Writing a summary in 6 simple steps

From: *** <***@yahoo.com>
To: "nuhazyun@yahoo.com" <nuhazyun@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2012 2:15 PM
Subject: English

Hi teacher my name is ***.I love your blog and it help me a lot.But my problem is I always get low marks in summary writing.Since last trial exam i often get less than five marks for summry writing.I confused coz I think I have enough content.So I hope you can help me as english PMR paper is just a few days from now.

Thank you.

My reply:

Read the text below and complete the following task. [PMR 2011]

The newspaper is an extremely useful learning tool to students today. Besides being easily available and affordable, it offers them numerous benefits.

            A survey carried out on the benefits of the newspaper clearly shows that students who read the newspapers have better awareness of the world around them. This is because they are better informed of the current issues happening around the world. Hence, they become more knowledgeable.    

As language proficiency seems to be a problem amongst students these days, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. As such, they are able to put into practice what they have learnt.           

Meanwhile, once outside the classroom, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information. For example, it can be used to obtain reference material or ideas for their school assignments.   

The newspaper today also motivates students to learn because it contains educational supplements that help them with their lessons. Besides, they also encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading.

            It is without doubt that the newspaper is beneficial to students. As such, we should encourage them to read the newspaper every day.

Write a summary on how the newspaper can be a useful tool to students.

Your summary must:

not be more than 60 words, including the 10 given words below

be in continuous writing (not note form)

be written in one paragraph

Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your summary as follows:

The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to……

Steps to answer a summary question:

Step 1:

Read the text once to get an idea on what the text is all about.

Step 2:

Read the question. Identify the keywords.

Write a summary on HOW the newspaper can be a useful tool to students.

Step 3:

Identify the content points. Read again the text. Read each sentence in the text one by one. Ask whether the sentence answers the question “HOW the newspaper can be a useful tool to students”?

Sentence from the text	Does the sentence answers the question “HOW the newspaper can be a useful tool to students”?	What is the content point? (highlight or underline the content point) * yellow – main points * blue – supporting points
The newspaper is an extremely useful learning tool to students today.	No	None
Besides being easily available and affordable, it offers them numerous benefits.	No	None
A survey carried out on the benefits of the newspaper clearly shows that students who read the newspapers have better awareness of the world around them.	Yes	have better awareness of the world around them.
This is because they are better informed of the current issues happening around the world.	Yes. When you see the word “because”, the sentence normally contains the supporting point for the previous sentence.	better informed of the current issues happening around the world.
Hence, they become more knowledgeable.	Yes.	become more knowledgeable.
As language proficiency seems to be a problem amongst students these days, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills.	Yes.	improve their language skills.
As such, they are able to put into practice what they have learnt.	Yes. When you see the phrase “as such”, the sentence normally contains the supporting point for the previous sentence.	able to put into practice what they have learnt.
Meanwhile, once outside the classroom, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information.	Yes.	continuous source of education and information.
For example, it can be used to obtain reference material or ideas for their school assignments.	No. Pay attention to the words like for example, like, such as. These words indicate examples. Don’t write examples in a summary.	None
The newspaper today also motivates students to learn because it contains educational supplements that help them with their lessons.	Yes.	motivates students to learn The phrase after the word “because” is the supporting point: contains educational supplements that help them with their lessons
Besides, they also encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading.	Yes.	to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading.
It is without doubt that the newspaper is beneficial to students.	No.	None.
As such, we should encourage them to read the newspaper every day.	No.	None.

*C indicates content:

C1 - have better awareness of the world around them / better informed of the current issues happening around the world

C2 - become more knowledgeable

C3 - improve their language skills / able to put into practice what they have learnt

C4 - continuous source of education and information

C5 - motivates students to learn

C6 - encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading

Important:

If you are able to identify both main and supporting points, write either one in the summary.

It is not encouraged to write the supporting points. Sometimes, a supporting point is NOT accepted as the content point!

Step 4:

Write the summary. Write five (5) content points only. Begin your summary with the ten (10) words given. Copy the points EXACTLY from the text to avoid sentence errors and changing the meaning of the original text. Use sequence connectors like next, then, moreover, furthermore, lastly, etc.

The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the world around them. (C1) They become more knowledgeable. (C2) Moreover, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. (C3) Furthermore, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information. (C4) Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students to learn. (C5)

Step 5:

Count the number of words and write it at the bottom right of the summary. Make sure your summary is NOT MORE than 60 words.

The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the world around them. They become more knowledgeable. Moreover, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. Furthermore, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information. Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students to learn.

(57 words)

Step 6:

Read your answer again. Make sure there are no spelling errors.

Marks for the above summary:

The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the world around them. They become more knowledgeable. Moreover, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. Furthermore, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information. Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students to learn.

Content points – 5 marks

Language – 3 marks

Total marks – 8 marks

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