1. 9-1-15 Understand what a summary is Understand the reasons for summarizing Understand how to write a summary Goals: Writing a Summary

2. What IS a summary? Brief version of the original text Includes key points, but not details Depth of summary depends on purpose 6-page article 1-page summary 1-paragraph summary 1-sentence summary

3. Why summarize? To help explain a complex idea To provide support for a claim A: Who do you like in the election? B: I think I’m leaning toward Candidate X. A: Why? B: Well, X has some good ideas. A: Really? Like what? B: Well, let me tell you about a speech X gave last week… (text of one-hour speech) (five-minute summary)

4. Why summarize? To help explain a complex idea To provide support for a claim You are to brief the board on the potential costs and benefits of acquiring Company Z. You have five minutes in which to give your presentation. Company Z Financial Report Competitors’ Financial Reports Market Analysis A Market Analysis B Market Analysis C Other Relevant Documents / Reports

5. Why summarize? To help explain a complex idea To provide support for a claim You’ll need to summarize lots of different documents, then use that information—compare, contrast, synthesize—to create your presentation. Company Z Financial Report Competitors’ Financial Reports Market Analysis A Market Analysis B Market Analysis C Other Relevant Documents / Reports

6. Why summarize? To help explain a complex idea To provide support for a claim Paper 5: Write a paper of at least 1200 words in which you explain what "the experts" are saying about a topic that is currently in the news and is open to multiple interpretations. Cite at least six published sources. Summaries: Final Paper

7. How to summarize? Step 1: Read & annotate the text Look for indicators of KEY IDEAS: Title Subheadings Bold, italics, colors Tables, charts, images Anything that highlights text First & last paragraphs Other clues: Blank space (change of idea) Repetition (key word/phrase) Stories, examples (What’s the point?) Then what? Highlight Circle or underline Write notes in margins

8. Notice the title. Notice the length: only 5 paragraphs. (Your summary will require only a few lines.) Notice the caption under the image. (It’s also the first line of the article.) Notice the information about the author. Look for a thesis. Read the first line of each body paragraph.

9. How to summarize? Step 2: Use annotated material to create new text Separate MAIN IDEA(S) from SUPPORTING MATERIAL. For a paragraph, lead with the main idea. Follow up with supporting material in a logical order.

10. Use remaining class time to annotate “Flame and Filament,” then begin writing your one-paragraph summary. For next time, bring your textbook and your summary to class. Be ready to read your summary aloud.