THEORY OF SUMMARY
Definition of summary
There have been a variety of definitions of summary, from rather broad to more detailed ones Delamont (1994, p.30), for instance, defines a summary as
Summarizing involves distilling a large volume of information into its essential points, as noted by Wohl (1978), who emphasizes that a good summary conveys the original message using significantly fewer words Identifying key ideas is critical, as highlighted by Johnson (1983), who asserts that effective summarization requires both good sampling and the ability to recognize clues that differentiate important points from less significant details A successful summary must omit or concisely state certain details while preserving all main ideas and maintaining the original emphasis.
A summary is a concise statement that encapsulates the essence of a discussion, serving as a condensed representation of information It can be viewed as a study outline formed by interconnected sentences, rather than relying on numbers, letters, or indentations (Johnson, 1983).
Characteristics of a good summary
- Use only necessary words and phrases
- Say an idea only once; don’t repeat
- Put the author’s ideas in your own words, avoid direct quotations
- Omit any personal opinions, ideas, thoughts, illustrations, and inferences
An outstanding feature of a summary is the use of reporting words Reporting expressions are of great importance:
- to show clearly whose idea you are dealing with at this point in your essay
- to indicate the mode of argumentation being used by the writer, e.g.: believing, conceding, using analogies, giving examples, …
- In (title), author (author) discusses
- In (title), (author) explains the principles of (topic)
- (Title) offered a detailed and practical introduction to (topic)
- (Title) is a detailed account of
- (Title) is an essential guide to
- (Author) provides the reader with (details)
- (Title/ Author) shows how to (details)
- (Author) begins by explaining how
- Chapter (number) focuses on (details)
Use reporting verbs, e.g explain, describe when you summarize the ideas of the writer of a text These verbs are used in different ways:
The writer explains that this bridge was built to reduce the traffic problems in the city
The author first describes the Petronas Towers in Malaysia
The writer explains why the dam was constructed
- The summary begins by citing the title, author, source, and, in the case of a magazine or a journal article, the date of publication and the text
- is summarized clearly and accurately in a one-sentence thesis statement
- does not contain specific details discussed in the text
- is stated at the beginning of the summary
- Cover all of the author’s major supporting ideas
- Show the relationships among these ideas
- Omit specifics, such as illustrations , descriptions, and detailed explanations
The summary should be no more than 1/3 the length of the original paragraph or article
- Your personal opinion, inference, suggestion or advice
- Copied material or a string of quotes from the selection.
Processes of summarizing
According to Johnson (1983, p.354), whatever strategies are applied to summarize a passage, learners all follow these two processes
3.1 Selection process: make judgements about what text information should be included or rejected
To grasp the author's thesis and main ideas effectively, it is essential to read the selection thoroughly and repeatedly until comprehension is achieved Taking notes or underlining key concepts during the reading process can aid in identifying these important points.
* Identify important information of the text:
- Pay attention to signal device that author uses to stress importance: introductory statements, topic sentence, summary statements, underlining, italics, …
- Seek key words and phrases that manage to capture the gist
* Strip away the redundant examples, descriptions, detailed explanations
* Save the crucial details that support the main idea
3.2 Reduction process: condense the ideas by substituting general ideas for more detailed ones
- Using your own words, present the author’s thesis and other main ideas in a few concise sentences Do not copy sentences directly from the original text
Use your own words to convey the main ideas as clearly and concisely as possible
- Substitute a superordinate term for a list of items
E.g If a text contains a list such as chair, table, desk, bed
- Substitute an encompassing action for a list of subcomponents of that action
E.g “John left the house He went to the train station He bought a ticket to London.”
→ John went to London by train
Sure, please provide the article you would like me to summarize.
Strategies for summarizing
Journalists’ questions, commonly known as the 5 Ws and an H, serve as essential tools for writers to extract key information about a topic By addressing these questions, writers can effectively organize their summaries, making this strategy particularly useful for handling descriptive passages.
* WHO: - Who are the primary or most important characters?
- Who are the secondary characters?
* WHAT: - What is the topic of the lesson?
* WHERE: - Where did the event occur?
- Where is the source of the problem?
* WHEN: - When did the event occur?
- When did the problem begin?
- When is it most important?
* WHY: - Why did the event, issue, or problem occur?
- Why did it develop the way it did?
* HOW: - How is the problem important?
- How can the problem be resolved?
