SUMMARY WRITING

Bolognese Sauce The Economist, 25 April 2009

NOTES

• Pre-Bologna vs. Bologna process (pgs. 1,2)• Reasons for success (3, 4) • Some criticism, too (5)• EU vs. US (6,7,8)

Suggested procedure

1. Reading the source text2. Giving headings to paragraphs3. Grouping pgs. (text segmentation)4. Making notes (clear structure: main ideas and

logical relations)5. Turning notes into full sentences

*Technicalities: layout (paragraphing) + spelling/grammar check

LOGICAL RELATIONS words and expressions that can help

• Illustrations (examples) • Listing• Clarifying• Cause-effect relationship• Contrast

CONNECTOR SYMBOLIllustrations,examples:For example, for instance, as an

example...,To illustrate the point,...

Listing: There are three reasons why...,

(First)Firstly,..,Secondly,Thirdly,....Further,

Furthermore, ..., Moreover, ...,Also, ...

CONNECTOR SYMBOL/ABBREVIAT.

Illustrations,examples:For example, for instance, as an

example...,To illustrate the point,...

Listing: There are three reasons why...,

(First)Firstly,..,Secondly,Thirdly,....Further,

Furthermore, ..., Moreover, ...,Also, ...

e.g.

1.2.3.

CONNECTOR SYMBOL/ABBREV.

clarifying: In other words, ..., namely,..

cause-effect:as, because, because of, consequently, therefore,due to, owing to, thus,since

contrast: however, on the contrary, on the

other hand, nevertheless, conversely, although, though, even though, yet

CONNECTOR SYMB./ABBREVIAT.

clarifying: In other words, ..., namely,..

cause-effect:as, because, because of, consequently, therefore,due to, owing to, thus,since

contrast: however, on the contrary, on the

other hand, nevertheless, conversely, although, though, even though, yet

i.e.

→

vs.

Requirements for a good summary

• Introduction• Concision• Clarity • Accuracy • Completeness• Coherence and cohesion• Objectivity• Rephrasing

Requirements for a good summary

• Introduction: (usually one sentence or one paragraph) covers the main topic + the source

e.g. The Economist of 16 June 2011 reports on the problem of ...... This is further related to …

• Concision (as brief as possible, danger: loss of clarity)• Clarity (clear words/sentences/overall structure; topic sentences,

paragraphing, connectors)• Objectivity (only the author’s ideas, no personal views)• Accuracy (true and precise information on essential ideas)• Completeness (all key ideas, not necessarily in the same order )• Coherence and cohesion(the text runs smoothly; sentences and paragraphs

are logically linked)• Rephrasing sentences (avoid copying, rewrite in your own words if possible)• Language: spelling and grammar

Summary writing – assessmenttot: 20 points, 0-2 each

1. Introduction?2. Concision?3. Clarity? 4. Accuracy? 5. Completeness?6. Coherence and cohesion?7. Objectivity?8. Rephrasing?9. Language: spelling and grammar?10.Overall impression?

Is this a coherent text? • The Economist (7Oct 2006) reports on battles for natural resources

that are being supplemented by the battles for talent. W.Churchill observed that “the empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.” Human resources managers point out in some surveys that “attracting and retaining” talent is their number one goal. The hunt for talent has gone global. Companies are moving better jobs offshore and governments have progressed from relaxing immigration laws to luring highly qualified people. Only talent does not guarantee good management. Components like experience, ethical codes and internal controls are also needed. In Enron, talent was promoted faster than other components.

Better if paragraphed??• The Economist (7Oct 2006) reports on battles for natural resources

that are being supplemented by the battles for talent. W.Churchill observed that “the empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.” Human resources managers point out in some surveys that “attracting and retaining” talent is their number one goal.

• The hunt for talent has gone global. Companies are moving better jobs offshore and governments have progressed from relaxing immigration laws to luring highly qualified people.

• Only talent does not guarantee good management. Components like experience, ethical codes and internal controls are also needed. In Enron, talent was promoted faster than other components.

Cohesion• The Economist (7Oct 2006) reports on battles for natural resources that are

being supplemented by the battles for talent. This is in line with the opinion of W.Churchill who said that “the empires of the future will be the empires of the mind.” Also, human resources managers point out in some surveys that “attracting and retaining” talent is their number one goal.

• Indeed, the hunt for talent has gone global. Companies are moving better jobs offshore and governments have progressed from relaxing immigration laws to luring highly qualified people.

• However, talent only does not guarantee good management. Components like experience, ethical codes and internal controls are also needed. This is proved by the case of Enron where talent was promoted faster than the other components.