Task-based Writing--- How to write a summary

江苏省扬中高级中学黄钟玮

• Let's appreciate some versions from your classmates!

Lead-in:

—— 许航

—— 卞文静

—— 倪敏

—— 陆青

• Let's take a look at some other versions!

lack transitional words or statements

缺乏过渡词句

key points are not complete

概括要点不全

Use too many specific details instead of general words. 过多细节而非概括性语言

Express opinions too early 过早表达观点

• Use too many original words or sentences from the passage

直接或过多引用原文

too short or too long 字数过少或过多19

39

（ 1 ） lack transitional words or statements 缺乏过渡词句

（ 2 ） key points are not complete 概括要点不全（ 3 ） Use too many specific details instead of general words. 过多细节而非概括性语言（ 4 ） Express opinion too early 过早表达观点（ 5 ） Use too many original words or sentences from the passage. 直接或过多引用原文（ 6 ） too short or too long 字数过少或过多

• How to avoid these mistakes?• How to improve your summary?

How to write a summary

Writing

What is a summary?

1.A shortened version of the text

2.Main points of the text

3.Written in your own words

A summary is a brief account of the main points of an article in your own words .

about 30 words (25-35)

◇How to write a summary?◇一 . 步骤： A. 定体裁：说明文？记叙文？议论文？ B. 定时态： 若阅读材料是过去时，则基本时态用过去时； 若阅读材料是现在时，则基本时态用现在时； 但：模板的开头语一般为现在时 （ e.g. The passage mainly tells us that...) C. 定人称：一般情况下采用第三人称来写作 (特殊如书信的，可能会使用第一、二人称 )； D. 定主题：找主题句、关键词和短语。 E. 定技巧：结合相关技巧，重新组句。

Step A: 定体裁 Styles of passage

argumentation ( 议论文)

1

narration （记叙文）2

exposition （说明文）

3

说明文

记叙文

议论文

中心句 ( 通常在首段 ) 抓好关键词现象分析型说明文 : “ 现象” “ 现象形成原因” “ 解决问题的方法或建议” “5W”: when,where, who, what, how/why 夹叙夹议型 : 加上作者的看法或感想等 以第三人称或无人称来概括 找出中心论点以及最后的结论，

再补充论据

针对不同体裁写短文概要

Step D ： 定主题：

1. （若有标题）审标题。 2. 确定主题句。 3. 寻找关键词和高频词。

The elements of an argumentation

1.a strong statement of opinion.

( topic sentences)

论点2.support for the opinion. (supporting sentences)

论据3. conclusion/suggestions. (the purpose of the

passage) 结论

Argumentation

As more and more Chinese tourists travel abroad, some of their behavior is raising eyebrows. According to the latest 2012 Living Social survey, Chinese tourists were recently ranked second behind US citizens in a global poll of the worst travelers.

      Liu Deqian, researcher and deputy director of the Tourism Research Center at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Chinese visitors often lack an awareness of being polite or behaving appropriately. “On their first or second time abroad, Chinese visitors tend to forget that they are visiting other people’s homeland and overlook the manners of their hosts,” he said.

Zhang Guanren, 28, who helped organize package tours to Australia, observed that on international flights, the first passengers to stand up and reach for luggage while the plane is still landing are often Chinese. “Our compatriots ( 同胞 ) seem to lack patience, and they’re forever in a rush to do things and fear lagging behind others.”

        Some disregard ( 漠视 ) rules in local wildlife parks: They disturb koalas in their natural habitats by touching them, even though the local guide has warned them against doing so. “This is far from being eco-friendly,” said Zhang.

1. A strong statement of opinion. (key idea):

Chinese tourists' behavior is raising eyebrows

2. Support for the opinion (supporting sentences)

(1) lack an awareness of being polite or behaving appropriately (2) lack patience/ disregard rules

3. Conclusion/suggestions.

survey/ rank second of the worst travellers

Step E: 定技巧 the writing skills

Skill 1 : Omit( 省略 ) the detailsSkill 2 : Omit the repetitions( 重复 )Skill 3 : Omit the examplesSkill 4 : Use general ( 概括性 )words instead of specific( 具体的 ) wordsSkill 5 : Put the main points of a dialogue in indirect speech Skill 6: Use synonyms ( 同义词 ) or shorter phrases.

( 间接引语 )

As more and more Chinese tourists travel abroad, some of their behavior is raising eyebrows. According to the latest 2012 Living Social survey, Chinese tourists were recently ranked second behind US citizens in a global poll of the worst travelers.

      Liu Deqian, researcher and deputy director of the Tourism Research Center at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Chinese visitors often lack an awareness of being polite or behaving appropriately. “On their first or second time abroad, Chinese visitors tend to forget that they are visiting other people’s homeland and overlook the manners of their hosts,” he said.

Zhang Guanren, 28, who helped organize package tours to Australia, observed that on international flights, the first passengers to stand up and reach for luggage while the plane is still landing are often Chinese. “Our compatriots ( 同胞 ) seem to lack patience, and they’re forever in a rush to do things and fear lagging behind others.”

        Some disregard ( 漠视 ) rules in local wildlife parks: They disturb koalas in their natural habitats by touching them, even though the local guide has warned them against doing so. “This is far from being eco-friendly,” said Zhang.

repetitionexample

example

detail

Example: She brought home several Chinese and English novels, a few copies of Time and Newsweek, and some textbooks. She intended to read all of them during the winter vacation.

>>She brought home a lot of books and magazines to read during the vacation.

