A. How to write a summary

1. After a more careful reading of the article notice what is general statement and what is particular example. It is helpful to summarise each paragraph in a few words.

2. Some parts of the article may be completely irrelevant. Go through the article again and mark the places where important information is given.

3. Write down the key points you’ve identified in note form in your own words.

4. Look at the list of points you’ve made and see if there are any which go together. Then decide the best order to put the point in – this may be different from the order in which they appeared in the original article. Number the points in this order.

5. Leave out unnecessary detail: lists, anecdotes, etc.

6. Use the appropriate clichés to introduce your points.

When you summarize you look at a whole text and reduce it to a few sentences (using your own words, not the author’s ones). The first sentence of a summary should express the overall massage of the text. The remaining sentences should present the most important ideas in the text. A good summary does not need include details or supporting evidence for the main ideas.

B. Tasks:

1. Characterized the text under study. Comment on the title of the text. Does this text contain some new information for you? What is that?

2. What is the main idea of the text? Say how it is conveyed to the reader. Prove your point citing the text.

3. Give the contents of the text in a nutshell (in 20 words or less). What is the prevalent mood in the text? Quote the text for illustration (Cheerful, gloomy, humorous, serious, etc.).

4. Write out the verb-adverb / adjective-noun word combinations from the text. Translate them into Russian.

5. Comment on the verb tenses used in the text.

6. What can you say about the vocabulary of the text? Choose 10 to 15 words and word combinations which might better help to reflect the contents of the text.

7. Divide the text into logically complete parts (introduction, main body, conclusion). Suggest possible titles for these parts.

8. Find the sentences that enable you to logically divide the text into complete parts.

9. Write down a key sentence for each paragraph in your own words. Mark paragraphs containing irrelevant information and thus can be easily left out.

10. Write a summary of the text by combining all the key sentences. Make your summary coherent by a sparing use of connectors.

11. Sum up the main points presented in the text. Write the plan of the text in the form of statements.

12. Develop your plan into a summary.

13. Look through your summary. Find the least important sentences and delete them. Write out the remaining ones to produce a well-written, clear, and concise summary.

14. Write down ten questions the answers to which make up a summary of the text.

15. Expand on the problems touched upon in the text. Write a few sentences on a suggested topic.

16. Make up short situations based on the text.