Summary
Writing effective
summaries
Summarizing
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Purpose: To give the reader a condensed
and objective account of the main ideas and
features of a text.
Typically between 100 and 300 words,
depending on the length and complexity of
the original essay
Summaries Should:
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Cite the author and title of the text
Indicate the main ideas of the text
Use some direct quotation of key words,
phrases or sentences
Include author tags
Avoid specific examples or data
Report the main ideas objectively
Chapter 3 Summary: Culture of Fear
In Chapter 3 of Culture of Fear, Barry Glassner
analyzes the media’s portrayal of the risks facing children
and adolescents. Many false risks are exaggerated while
real risks, such as guns, go under-reported and underanalyzed. In turn, Glassner states that the “faulty
diagnosis” of risk leads to “callous cures,” that is, cures that
punish children unnecessarily. He dismisses fears of an
epidemic of teen gamblers, and the risks of “cybersmut,” as
exaggerations. Glassner looks more closely at the
exaggerated fear of stranger abductions and its impact on
marketing products to make parents feel safe.
212
He also analyzes the way the media creates a fear of
children by exaggerating child crime, and the impact this
has on our prison system in the form of longer, and harsher
sentences for juvenile offenders. In the end, Glassner
states that adults have created theories to “justify
both our fear of children and our maltreatment of them.”
(74) His point is that we neglect the real threats to children
-poverty, guns, family abuse, lack of education, housing,
food and security – in favor of theories that allow adults and
society to escape responsibility for the abysmal resources
we dedicate to raising and protecting children, and
childhood.
Quotation/Paraphrase
Your summary should contain a mix of both
paraphrase and quotation. The paraphrased
and quoted passages should be chosen
appropriately and integrated well into your
summary.
Quote when:
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You want to capture the writer’s tone
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The writer has said something particularly
memorable
Paraphrase when:
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It’s the idea and not the tone, voice, or style that
is important
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You can rephrase the writer’s ideas both
accurately and briefly
Response
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Requires reaction and interpretation
Your own perspective (experiences, beliefs
and attitudes) will guide your response.
Good response say what you think, but they
also show why you think so
Types of Response
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Analyzing the effectiveness of the text
Agreeing and/or disagreeing with the ideas in
the text;
Intepreting and reflecting on the text.
Analyzing
Analyzing the effectiveness of the text
Includes analyzing:
-the key features, such as clarity of the
main idea, organization of the argument,
quality of the supporting evidence,
effectiveness of the author’s style, tone and
voice.
Agreeing/Disagreeing
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This involves responding to the ideas or the
arguments of a text.
Responders show why they agree and/or
disagree with what the author says.
Interpreting/Reflecting
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This involves explaining key passages or
examining the underlying assumptions or
implications of the ideas.
The responder also reflects on his or her own
experiences, attitudes, and observations
relate to the text.
Agree/Disagree Thesis
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While I agree with Glassner that single
mothers are often used as scapegoats in our
society for a variety of social ills, I think he
underestimates the dangers and social
consequences of teenage pregnancy.
Interpret/Reflect Thesis
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Reading “Smack is Back” helped me
understand why I have always found the antidrug commercials on television so ridiculous
and un-helpful. I had many friends in high
school and now college who tried illegal
drugs without becoming addicted. On the
other hand, I’ve seen several responsible
adults become dependent on prescription
drugs, but I’ve never seen any anti-drug
commercials for them. ”
Homework for Tuesday 4/12
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Decide which chapter you will respond to for
your essay
Write a summary of that chapter
Write a 2-3 sentence response to the
chapter.
Class Summaries:
Chapter 3: Delbert, Ashleigh, Cherise, Kaylen
Children face many dangers. The dangers they face
are feared, but the ones we shouldn’t face are more
hyped than the ones we should be afraid of. The
immediate causes of death are accidents, homicide,
and suicide. The underlying problem with suicides is
guns. The hyped up fear is that kids are addicted to
gambling, but the real fear is depression, drugs,
alcohol, and relationship problems.
Summary Continued
Everybody thought pornography on the net was a
serious issue but according to studies it was least likely
that a pornographic picture would display. Parents fear
that children will get kidnapped by strangers but the
rates are very low. It’s less likely they will get
kidnapped from a stranger but most likely kidnapped by
a family member. Groups are making money off of
offering solutions to problems that we don’t fear, but
don’t offer solutions to the real problems.
Sample Summary
Chapter 3:
In Chapter 3 youth are at risk because society is
having an impact more on children than they
should have. Parents have a huge effect on the
children because of the upbringing and the way
they are raised. Youth in actuality aren’t at as
much risk as projected. For example, on p. 75 PP2 in
1850 in New York and San Francisco had…
Sample Summary
Chapter 3:
Parents are fearing the wrong things for the right
reasons. Parents fear their children committing
suicide however we are providing the weapons.
Statistics don’t provide the full story. If they did,
perhaps we would spend our money on more
realistic fears. Keeping our children from going
hungry.
Sample Summary
Chap 4:.
This chapter on Monster Moms is mainly focused on
“The Art of Misdirection” meaning there is far more than
what meets the eye of society and the government. People
in today’s society have overlooked major reasons and
factors that have contributed to teen pregnancy. The
media portrays this image that children from two-parent
homes are less likely to engage in offensive behavior than
children from one-parent families but it’s been shown that
there is no difference.
Sample Summary
Chapter 4:
This chapter focuses on unwed mothers,
teen mothers and motherhood in general.
This chapter questions who is really fit to be
a mother.
Sample Summary
Chapter 4:
Monster Moms are portrayed through the media
as destroying civilization. Mothers are seen as
babies having babies and not being able to take
care of their children and causing the U.S.
millions of tax dollars. The media further projects
single mothers as not being able to raise healthy
children on their own but men can. Child abuse
mainly focused on mothers. These reports don’t coincide
with the statistics behind the media’s allegations.
Group Work Instructions
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How many paragraphs of the response are devoted to
summarizing Tannen?
Rewrite the summary into a one-paragraph
introduction
What is the thesis of the response?
What type of response is this?
What are the main reasons given to support the
thesis, i.e. that explain why the thesis is true?
What kind(s) of evidence are used to support the
reasons? Give one example of evidence