- How does it affect the participants or characters identified?
Not all questions will be relevant to the topic at hand; for instance, in discussing weather trends over the past decade, the "Who" aspect may not hold significant importance.
4.2 “Somebody Wanted But So” Strategy
The Somebody Wanted But So strategy, known by various names across different genres, aids students in comprehending key plot elements, particularly conflict and resolution By completing a chart that identifies how a character addresses these challenges, students enhance their ability to generalize concepts, recognize cause-and-effect relationships, and identify main ideas However, this strategy may not be suitable for summarizing lengthy, complex passages that contain multiple layers of meaning.
- Somebody/ Someone = main character or a group of people
- Wanted/ Because = main events or a group’s motivation
- But = the conflict or problem
- So = the resolution of the problem
Mary to go to the ball Her wicked stepsisters and mother didn’t want the beautiful Mary at the ball
Her fairy godmother waved her wand and a carriage, a gown, a carriage men appeared
The Senate candidate to get elected because she disagreed with the incumbent on many issues
The incumbent had more political clout and money
Students often need to condense a paragraph into a single sentence for tasks like answering test questions or referencing research in essays; to achieve this, it's essential to identify the main topic and controlling idea of the text and succinctly express them.
While this strategy offers several advantages, it falls short in assisting students with the national exam for selecting English-gifted students, particularly in the requirement to write a paragraph summarizing a provided passage.
Rinehart and Thomas (1993) emphasize that creating an effective summary involves reflection and decision-making They suggest that a good summary requires understanding the relationships between ideas, condensing key information to align with the organizational gist, and articulating that essence in writing Utilizing annotations and maps is a highly recommended strategy for identifying main ideas and significant details, with various types of texts benefiting from either or both techniques.
Summary of a paragraph = MAIN IDEA + major details
After reading the passage, students should annotate by:
[Placing brackets around the main idea]
Underlining key words and phrases that support the main idea
WRITING KEY WORDS IN THE MARGIN
Crossing out any information that is not important
Make a map with the information you underlined and marked
Write a summary that includes all the important information you’ve identified
Paraphrase – don’t copy the exact words from the reading; try to put the information in your own words
This study focuses on English-gifted students who have studied the language for at least six years and possess a strong command of it These students are meticulously chosen to participate in the annual national English language proficiency exam, where they are required to summarize an advanced-level passage Notably, the fourth strategy is emphasized over the first three strategies in this context.
DETAIL 1 therefore, does seem to help them summarize those kinds of passages In the next part, the author will give more detailed guidance on how to apply this strategy in the real context.
APPLICATION
Guided practice
During this phase of the lesson, the teacher skillfully directs students in the processes of annotating and mapping techniques Depending on the complexity of the passage, the teacher may instruct students to create annotations, draw maps, or engage in both activities to enhance their understanding.
Practice 1: Summarize the following passage
In today's business landscape, computers are essential for both small and large enterprises, as they can retrieve information in less than a second—tasks that would take a person several hours This efficiency is why industries like banking, airlines, and fast food heavily depend on computer technology Furthermore, computers can store vast amounts of data in compact formats, allowing offices to minimize their need for physical storage solutions like file cabinets and supply closets.
- Ability to store large amounts of information
[Computers have become a necessity for both small and large business today.] It takes a computer less than a second to retrieve information that takes a person several hours to obtain
Banks, airlines, and fast food restaurants heavily depend on computers due to their ability to store vast amounts of data efficiently This reliance on technology allows offices to reduce their need for physical storage solutions like file cabinets and supply closets, optimizing space and resources.
Computers are important for businesses
Ability to store large amounts of information of data
Computers are important for businesses because of their speed in retrieving information and their ability to store large amounts of data in small spaces
Practice 2: Summarize the following passage
"Pity the nation that relies on others for its fabric and food, lacking the ability to create and sustain itself This nation only finds pride amidst its destruction, and its artistic expression is limited to imitation and superficiality."
Kahlil Gibran, the esteemed poet of Lebanon, vividly captured the essence of his homeland, envisioning its valleys filled with magic and dignity, and its mountains striving for greatness His poetic legacy mirrors that of Henry David Thoreau, emphasizing the profound connection between the poet and the land he cherished.
Lebanese ecologist Ricardo Haber questions whether Gibran could find inspiration in today's transformed landscapes, stating, “Where would he get his inspiration? What landscape would he see?” Haber, who founded the conservationist group The Friends of Nature, highlights the drastic changes in the mountains and valleys that might hinder Gibran's ability to describe them as he once did.
