Summary

Summary: Principles

Every day a lot of things happen all over the world. But time is short and there isn't enough space to cover all the details in newspapers or TV magazines. Like reporters, like everybody else, you must try to save time and keep reports as short as possible. To cut a long story short:

"to sum up"

Summing-up is a technique that follows strict rules:

1. The original text is cut to about one third.

2. Only the main ideas are mentioned; that means that no examples or repetitions are allowed.

3. Specific statements are combined to form general statements.

4. Direct or reported speech are changed into statements, with the exception of very important quotations.

When you have to sum up written texts follow these hints:

1. Read the text quickly in order to find the main ideas (skimming)

2. If necessary look at special passages of the text in order to make clear that you've got all the main ideas (scanning).

3. Take a pencil and underline the most important words (marking).

4. Write down key-words, i.e. words that sum up the meaning of the text, but which needn't necessarily occur in the text (making notes).

5. Sum up the key-words in simple sentences (summing up in simple form)

6. Combine the simple sentences by using conjunctions like "as, though, because, since" etc or participle constructions or infinitives (summing up in complex form).

7. Compare the original text with your text to find out that you've got the essential information (check).


Preparation

First of all, you should have read the text / watched the film (of course). Make notes of the most important facts.
Introduction - Give a brief overview.

Content - Tell the main points of the plot / content in your own words.

Important Tenses

The most important tense for a summary is the simple present. Actions happening one after the other are in simple present. Note, however, that you have to use different tenses for everything happening at the same time or before.

Word List on Summaries (fiction)

Introduction

(Title) is a novel by (author).
(Title) was written by (author).
The story is about (topic).
The novel tells the story of (hero/topic).
(Title) tells of (hero), who ...
In (title) by (author), the reader is taken
into (place/time of story).
(Title) is the story of (hero/action/...)
(Title) is set in the period of (event).

Content

As the story begins, ...
During ...
While ...
As/When ...
Since/As ...
Just then ...
After ...
Before ...
Before long ...
Soon ...
Soon afterwards ...
As soon as ...
One day/evening ...
The following day ...
Some time later ...
Hours/Months/Years later, ....
By morning/the next day/the time ...
Meanwhile ...
However, ...
Again/Once again ...
At this point ...
To his surprise ...
This incident is/was followed by ...
To make matters even worse ...
Eventually, .../Finally, ...

Word List on Summaries (non-fiction)

Introduction

In (title), author (author) discusses (topic).
In (title), (author) explains the principles of (topic).
(Title) offers a detailed and practical introduction to (topic).
(Title) is a detailed account of (topic).
(Title) is an essential guide to (topic).
(Title) is a classic handbook on (topic).
Content
(Author) provides the reader with (details).
(Title/Author) shows how to (details).
(Author) begins by explaining how ...
Then (author) ...
Chapter (number) focuses on (details).
The (number) chapters/sections of the book encourage (aim) through a series of steps: (steps/details)

Word List on Summaries (film)

Introduction
(Title) is a film by (director).
(Title) is based on a novel by (author).
The story is about (topic).
(Title) tells the story of (hero/topic).
(Title) is the story of (hero/action/...).
(Title) is set in the period of (event).
(Title) tells of (hero), who ...
Content
As the story begins, ...
During ...
While ...
As/When ...
Since/As ...
Just then ...
After ...
Before ...
Before long ...
Soon ...
Soon afterwards ...
As soon as ...
One day/evening ...
The following day ...
Some time later ...
Hours/Months/Years later, ....
By morning/the next day/the time ...
Meanwhile ...
However, ...
Again/Once again ...
At this point ...
To his surprise ...
This incident is/was followed by ...
To make matters even worse ...
Eventually, .../Finally, ...