Writing your summary
Natasha Thomas-Francis, Contributor

Hello all. I hope that your examination preparation is going well. Here are the answers to the multiple-choice exercise I set for you in last week's lesson.

1. C

2. A

3. C

4. D

5. D

6. C

I hope you enjoyed reading the comprehension passage. Just remember to follow the guidelines on reading and responding to passages that I had given to you a few weeks ago.

Today I want to discuss summary writing, a skill tested in section one of paper 02; it falls under factual writing. According to the syllabus, the examination requires you to "communicate factual information clearly, concisely and adequately".

Factual writing requires the development of specific language skills. More than other types of writing, it involves:

• The ability to focus on accuracy
• Summary skills
• Clarity of expression
• The use of connecting words and phrases
• The ability to develop ideas on a given topic.

One of the flaws in students' responses to this section of the exam is the inability to select relevant material and the inability to express ideas with an economy of language so let us look at the characteristics of a summary.

A summary is a condensed or shortened version of writing or stretch of speech which gives the reader the gist or salient points. This skill is required both in school and in society, for example in writing book reports, taking notes, writing news reports and minutes of a meeting.

In summary writing, your language should be simple, clear and concise:

• Simple

A summary restates the essential meaning of a passage.

• You usually exclude: figures of speech, specific examples, statistical data, repetitions or any device used by a writer which does not add to the basic meaning.

• Clear

Your reader must be able to gather the meaning of the original passage easily and accurately.

• Concise

Because there is a word limit (which must be adhered to), every word must be used carefully. Develop the skill to use language economically. You must practise your ability to contract clauses into phrases and phrases into single words.

• For example: The phrase every two weeks can be replaced by the word fortnightly, and the person who works at the factory can be replaced by the factory employee.

Here are some key terms you must understand:

• Main idea

This is the salient, specific point which the writer wishes to convey. It is usually found either at the beginning or at the end of the paragraph.

• Supporting details

These are the points/examples the writer uses to support the main idea.

• Writer's intention

This is the writer's purpose. It may be to inform, to predict, to criticise, to encourage, to express a particular point of view, to teach us something, to persuade or to amuse.

Now that you are aware of the characteristics of a summary, as well as the key terms related to summary writing, I will give you the steps involved in putting together the final piece.

Steps:

1. Read the passage at least twice - This will give you the opportunity to identify the general topic of the passage as well as the writer's intention.

2. Select the main idea in each paragraph - Do not attempt to ascertain the main idea as a whole. When you break the passage down into parts you will be better able to understand it.

3. Decide on the important general information that supports the main idea and eliminate unimportant details, examples and illustrations.

4. Combine the main ideas, omitting any repetition of ideas and expressions.

5. Ensure that you use your own words as far as possible.

Let us look at an example. What is the main idea in the following paragraph?

Holidaymakers from North America and Europe are more leisured and affluent than ever before, and now that the jet plane has provided even faster air transport, they have begun to look further afield than the beaches of Miami, Brighton or Le Touquet for tourist attractions. The islands of the Caribbean are distant enough to add the enchantment of adventure to a holiday trip and they offer such a variety of attractions that there is something to appeal to every taste. To please the eye there is the lush tropical vegetation and the beauty of the anthurium, bougainvillea and jasmine. Indeed, there is an infinite variety of flora and fauna to enthral the discerning naturalist. One can relax on the magnificent beaches among breathtaking coastal scenery warmed by the generous sunshine. The food is often exotic, always different; mangoes, pawpaws and pineapples, sweet peppers, breadfruits and limes, bananas and coconuts in plenty. The musical combinations have developed such sophistication that they are intentionally known and a tourist attraction in themselves. In brief, the Caribbean as a tourist area offers the diversion of a new way of life.

I hope you read this paragraph at least twice. Where do you find the main idea? Yes, you are right! The main idea is found in the last sentence: In brief, the Caribbean as a tourist area offers the diversion of a new way of life. For practise, please rewrite the main idea in your own words.

Do have a blessed week!

Natasha Thomas-Francis teaches at Glenmuir High School. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com