Haber's despair highlights the severe environmental devastation in Lebanon, where the once-lush landscapes are now overwhelmed by physical and psychological destruction The country is grappling with the aftermath of its destroyed cedar forests and the polluted shores of the Mediterranean, experiencing one of the worst ecological crises in history.
Lebanon, once known for its rich fishery resources from the Mediterranean, is now compelled to import fish from Syria and Turkey due to a significant decline in local fish populations This crisis stems from the nation's failure to enforce maritime protection laws, with illegal fishing methods like dynamite and poison bait exacerbating the problem by decimating marine habitats Additionally, pollution from solid waste and chemicals along the coastline further threatens the ecosystem Despite efforts to build treatment facilities, the ongoing sectarian divisions hinder effective regulation and management of the fishing industry, as noted by Haber, a professor at the American University of Beirut.
Haber highlights the dire state of Lebanon's cedar forests, which have been severely depleted due to logging for camouflage and firewood Additionally, he points out that the rampant shooting of birds, driven by the anger and frustration stemming from the ongoing conflict, has led to a significant decline in avian populations Over the past decade, approximately 400,000 individuals have participated in what he describes as a "virtual massacre of birds" in Lebanon's skies.
As these birds, including stocks, falcons, eagles, and swallows are killed, he notes, the forests’ tree-eating insects reproduce unchecked
The destruction of forests has led to significant soil erosion and a reduced supply of fresh water According to Haber, the absence of forested watersheds results in much of the topsoil and rainfall being washed away into the sea.
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has severely impacted the country's agriculture, with land damaged not only by local negligence but also by occupying forces that construct trenches and destroy crops Additionally, the absence of effective government planning has led to unchecked urbanization, compromising fertile plains As Haber emphasizes, the most significant consequence of war is the destruction of agricultural potential, which ultimately leaves people in need of food.
Hope for the Lebanese environment remains elusive, much like the end of ongoing hostilities Achieving a positive change necessitates a significant cleanup effort that relies on collaboration among citizens, strict adherence to current environmental laws, and the establishment of a well-supported environmental authority.
Significant changes in a nation struggling with internal violence and identity loss may seem unrealistic However, for Haber, these nations represent more than just unrealistic aspirations Without action and pressure from the international conservation community, the possibility of ecological recovery will diminish “We cannot afford the pace and magnitude of the damage,” warns Haber, emphasizing that the point of no return is approaching rapidly.
"Pity the nation that relies on others for its fabric and food, showcasing pride only amidst its destruction, and where creativity is reduced to mere imitation and repair."
Kahlil Gibran, the beloved literary figure of Lebanon, penned words that resonated deeply with his homeland, although he may not have foreseen their significance Much like Henry David Thoreau, Gibran is celebrated as a poetic voice of the land He expressed, “Every time I close my eyes,” reflecting his profound connection to the essence of his country.
“I see those valleys full of magic and dignity and those mountains covered with glory and greatness trying to reach the sky.”
But according to Lebanese ecologist Ricardo Haber, Gibran could never describe those magical mountains and valleys today
“Where would he get his inspiration?”, asks Haber, founder of a conservationist group called The Friends of Nature “What landscape would he see?”
Suggested exercises
Exercise 1: Summarize the following passage:
Suburbanization, defined as the rapid growth of urban margins compared to developed city interiors, began in the mid-19th century with the rise of industrial cities Prior to this, cities were compact, with residents relying on foot travel and goods transported by horse and cart However, the establishment of factories in the 1830s and 1840s near waterways and railroads prompted a demand for housing for the influx of workers This led to the emergence of mill towns, featuring apartments and row houses, which gradually encroached upon the older city centers In response, cities annexed these industrial areas to combat expansion and enhance their tax revenues.
In 1854, Philadelphia expanded by annexing a significant portion of Philadelphia County, a strategy also employed by cities like Chicago and New York This trend of incorporating neighboring communities was crucial for many major U.S cities to achieve their current status.
The rapid industrial growth led to significant urban overcrowding and social stress, reaching critical levels by 1888 with the advent of the first successful electric traction line This innovation quickly replaced horse-drawn trolleys, resulting in electric streetcar networks that interconnected major urban areas and sparked a wave of suburbanization This initial phase of mass suburban development was further driven by the rise of the urban middle class, whose aspirations for homeownership in neighborhoods distant from the deteriorating inner city were met by developers of single-family housing tracts.
