The art of writing a
summary
ENGLISH AS
A SECOND
LANGUAGE
First Steps
 Read the question – twice!
 Underline what the question is asking
you to find in the text
 You are looking for six content points
relating to the question
 5 points for language
 There may be more than 6 content
points in the summary, there may be
exactly six
Second Step
Read the text
Underline any lines in the text
you feel answer the question
Discard / ignore the rest
Number them so you know you
have at least six content points
Next Step
 The summary asks you to use your own
words as much as possible so look
through the six (or more) lines you
have underlined and try to change one
or two words to another word.
 Some are easy, eg, 50% = half
 Rising = increasing
 Severe = bad
 You cannot have language marks if you don’t have
any content points:
 Then your use of language is awarded 1-5 marks:
Worked Example – June 2012
There are two parts to this question – what are they, in
your own words?
Do these paragraphs contains any points?
Yes -
Yes – Illegal hunting
Yes – trade in their body parts
Yes – use in traditional medicine
Yes – demand for their skins
Do these paragraphs contain any points?
Yes - these paragraphs contain points
Yes – Habitat destruction / forced to live in small areas makes them easier to find
(all the same point – just one point!)
Yes – communities kill tigers to protect them selves and their livestock
Yes – rising sea levels caused by climate change threatens tiger habitat
(So, six, just for the first part of the question!)
There paragraphs – any points?
There paragraphs – any points? Yes!
Yes – ‘Year of the Tiger’
Yes – anti-hunting patrols
Yes – continued supply of prey
Yes – increase the support of governments and the general public
All points together
Illegal hunting
Trade in their body parts
Use in traditional medicine
Demand for their skins
Habitat destruction / forced to live in small areas makes them easier
to find
Communities kill tigers to protect them selves and their livestock
Rising sea levels caused by climate change threatens tiger habitat
‘Year of the Tiger’
Anti-hunting patrols
Continued supply of prey
Increase the support of governments and the general public
(11 different points – pick at least three from each)
Change some words
Unlawful hunting
Trade in their body parts
Use in traditional medications
Demand for their skins
Territory destruction / forced to live in small areas makes them easier
to find
Communities slaughter tigers to protect themselves and their livestock
Increasing sea levels caused by climate change threatens tiger habitat
‘Year of the Tiger’
Anti-hunting patrols
Continued supply of prey
Increase the support of governments and the general community
(11 different points – pick at least three from each)
Write in full sentences [Draft 1]
There are many reasons for the decline in the number of
tigers. First, tigers have been unlawfully hunted and
hunters trade tigers body parts which are then used in
traditional medicine. Their skin is also in demand. Another
reason why the numbers of tigers is declining is that the
territories they inhabit are shrinking, making them easier
to find. Communities also slaughter tigers to protect
themselves and their livestock.
The World Wildlife Fund is trying to stop their decline in a
number of ways, including having a ‘Year of the Tiger’ to
raise awareness. There will also be anti-hunting patrols
and a final step is to increase the support of governments
and the general community. [115 words]
Draft 2 [Reduce some words]
There are many reasons for the decline in the number of
tigers. First, tigers have been unlawfully hunted, hunters
trading tigers’ body parts which may be used in traditional
medications. Their skin is also sold. Another reason why
the numbers of tigers is declining is that the territories they
inhabit are shrinking, making them easier to find.
Communities also slaughter tigers to protect themselves.
The World Wildlife Fund is trying to stop their decline by
having a ‘Year of the Tiger’ to raise awareness. There will
be anti-hunting patrols and a final step is to increase the
support of governments and the general community.
[104 words]
Summary 2 [June 2012]
Any Points here?
Any Points here? NO.
Any Points here?
Any Points here?
Yes – few opportunities to achieve
success in life
Yes – high rate of unemployment
Yes – feel isolated from the rest of the
community / gives them a feeling of a
family relationship
Yes – boxing achievements inspire
others
Any Points here?
Yes – her strength of character
Yes – admired for defiance and
forcefulness
Final Points?
Final Points?
Yes – came from a very simple
background
Yes – totally dedicated and trained
twice as hard as anyone else
All Points Together
 few opportunities to achieve success in life
 high rate of unemployment
 feel isolated from the rest of the community / gives





them a feeling of a family relationship
boxing achievements inspire others
her strength of character
admired for defiance and forcefulness
came from a very simple background
totally dedicated and trained twice as hard as anyone
else
Change some into your own words
 few prospects to attain success in life
 high proportion of unemployment
 feel secluded from the rest of the community / gives





them a feeling of a family relationship
boxing achievements motivate others
her strength of character
admired for boldness and forcefulness
came from a very modest background
totally devoted and trained twice as hard as anyone
else
Write it in full sentences
Teenagers in Manipur face multiple difficulties. There
are few prospects to attain success in life, a high
proportion of unemployment and many teenagers feel
secluded from the rest of the community.
Manisha is a fantastic role model who gives them a
feeling of a family relationship. Her boxing
achievements motivate others and people like her
strength of character, admiring her boldness and
forcefulness. People also know she came from a very
modest background but has achieved much due to
being totally devoted and training twice as hard as
anyone else.
[90 words]
Summary
 Summary writing is a skill and takes time to learn
how to do it.
 Ask your teacher for some more examples to do by
yourself.