What is summarizing?
Summarizing is when you give a brief account of the main ideas and key events in any piece of text. A summary is short, sweet and straight to the point. A summary does not include insignificant details. You summarize the main events of the plot. A summary is always much shorter than the original text. If the summary help you understand the text, it is deemed a good summary.
You should always be able to identify the strong, main points in the text and include those in your summary. A summary usually includes the setting, main characters, a glimpse of the conflict and the key events in order.
One method of summarization is the gist. Gist is the main point of the action. A gist summary should be no more than 20 words.
Here's an example of a Gist:
Feudalism has had an impact on medieval society. It shaped life of all classes. Medieval Europe wouldn't have thrived without feudalism.
One method of summarization is the gist. Gist is the main point of the action. A gist summary should be no more than 20 words.
Here's an example of a Gist:
Feudalism has had an impact on medieval society. It shaped life of all classes. Medieval Europe wouldn't have thrived without feudalism.
In summarizing informational texts, always include the main idea and the key details. When evaluating your summary, make sure you did not leave out key points or main ideas
Summarization helps you remember the main idea and key points of the text you read.
Paraphrazing
Paraphrasing and summarizing may be somewhat similar but NOT the same thing. When you paraphrase, you are phrasing the information you read in your own words. You are basically restating what you read. You paraphrase the key ideas, not the main ideas. Do not incorrectly paraphrase the information.
Paraphrasing can help you avert plagiarism. Plagiarism is when you take credit for someone else's ideas. This is a major offense is school's and may as well be illegal. Never copy word for word what the text says, but restate it and use your own words. A thesaurus can come in handy when paraphrasing. If you want to cite the text, quote the text and give credit to the source.
Paraphrasing can help you avert plagiarism. Plagiarism is when you take credit for someone else's ideas. This is a major offense is school's and may as well be illegal. Never copy word for word what the text says, but restate it and use your own words. A thesaurus can come in handy when paraphrasing. If you want to cite the text, quote the text and give credit to the source.
Firstly, cite the main ideas in the section. Use your own words to restate this idea. Do not skip or incorrectly state the text.
Apply these skills in literature.
Let us paraphrase this familiar children's fable.
One day a lion was sleeping in his den. A mouse was also playing nearby. By chance Ole mouse ran over the lion. This made the lion wake up. The lion caught the mouse. He was ready to kill it.
‘Please do not kill me,’ said the mouse. ‘I am a tiny creature. Please save me.’
The lion felt pity for the mouse. He smiled and let the mouse go.
A few days after the lion was walking in a jungle. He found himself caught in a hunter’s net. He roared and rolled to get out of the net. But he failed.
The mouse heard the roar. It at once ran to the lion and said, ‘Please don’t roar. I’ll on set you free.’
It cut through the net and set the lion free.
One day a lion was sleeping in his den. A mouse was also playing nearby. By chance Ole mouse ran over the lion. This made the lion wake up. The lion caught the mouse. He was ready to kill it.
‘Please do not kill me,’ said the mouse. ‘I am a tiny creature. Please save me.’
The lion felt pity for the mouse. He smiled and let the mouse go.
A few days after the lion was walking in a jungle. He found himself caught in a hunter’s net. He roared and rolled to get out of the net. But he failed.
The mouse heard the roar. It at once ran to the lion and said, ‘Please don’t roar. I’ll on set you free.’
It cut through the net and set the lion free.
Paraphrase:
A lion encountered a mouse who woke him up, but felt pitiful for the mouse and let him free. After a couple of days, they crossed paths once more, except this time the lion needed help as he was trapped in a net. The mouse repaid the lion's kindness by setting him free from the net.
A lion encountered a mouse who woke him up, but felt pitiful for the mouse and let him free. After a couple of days, they crossed paths once more, except this time the lion needed help as he was trapped in a net. The mouse repaid the lion's kindness by setting him free from the net.
Now, let's summarize Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. |
Matilda Cook is working at a coffeeshop in the summer of 1793. She is a laid-back worker with a stern mother. Then, the fever breaks out. Matilda's servant Polly, dies from it and then her mother catches it. For her own well-being, Lucilda Cook(mother) forces Matilda to leave with her grandfather. Soon enough, they find out the epidemic is almost everywhere. Then, Matilda catches the fever. Grandfather takes her to the makeshift hospital, Bush Hill and then Matilda recovers. With no where else to go and still no news from mother as the postal office is down, they head back for the coffee shop. When they get there, the burglars intrude their house and in a process of looting it, they kill Matilda's grandfather. Matilda, all on her own now seeks help from Eliza, the former cook of the coffee shop, Matilda and Eliza go around helping families with the fever. ON one of her trips to a house, she finds a young girl, Nell who is now orphaned and Matilda takes her under her wing. She seeks the orphanage, but they are occupied. Soon enough, Nell as well as Eliza's siblings come down with the Fever and are moved to the coffeeshop where it is cooler. Soon enough, winter arrives and the frost breaks the wicked spell of the Fever. The children recover and Matilda and Eliza become business partners in running the coffee shop. Eventually, Matilda's mother comes back, healthy and alive, but not like her former self. Matilda continues to run the coffee shop with Eliza and looks toward her future.
"i used this skill when studying for my test on fever 1793."