How to Prepare for Summary Writing by Taking Notes

Taking Notes in Preparation for Summary Writing

By the end of the lesson the learner should be able to:
a)    Know how to identify the main points from a given text.
b)    Make notes and write a summary correctly

 

Introduction.

In most cases when we are either conducting our own private reading or listening to talk there is always a need or urge to either make notes on the topic we are dealing with or write a summary as it is one of important skill that help us to retain the information we are reading.

This justifies why a skill in note making and summary writing is an important aspect when reading our notes or text books especially  when we are preparing ourselves for exams or even presentations. In this lesson I endeavor to emphasis the importance of these two vital skills and most importantly explain how it should be done effortlessly.

 

Notes Making in Preparation for Summary Writing

What is a summary?

A summary is a brief version of a piece of writing or a talk. Therefore, to summarize means to restate the main points in a given text or from a talk.

When we are required to summarize, we leave out unnecessary details such as examples, explanations, and illustrations but we retain the main points. In order to be able to write a good summary one should always remember the following important points:

•  Read and understand the text/listen and understand the talk.

• Write down the main points (ignoring examples, illustrations)

• Use either numbers, letters, dashes, or bullets to mark the different point.

•  Join up the points so that you make a continues piece of writing/prose.

Most importantly, the learner should follow the instructions in the question,
 For Example
…in not more than….    Means you should not exceed the number of words stated in the question.
…in about…    means approximately the number of the words stated in the question. Which can either exceed by five words or reduce five words.

 
It is important to note that any grammatical mistake is heavily penalized in each sentence. It therefore important to write the summary as one long sentence which will only be penalized once hence there will be no deducting marks due to mistakes committed.

To sum up, the first step a learner should carry out when required to write a summary is to write the main points down, numbering them, that is making notes.
Afterwards, the learner should join the points identified in a continues piece of writing since summaries are supposed to be in prose form.