Summary can be described as the condensed form of comprehension. It is an exercise in which one is required to reproduce what one has decoded in as few of one’s own words as possible.
It should focus on the central idea and indicate all the main points in the passage that support the central idea, as well as the relationship between the ideas, including their order and emphasis.
Here are some tips to follow to write a good summary:
Read the passage carefully
Reread, but start dividing the passages into sections
Underline key ideas/terms
Figure out the main idea for each section
Based on those sub-main ideas, figure out the main idea for the entire passage
Revise (delete repetitions, use transitional words to stay true to the flow of the original passage, check for grammatical & spelling errors and correct if there are any)
SAMPLE QUESTION
For most Americans, fall is synonymous with pumpkins. Some use the fruit to make delicious soups and bread, others to carve out scary jack-o-lanterns. Then there are those that spend months nurturing massive gourds for pumpkin weigh-off contests. Though there are numerous competitions nationwide, the most impressive pumpkins usually end up at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
The 48-year-old annual competition — nicknamed the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs" — has always been a favorite among pumpkin growers. But it has become even more so after the supermarket chain raised the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin."
Which of the following is the correct summary for the passage above?
A. Pumpkins are associated with the fall season, delicious soups, breads, and jack-o-lanterns.
B. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California is a competition where participants must produce a “World Record Pumpkin.”
C. The maximum winnable price has been raised to $30,000 in 2015 which is why this competition is a favoured by growers.
D. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off showcases the most impressive pumpkins.
E. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off is super exciting for a pumpkin grower like me.
STEPS TO DETERMINE THE SUMMARY
For most Americans, fall is synonymous with pumpkins. Some use the fruit to make delicious soups and bread, others to carve out scary jack-o-lanterns. Then there are those that spend months nurturing massive gourds for pumpkin weigh-off contests. Though there are numerous competitions nationwide, the most impressive pumpkins usually end up at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
The 48-year-old annual competition — nicknamed the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs" — has always been a favorite among pumpkin growers. But it has become even more so after the supermarket chain raised the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin".
Key terms:
Pumpkins, pumpkin weigh-off contests, Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015, "World Record Pumpkin."
Main ideas:
Paragraph 1: Impressive pumpkins can be found at Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
Paragraph 2: The maximum winnable prize has been raised to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin."
Option A is not a good summary because it does not include the main idea of the passage.
Option B is a good summary because it covers both the main ideas in paragraph 1 and 2.
Option C is not a good summary because it does not provide a more specific context which is the competition itself.
Option D is not a good summary because it does not cover the main idea in paragraph 2.
Option E is not a good summary because it contains a personal opinion which isn’t stated in the original passage. A good summary does not include personal opinions, it is based solely on the original passage.
Summary can be described as the condensed form of comprehension. It is an exercise in which one is required to reproduce what one has decoded in as few of one’s own words as possible.
It should focus on the central idea and indicate all the main points in the passage that support the central idea, as well as the relationship between the ideas, including their order and emphasis.
Here are some tips to follow to write a good summary:
Read the passage carefully
Reread, but start dividing the passages into sections
Underline key ideas/terms
Figure out the main idea for each section
Based on those sub-main ideas, figure out the main idea for the entire passage
Revise (delete repetitions, use transitional words to stay true to the flow of the original passage, check for grammatical & spelling errors and correct if there are any)
SAMPLE QUESTION
For most Americans, fall is synonymous with pumpkins. Some use the fruit to make delicious soups and bread, others to carve out scary jack-o-lanterns. Then there are those that spend months nurturing massive gourds for pumpkin weigh-off contests. Though there are numerous competitions nationwide, the most impressive pumpkins usually end up at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
The 48-year-old annual competition — nicknamed the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs" — has always been a favorite among pumpkin growers. But it has become even more so after the supermarket chain raised the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin."
Which of the following is the correct summary for the passage above?
A. Pumpkins are associated with the fall season, delicious soups, breads, and jack-o-lanterns.
B. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California is a competition where participants must produce a “World Record Pumpkin.”
C. The maximum winnable price has been raised to $30,000 in 2015 which is why this competition is a favoured by growers.
D. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off showcases the most impressive pumpkins.
E. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off is super exciting for a pumpkin grower like me.
STEPS TO DETERMINE THE SUMMARY
For most Americans, fall is synonymous with pumpkins. Some use the fruit to make delicious soups and bread, others to carve out scary jack-o-lanterns. Then there are those that spend months nurturing massive gourds for pumpkin weigh-off contests. Though there are numerous competitions nationwide, the most impressive pumpkins usually end up at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
The 48-year-old annual competition — nicknamed the "Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs" — has always been a favorite among pumpkin growers. But it has become even more so after the supermarket chain raised the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin".
Key terms:
Pumpkins, pumpkin weigh-off contests, Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, the maximum winnable prize to $30,000 in 2015, "World Record Pumpkin."
Main ideas:
Paragraph 1: Impressive pumpkins can be found at Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, CA.
Paragraph 2: The maximum winnable prize has been raised to $30,000 in 2015. To receive the "World Record Prize," competitors have to produce a "World Record Pumpkin."
Option A is not a good summary because it does not include the main idea of the passage.
Option B is a good summary because it covers both the main ideas in paragraph 1 and 2.
Option C is not a good summary because it does not provide a more specific context which is the competition itself.
Option D is not a good summary because it does not cover the main idea in paragraph 2.
Option E is not a good summary because it contains a personal opinion which isn’t stated in the original passage. A good summary does not include personal opinions, it is based solely on the original passage.