Skill 4: Use general( 概括性 ) words instead of specific ( 具体的 ) words.

Example: Kate looked at Paul disapprovingly, “You use too much salt on your food, Paul. It’s not at all good for you!” Paul put down his knife and frowned, “Why on earth not! If you didn’t have salt on your food it would taste awful…like eating card board or sand…just imagine bread without salt in it!”

>> Kate suggested that Paul should eat less salt. But Paul disagreed. He said that food without salt would be tasteless.

Skill 5: Put the main points of a dialogue in indirect speech( 间接引语 ).

Skill 6: Use words of similar meanings（ 1 ）同义替换法 (using synonym)

(2) Adopt the opposite way when saying a sentence正话反说或反话正说法 You will not succeed. = You will fail.

I can’t agree with you more.

= I agree with you.（ 3 ） Change the part of speech词性转换法

The photo is of importance to me.

= The photo is important to me.

1. A strong statement of opinion. (the key idea):

Chinese tourists' behavior is raising eyebrown

2. Support for the opinion (supporting sentences)

(1) lack an awareness of being polite or behaving appropriately (2) lack patience/ disregard rules

3. Conclusion/suggestions.

survey/ rank second of the worst travellers

The passage mainly tells us that the Chinese tourists were ranked the second in a globe poll of worst travelers, as they behaved impolitely and improperly when travelling abroad.

Some set sentence patterns:1、 As can be seen from the article/As is vividly shown in the

above story/article,......

2、 The article gives the view that… should/shouldn’t…（主题）…（补充论据）

3、 The passage highlights(强调 ) the importance of …

4、 This passage mainly tells us /talks about ...

5、 From the article,we know that......,which has caused different opinions.

SummaryWhat we have leant today? What we have leant today?

一、步骤： A. 定体裁 B. 定时态 C. 定人称 D. 定主题 E. 定技巧二、技巧：Skill 1 : Omit( 省略 ) the detailsSkill 2 : Omit the repetitions( 重复 )Skill 3 : Omit the examplesSkill 4 : Use general ( 概括性 )words instead of specific( 具体的 ) wordsSkill 5 : Put the main points of a dialogue in indirect speech Skill 6: Use synonyms ( 同义词 ) or shorter phrases.

Checking suggestions

1. Check the person ( 人称 ).

2. Check the agreement( 主谓一致 ).

3. Check the number( 单复数 ).

4. Check the tense( 时态 ).

5. Check the spelling( 词汇拼写 ) and sentence patterns( 句型 ) .

Check your “pants”( 裤子 ) !

学以致用：

Read the following reading mateiral and write a summaryof it with about 30 words.

Getting up early has been regarded as a good habit since ancient times. Many years ago, people thought that if we went to bed early and got up early, we would be energetic the whole day. So, getting up early is of great importance to us all.

In fact, morning is the best time of a day. In the morning, the air is the freshest and people are usually in the best conditions. Many of us may have the experiences that we memorize some things more quickly and accurately in the morning than any other time of the day.

If we do some morning exercise or only take a short walk in the morning, we can build our bodies and become much healthier. Also we will have enough time to make a plan and get ready for our work or study of the day if we get up early. However, if we get up late, we will probably have to do everything in a great hurry.

Let us remember getting up early is a good habit and try our best to keep it. If we stick to getting up early every day, we will certainly benefit a lot from it.

Getting up early has been regarded as a good habit since ancient times. Many years ago, people thought that if we went to bed early and got up early, we would be energetic the whole day. So, getting up early is of great importance to us all.

In fact, morning is the best time of a day. In the morning, the air is the freshest and people are usually in the best conditions. Many of us may have the experiences that we memorize some things more quickly and accurately in the morning than any other time of the day.

If we do some morning exercise or only take a short walk in the morning, we can build our bodies and become much healthier. Also we will have enough time to make a plan and get ready for our work or study of the day if we get up early. However, if we get up late, we will probably have to do everything in a great hurry.

Let us remember getting up early is a good habit and try our best to keep it. If we stick to getting up early every day, we will certainly benefit a lot from it.

Getting up early has been regarded as a good habit since ancient times. Many years ago, people thought that if we went to bed early and got up early, we would be energetic the whole day. So, getting up early is of great importance to us all.

In fact, morning is the best time of a day. In the morning, the air is the freshest and people are usually in the best conditions. Many of us may have the experiences that we memorize some things more quickly and accurately in the morning than any other time of the day.

If we do some morning exercise or only take a short walk in the morning, we can build our bodies and become much healthier. Also we will have enough time to make a plan and get ready for our work or study of the day if we get up early. However, if we get up late, we will probably have to do everything in a great hurry.

Let us remember getting up early is a good habit and try our best to keep it. If we stick to getting up early every day, we will certainly benefit a lot from it.

1. A strong statement of opinion. (key idea):

Getting up early /a good habit /of great importance

2. Support for the opinion (supporting sentences)

a better memory a healthier body a better preparation for the day

3. Conclusion/suggestions.

a good habit / benefit a lot

1. A strong statement of opinion. (key idea):

Getting up early /a good habit /of great importance

2. Support for the opinion (supporting sentences)

a better memory a healthier body a better preparation for the day

3. Conclusion/suggestions.

a good habit / benefit a lot

The passage says getting up early in the morning is a good habit

that will benefit us a lot. It enables us to have a better memory, healthier body and better preparation for the day.

possible version:

Homework

Finish the writing after class and share your writing with your classmates.

Thank you!