(1)An increasing pressure of housing demand for workers
(2) the cities’ appropriation of surrounding areas
Suburbanization, defined as the rapid growth of urban margins compared to established city interiors, began in the mid-19th century with the rise of industrial cities Prior to this, cities were compact, with residents relying on foot travel and horse-drawn carts for transportation The establishment of factories in the 1830s and 1840s, strategically located near waterways and railroads, created a demand for housing for the influx of workers Consequently, mill towns with apartments and row houses emerged around these factories, encroaching on older urban areas To counter this growth and expand their tax bases, cities began annexing surrounding industrial neighborhoods, as exemplified by Philadelphia's annexation of most of Philadelphia County in 1854, a trend also seen in Chicago.
(3) the emergence of the Middle Class and their desire for house ownership
York Indeed, most great cities of the United States achieved such status only by incorporating the communities along their borders
The rapid industrial growth led to significant urban overcrowding and social stress, reaching critical levels by 1888 with the introduction of the first successful electric traction line This innovation quickly phased out horse-drawn trolleys, enabling electric streetcar networks to connect major urban areas and sparking a wave of suburbanization As a result, the densely packed industrial cities evolved into sprawling metropolises This initial phase of mass suburbanization was further propelled by the rise of the urban middle class, whose aspirations for homeownership in neighborhoods away from the deteriorating inner city were met by developers of single-family housing tracts.
The process of suburbanization originated in the mid-nineteenth century alongside the rise of industrial cities, driven by the emergence of the middle class and their aspirations for homeownership, as urban areas expanded to incorporate surrounding regions.
An increasing pressure of housing demand for workers
In the nineteenth century, suburbanization in the United States was driven by three key factors: industrial growth in cities, which heightened housing demand for urban workers; the necessity for cities to expand into surrounding areas to accommodate this need; and the rise of the Middle Class, whose aspiration for homeownership in suburban areas further fueled this trend.
Exercise 2: Summarize the following passage
In the late 20th century, many artists sought to express their individuality, with modern dance emerging as a key outlet for creative freedom Initially lacking a defined technique, the movement evolved through trial and error, ultimately establishing foundational principles Innovators in modern dance even drew inspiration from traditional ballet, discarding academic constraints to uncover new forms of expression While the roots of modern dance predate Isadora Duncan, she played a pivotal role in introducing this revolutionary art form to mainstream audiences, gaining widespread acceptance and acclaim.
Driven by her quest for a natural movement form, she turned to nature, believing that movement should mirror the swaying trees and rolling sea waves, harmonizing with the Earth's rhythms Her significant contributions span three key areas.
Isadora Duncan revolutionized dance by expanding the types of movements beyond the confines of traditional ballet, which had previously dominated concert performances While ballet focused primarily on intricate foot and leg movements, Duncan's approach emphasized the use of her entire body, allowing her dance to express her soul and spirit As a pioneer in the field, she broke away from established norms, paving the way for future generations to explore and develop the art of dance.
Her second significant contribution to dance was the innovative costume design, which eliminated corsets, ballet shoes, and restrictive attire Instead, she introduced flowing Grecian tunics, encouraged bare feet, and embraced unbound hair This approach reflected her belief in the natural body's freedom of movement, allowing her costumes to embody this ideal.
Her third significant contribution was her innovative use of music in performances, incorporating the symphonies of renowned composers like Beethoven and Wagner, which was unconventional for the time Her vibrant and eccentric personality mirrored the excitement she brought to her dance.
(1)Contribution to the expansion of the kinds of movements
In the late 20th century, many artists sought to express their individuality, with modern dance emerging as a significant medium for liberating their creative spirits.
In the early days of modern dance, there were no established techniques or foundational principles Through a process of trial and error, innovators began to develop the movement's techniques, ultimately discarding academic constraints to pave the way for new discoveries Although the roots of modern dance predate Isadora Duncan, she was pivotal in introducing this revolutionary form to mainstream audiences, gaining widespread acceptance and acclaim.
Her quest for a natural form of movement led her to the inspiration of nature, believing that movement should mirror the graceful sway of trees and the rhythmic flow of ocean waves, aligning harmoniously with Earth's movements She made significant contributions across three key areas.