SUMMARY WRITING - 01
What is a summary?
* It is the the gist or the main idea of a
passage expressed in as few words
as possible.
* Any one reading it may be able to grasp
the main points of the passage summ-
rised.
* A summary is always shorter than the
original.
* One has to tear the heart out of the
passage.
* It involves hard thinking, concentration
and intensive brain work.
* A summary should not contain more t
than a third of the number of words in
the original passage.
* Summarising is also called pre`cis
writing.
Words related to `summary`.
concise synopsis pre`cis
condense summarize sum up
brief the gist
terse curt
Uses of writing a summary.
1. A fine exercise in reading.
2. It makes you pay attention to what you
read.
3. It is an excellent training concentration
to what you read.
4. It teaches one how to express thoughts
clearly, concisely and effectively.
5. One learns to choose words carefully.
6. One learns to express words in a fixed
number of words.
7. It is of great value for practical life.
Note:
The skill of summary writing , once developed , makes you a precise man in talking and writing. But you need constant practise to develop this skill. The failure to summarise is not a matter of lack of knowledge in the target language. It truly is a special skill in a person. For example most people fail to address a gathering fluently in their first language. Does that mean that they do not know their language? That is because public addressing is a special skill. It needs to be developed through practice and proper guidance. You cannot be the perfect person in summary writing over night. You need a humble beginning at first; summarising short paragraphs or even complex sentences comprising a limited number of words. You need the guidance of an experienced teacher who could go through your summaries and help you where necessary. Finally you would come to a stage where you feel that you could assess your own writing. You need patience, good reading and dedication to be a perfect summary writer. Take opportunity to read model summaries written by experienced writers and then compare the summary with the original. It will help you form an idea as to what you should do. Today most our students are reluctant to read. It is an obstacle for them to be good summary writers. But if you can be a good summary writer you will feel that you are miles above in language than most of your friends.
Sajendra Kumara
Nenasa- Veyangoda, Sri Lanka
SBEC - Nittambuwa, Sri Lanka
GENERAL ENGLISH
