These slides introduce students to an approach to answering Summary Questions.

1. How to identify main points

2. Introduction

 By the end of the lesson, students would be able to:
 State the features of the summary
 Appreciate what examiners want
 Practice the steps required to carry out a summary
 Practice writing a summary
(Adapted from Longman’s, Effective Guide to O’ Level English, Pearson
Education, 2000, Singapore)

3. Features of a Summary

 Two basic things you must understand about
summary questions:
 It is a test of whether you have selected relevant
information
 Once selected relevant information…it needs to be RE-
PHRASED!!! (i.e. expressed in your own words)

4. What examiners want

 Students have to show the following in their answer:
 Selecting the correct and relevant information from the
passage that relates to the question.
 Expressing the information, (putting it in your own
words) fluently.

5. The 4 Step method of
Summary Writing

 4 Steps:
 Step 1: Read the summary question very carefully
 Step 2: Re-read the part in the passage covered by the
question, mark out all relevant information
 Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of all
points you have marked out.
 Step 4: Write up your notes in complete sentences.

6. Analyse the Summary
Question

 Look at the Summary Question and break it up
accordingly to:
 Introduction
 Basic Instruction
 The Topic
 Reminders
 Length
 Question tells you how to start
(Refer to the template provided in your worksheet)

7. Sample Question

Question:
The writer establishes that women may have done more of the hunting in
primitive times than commonly thought. Write a summary of the roles
that women may have played, using your own words, as far as possible
Use material from Line 28 to 71
Your account should be in continuous writing , must not be longer than
160 words, including the 11 words given below. You should use your own
words to rephrase the points, and not copy large chunks from the passage.
Begin: “In pre-historic times, It was not only men who hunted. Women…”

8. Your Turn…

 Using the template introduced to you…break up the
question into its parts…
 You have 5 minutes to do this…

9. Practice in Class

 Now you are ready to begin…(Total time: 10mins)
 Place the template on the table in front of you
 Read the passage based on the relevant lines (28-71)
and mark out the relevant information.
 As you begin work – go back to the “TOPIC” and keep
referring to it as you mark out the information.
 Focus on finding relevant information…do not worry
about expressing this in own words
 Also keep track of your marking out: Too much? Too
Little?

10. Practice in Class

 Compare your marked out portions of the passage
with the sample annotated passage…did you leave
out any points…

11. Practice in Class

 Step 3: Make brief notes in your own words of all the
points you have marked out.
 Copy The TOPIC on the paper you are going to write
out the summary
 Check whether your notes are in correct logical order.
Refer to the question again for some suggestions
 Remember to use your own words and as few words
as possible

12. Practice in Class

 Step 4: Write up your notes in grammatically correct
English
 Concentrate on building sentence structures
 Put aside the passage. Trust your notes
 You may combine points into one sentence

13. Practice in Class

 Compare your summary with the sample
summary…how does this compare?
 Missed out points?
 Not in your own words?
 Poor sentence and grammar

14. After the Summary

 Do not stop there…
 Count the words and write down
 Check for accuracy of:
 Verb agreements
 Spellings
 Consistency – American usage or British English

15. Key Points – Take-a-ways

 List what are the 4 steps to summary writing:
 Step 1: ________________________________
 Step 2: ________________________________
 Step 3: ________________________________
 Step 4: ________________________________