of the past that remain.
Step 2:
Make a brief note of what you have to select at the
top of the passage.

Note briefly the key words relating to the information

you’ve been asked to select at the top of the
passage, e.g. ‘mod. int. life taking over’ and ‘signs of
past remaining’.

This will help you to keep focused on selecting

relevant ideas only as you re-read.
Step 3:
Re-read the passage and start selecting relevant
points underlining them using 2 different coloured
pens (for 2 types of information).

Use 2 different coloured pens, one for each type of

information, e.g. red for points relating to ‘mod. int.
life taking over’ and green for ‘signs of past
remaining’.
The relevance of some points will be more obvious than
the relevance of others – you will need to read very
carefully and think very carefully in order to judge
relevance. CONCENTRATE – you can’t skim read and
then write an effective summary.
Step 4:
Evaluate and count the points you have identified
by underlining.

Re-read carefully the information you’ve underlined

to check if it is relevant to the specific demands of
the question, glance at the keywords you’ve noted at
the top of the passage. If it is not relevant put a
cross through the information so you remember not
to use it when you write.
Count all the points that you think are relevant.
There should be around 10 - 12 different points in
the passage.
Step 5:
Write the summary, organizing your ideas into
paragraph(s). As you write, consider THE RULES
for summary writing.
NOTE: DO NOT WRITE AN INTRODUCTION OR
CONCLUSION IN A SUMMARY – A SUMMARY
SHOULD BE CONCISE.

As you write put a tick next to each selected,

underlined point in the passage so you can check
you haven’t left anything out and have covered
EVERYTHING RELEVANT.
 The Rules for Writing an IGCSE SUMMARY

Do’s –
•Use a concise, formal, impersonal style.
•Use your own words throughout.
•Use key words from the question, e.g. ‘ … is a sign
of the past remaining’.
•Remember to cover approximately 10-12 different
points.
•Consider the word limit given in the question. It
must not be more than 120 words.
Don’ts -

•Don’t include an introduction or conclusion.

•Don’t copy the wording from the passage.
•Don’t add too many descriptions using unnecessary
adjectives or adverbs.
•Don’t repeat any information – even if a point was
made twice in the given passage you should only
make it once.
•Don’t include your opinions.