This document provides guidance on summary writing for an English class. It explains that being able to summarize passages, notes, or graphs is an important skill. Summaries can take different forms, such as mind maps, flow charts, or paragraphs. The document outlines the steps to write a summary, which include reading carefully, underlining main ideas, rewriting the main points in one's own words, and indicating the word count. When summarizing, one should not include opinions, unnecessary details, or examples, and should preserve the original tone.

1. SUMMARY WRITING
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
PHASE: FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PHASE
LEVEL: HOME LANGUAGE
GRADE: 11
TERM: 3
TOPIC: READING AND VIEWING
SUB-TOPIC: SUMMARY WRITING
1M.N.SPIES

2. Summary writing
• Being able to competently summarise a
passage in English, notes in History/Life
science or graphs in Business studies is a
necessary life skill.
• Summaries can take different forms:
• Mind maps
• Flow charts
• Point-form
• Paragraphs
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3. Steps to write a summary:
• Read the passage carefully to grasp the meaning of the
text.
• Underline the topic sentences and other main ideas.
• The topic sentence often appears at the beginning of the
paragraph.
• Main ideas should be factual.
• Do not include examples or explanations.
• Rewrite the main points in one paragraph (rough draft).
Use your own words as far as possible.
• Rewrite the paragraph – make sure there are no language
errors and that the correct number of words have been
used.
• Write the number of words you have used at the end of
your summary.
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4. When writing a summary:
• Do not give your own opinion.
• Give a condensed from of the
original.
• It is essential to preserve the tone
and register of the original while
trying to use your own words as far
as possible.
4M.N.SPIES

5. Remember to eliminate the following:
• Repetition and unnecessary details.
• Figures of speech.
• Quotations.
• Adjectives and adverbs.
• Examples and illustrations.
• Colloquialisms and slang.
• Direct speech by using reported speech.
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6. Answer basic questions:
• WHO?
• WHAT?
• WHEN?
• WHERE?
• WHY?
• HOW?
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7. M.N.SPIES 7

8. VOCABULARY AID:
The text.....
• ...explains....
• ...mentions that...
• ...deals with...
• ...describes...
• ...provides...
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9. VOCABULARY AID:
The author...
• ...tells us about...
• ...assumes...
• ...provides information about...
In the text...
• ...we can read...
• ...it says that...
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