Writing a Summary
Presentation
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English
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University
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Practice Problem
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Medium
+12
Standards-aligned
Lauren Alva
Used 107+ times
FREE Resource
9 Slides • 10 Questions
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a shorter version of a longer original source (summaries are not the same length as the original)
goal 1 = present a large amount of information in a short and concise text
goal 2 = explain the main message of the text to someone who hasn't read it
includes only the most important ideas of the original text
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states the main idea of the whole text
tells the source with an attribution phrase ("According the article Urban Visionary by Adem Brown..."
provides major supporting details (if the original text is more than 1 paragraph)
a concluding sentence telling the result or conclusion of the text (if the original text is more than 1 paragraph)
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your opinion
copied phrases and sentences from the original text
specific details, examples that are unnecessary to explain the main message of the text
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Multiple Choice
Based on what you just learned about summary writing, is this an effective summary?
Original: “The movement toward education by computer is developing fast. Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, are changing how people learn in many places. For years, people could receive study materials from colleges or universities and take part in online classes. But such classes were not designed for many thousands of students at one time, as MOOCs are.” (MOOCS Are Moving Forward , Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)
Summary: Computer education is growing fast. MOOCs are influencing how we study. People received materials from universities for a long time to be able to take classes online. MOOCs are the only ones thousands can take at a time.
Yes, it's effective.
No, it's not effective.
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Multiple Choice
Based on what you just learned about summary writing, is this an effective summary?
Original: “The movement toward education by computer is developing fast. Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, are changing how people learn in many places. For years, people could receive study materials from colleges or universities and take part in online classes. But such classes were not designed for many thousands of students at one time, as MOOCs are.” (MOOCS Are Moving Forward , Voice of America, learningenglish.voanews.com)
Summary: According to a Voice of America article, a fast-growing MOOCs movement allows thousands to take online classes at once, changing how we learn.
Yes, it's effective.
No, it's not effective.
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Read the text a few times until you understand well.
Identify the main idea, message of the whole article (write in your own words).
Take notes on the text in short phrases/key words.
Put the text away and use just your notes to write a summary --- don't look at the original text.
Include a sentence at the beginning show the main idea and the original source (title, author).
Check your summary with the original to make sure the meaning hasn't changed.
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Open Ended
What is the first step in preparing the write a summary?
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Fill in the Blanks
Complete this sentence: The 2nd step in preparing to write a summary is to identify the ____ ____ of the whole article. It's best to try writing this in your own words.
Type answer...
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Fill in the Blanks
Complete this sentence: The 3rd steps involves taking
Type answer...
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Multiple Choice
Complete this sentence: For the 4th step, make sure to ______ before you start writing your summary. This will help you make sure you write the summary in your own words and don't take phrases/words from the original text.
look at the original text
identify the main idea
put the original text away
highlight key words in the text
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Multiple Select
Complete this sentence: In the 5th step, your summary should start by _____ and expressing the ____ of the original text in your own words.
giving an attribution phrase / main idea
stating your opinion / main idea
stating the main idea / conclusion
introducing background info / major & minor details
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Multiple Choice
Imagine you were writing a summary of "The Costs of Renting a Home" on pg. 10 in Journey to Success 6. Which would be the best way to write that?
The article focuses on...
The costs of renting a home talks about how....
In the article, "The Costs of Renting a Home", the author discusses...
Journey to Success 6 talks about...
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Open Ended
Imagine you were writing a summary of "Buying a Home" on pg. 12 of Journey to Success 6. How would you cite your source at the beginning of your first sentence?
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Multiple Choice
Complete this sentence: In the 6th step, you need to check that your summary ____.
includes words and phrases from the original text
has not changed the original meaning
provides your response to the original text
includes specific examples
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Now it's your turn to apply these tips in preparing to write your own summary
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