SUMMARISING
Summary
is a shortened version of a letter, a passage, a report, an article, a chapter
or a book. Summarising is a writing skill. It is
very useful in education and other fields.
Generally, there are two kinds of
summary:
1) Abstract: When a summary is written only to give
the reader an idea of what a book or an article is about, it is called an
Abstract. It is very brief. It is tenth of the original.
2) Precis: When a summary covers the main points
of the original text to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the
piece without having to read it, it is called précis. It is one-third of the
original.
The Skills Required for Summarising:
a) Reading
and Understanding
b) Analysing
c) Selecting
Important Points
d) Using
Note-making Skills
e) Ability
to Rewrite
Steps in Writing a Summary:
a) Scanning: Scanning means reading a text
carefully. Writing a summary should start with a scanning. The reader should
make a close reading of the text to understand each and every word and sentence
in it.
b) Skimming: Skimming means reading a text
apparently just to understand its subject. Scanning should be followed by
Skimming especially when the text or article is very difficult and complex.
c) Identify the Subject: The next step is to
identify the subject of the passage, its main points and sub-points.
d) Main points and subpoints should be put down in proper order in
the form of notes.
e) Preparation of Rough Draft
f) Preparation of Fair Draft.
Exercise:
Read the passage given below and
write its summary.
One
day, Pahom was sitting at home, when a peasant passing through the village,
happened to call in. he was allowed to stay the night, and supper was given
him. Pahom had a talk with this peasant and asked him where he came from. The
stranger answered that he came from beyond the Volga, where he had been
working. One word led to another, and the man went on to say that many people
were settling in those parts. He told how some people from his village had
settled there. They had joined the Commune, and had had twenty-five acres per
man granted them. The land was so good, he said, that the rye sown on it grew
as high as a horse, and so thick that five cuts of a sickle made a sheaf. One
peasant, he said, had brought nothing with him but his bare hands, and now he
had six horses and two cows of his own. (Total Words: 160)
Rough Draft
Once,
a peasant visited Pahom when he was sitting at home. He stayed and took supper
at Pahom’s home at night. Pahom asked him where he came from. He
answered that he came from beyond the Volga. The man told him that many people
were settling in those parts. He told how some people from his village had
settled there. They had joined the Commune to obtain twenty-five acres of land
per man. The land was so good that the rye sown on it grew as high as a horse.
It was so thick that five cuts of a sickle made a sheaf. One peasant had
nothing. Now, he had his own six horses and two cows. (Total Words: 117)
Fair Draft
Once,
a peasant spent a night at Pahom’s house. He informed that he came from beyond
the Volga. Many people including some of his villagers had settled there. The
Commune had given each twenty-five acres of fertile land. The rye in it was high
and thick. One peasant had nothing earlier. Now, he had many horses and cows. (Total Words:
58)
