In summary writing, you are asked to condense a selected area of text by:reproducing facts and ideas required by the question,using your own words as far as possible,keeping within the word limit specified by the question,in a well-constructed continuous paragraph.

When marking the summary, the examiners will look at 2 categories for a total of 15 marks :Content (8 marks)- The key points you were asked to select from the passage  Style (7 marks)- The accuracy and quality of your writing- The extent to which you are able to use your own words

ContentHere's 3 simple steps to identifying the content points from the passage.

Step 1Read the question and pick out the key instruction words.

The sweet potato plant has many nutritional benefits. Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the uses and nutritional benefits of the different parts of the sweet potato plant as discussed in the passage. Use only information from paragraphs 4 to 6. Your summary should be in continuous writing, and should not be longer than 80 words ( not including the words in italics below) [15]

So in short, the question requires you to identify 3 key areas:

The different parts of the sweet potato plant.

The uses of these different parts.

The nutritional benefits of these different parts.

Step 2

Mark out clearly the area of text to be summarised from the passage.

Use only information from paragraphs 4 to 6.

Step 3

Pick out the content points.

Avoid the distractors and elaboration points.

Never lose sight of what the question wants!

Distractors:   phrases or sentences which are irrelevant to what the question wants.

Elaboration points:   phrases or sentences which do not form points in themselves, but give extra information as examples or explanations.

Remember that there will be more points available than the number you need to score full marks for content (8 marks).

Therefore, it is possible to score full marks for content!

Lets start obtaining the points from Paragraph 4.

The sweet potato is superior in nutritional value to most other root crops. Its vitamin content is comparable to most fruit and vegetables as well. It is a rich source of beta-carotene, thiamin, Vitamins C and E as well as anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help in the prevention of heart diseases and certain types of cancer. They can also increase the body’s ability to detoxify pollutants and counteract the effects of ageing. Furthermore, sweet potatoes contain insoluble and soluble dietary fibre. Soluble fibre helps to bring down blood cholesterol levels while insoluble fibres prevents constipation.

Keep in mind what are the3key areas you should focus on when gathering points :

The different parts of the sweet potato plant.

The uses of these different parts.

The nutritional benefits of these different parts.

Criteria PointsDifferent parts Root/FleshUses / benefits Benefits High vitamin and mineral content.

High in anti-oxidants to prevent heart diseases and cancers, keep the body healthy and youthful.Contains insoluble and soluble dietary fibre to prevent constipation and high blood cholesterol levels.

Presently, research is being carried out to produce more innovative food products using the sweet potato. In Japan, a dark-purple hued sweet potato variety known as ‘Ayamurasaki’ is used to make purple flour as well as natural food coloring. As the nutritional composition of the sweet potato is similar to certain fruits, it is possible to make jams, juices and can it in syrup.

Criteria PointsDifferent parts Root/FleshUses / Benefits Uses Purple colour from the flesh [its purple

flesh] used to make purple flour and natural food colouring.

Uses The sugary flesh can be used to make syrups, jams and juices.

Even the leaves and shoots of the sweet potato are useful. They are a rich source of polyphenols – powerful anti-oxidants that prevent cancer. In several South-east Asian countries, sweet potato shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Japanese scientists are currently experimenting with the use of the leaf or vine in the production of sweet potato green tea, bread or cakes and green sweet potato noodles while keep the anti-oxidative properties intact.

Criteria PointsDifferent parts Leaves and

shootsUses / Benefits Benefits Rich source of cancer-preventing anti-

oxidants. Uses Shoots can be cooked and eaten as

food in [many South-east Asian countries.]Possible to use the leaves and vines in everyday / common food products. / tea or staple foods.

1. The root has high vitamin and mineral content.2. High in anti-oxidants to prevent heart diseases and cancers (terminal diseases?)3. Keep the body detoxed and youthful.4. Contains insoluble and soluble dietary fibre5. Prevent constipation6. and lowers blood cholesterol levels7. Purple colour from the flesh [The purple flesh] is used to make purple flour 8. and natural food colouring.9. The sugary flesh can be used to make syrups, jams and juices. 10. The leaves and shoots are a rich source of cancer-preventing anti-oxidants. 11. Shoots can be cooked and eaten as food.12. Possible to use the leaves and vines in everyday / common food products. / tea or staple foods.

You have learned a lot about the assessment of content, and have developed some strategies to ensure you locate and identify as many content points as possible.Now, let's look at style. There are 7 marks allocated to the style in which your summary is written.

The examiners judge the style of your summary writing under 2 categories:

1.   Use of own words2.   Use of English

The next slide shows a modified set of rubrics in which style is graded.

Grade DescriptorPerfect Re-phrasing of language is very successful; excellent ability to

use your own words. No lifting from passage. Accurate and correct language.

Above average

Tries to re-phrase the passage and is generally successfully. Lifting of text is limited to one or two sentences. Language is mostly accurate with few errors.

Pass Tries to re-phrase the passage but not often successful. Lifts from text often, trying to inject own words into lifted sentences. Tries to substitute words but not always correct. Language is quite accurate but present more errors.

Below average

A lot of copying from the text is done but it is not a complete copy. Lifting is very common. Single words are substituted rather than phrases or group of words. Serious errors are frequent. May add in irrelevant information not required by the question.

Fail Copies totally from the text without any focus on the question. Lots of serious errors when attempting to write in own words; random addition of information that is not required by the question.

Golden rule: The more you manage to avoid the original wording (without losing the original meaning), the higher your mark for own words will be.

However, this does not mean you have to substitute all the words in the passage. You just need to use your own words as far as possible!

This can be classified under 3 sections:1.   Mechanical accuracy2.   Sentence structure3.   Organisation and linking

1. Mechanical Accuracy

The ability to write without making errors of grammar, spelling or punctuation.

2. Sentence structureThe ability to write in sentences and to vary their types by using:

Conjunctions, eg. and, but, since, whenPresent participles, ie. the part of the verb ending in -ingRelative pronouns, ie. who, whose, whom, which, that

3. Organisation and linkingThe ability to organise and link your content points by:Combining pointsTaking a point in a later stage of the text and linking it to one made earlierUsing linking devices- To indicate a change of direction, eg. however, although, nevertheless- To indicate a continuation of ideas, eg. in addition, also, furthermore

Refer to all the points we have surfaced earlier from the passage.

Remember that you should use your own words as far as possible, check your mechanical accuracy, and have varied sentence structure.

You may want to classify these points into the 3 key areas required by the question, so as to have better organisation and linking for your summary.

For now, do not worry about the word limit.

Learning Points Let's review the summary writing skills

we have learned together!

Summary Question Read the question properly. Pick out the key instruction words. Check the area of text to be summarised. Keep to the word limit laid down for the

summary. Use the opening words provided in the

question.

Content Locate and identify at least 12 content

points. Avoid the distractors and elaboration points.

Style Organise your content points according to

key areas required by the question. Use your words as far as possible. Use a variety of sentence structures. Use linking devices. Check that your summary does not have

grammar, spelling or punctuation errors. Adapted from http://summary-writing.tripod.com/index.htm for the new syllabus