English Language Writing Skills

By Danso Kwasi Nti Samuel (DAS). Study the complete course source, examine every model and practise alongside Professor Jarvis.

Course printed page 487 PDF page 493 of 505

For tables, matching columns, IPA and original formatting, open the course PDF above.

Eliminate Unnecessary Information: In a summary, it is important to leave out

unnecessary details such as:

   ü Examples or illustrations.

   ü Descriptions that don’t change the meaning.

   ü Minor or background information that isn’t essential.

Write the Summary in Your Own Words: Students should write their summary using

paraphrasing. This means they should not copy sentences from the text directly.

Encourage them to use their own language while keeping the meaning of the text.

Keep It Concise: Summaries are meant to be short. A good guideline for students is to aim

for about one-third or even one-quarter of the original text’s length. Every sentence in

the summary should be relevant to the main point.

Check for Clarity: After writing the summary, students should:

   ü Re-read it to ensure it makes sense.

   ü Check if they included all the key points.

   ü Make sure the summary flows logically and avoids repetition.

Tips for Effective Summary Writing

Focus on the Main Idea: Teach students to focus on the most important point the author

is making and to avoid adding their own opinions.

Use Simple and Clear Language: Encourage students to use simple sentences and

vocabulary to ensure that their summary is easy to understand.

Avoid Personal Opinions: A summary should not include the student’s feelings or

thoughts about the text. It should be a neutral retelling of the main ideas.