SUMMARY WRITING BY DINZEI MAUREEN MARRIS

 

SUMMARY WRITING   

TOPIC: Practical Approach to Writing a Good Summary (Introduction).

Definition: Summary is an art of extracting the main points from a given passage. Before you can write a good summary, you must read the passage carefully and follow the rules and guidelines of summary writing.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE MAIN POINTS IN THE PASSAGE.

The passage must be read with absolute concentration. Every summary passage has a theme or central thought in the first paragraph. That is why closer attention must be paid to the words of the passage.

HOW TO ANSWER SUMMARY QUESTIONS.

1. Ensure that your answer is written in grammatically complete sentence.

2. Avoid mindless lifting of the points from the passage.

3. Avoid grammatical error in your sentence.

4. Ensure that your sentence contains a point.

5. Make sure that your sentence is concise and short.

6. Avoid list of items in your summary.

7. Make use of a single word that captures the point in your sentence.

8. Itemize your sentence do not lump it together.

ACTIVITY

Mention five rules of a good summary.

ASSIGNMENT

Read the passage below The Art of Public Speaking and write the main idea of each paragraph in a simple sentence.

                                                THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

            Renowned public speakers in previous times and even in our time always have a way of gaining the attention of their audience with their words. Speakers like Martin Luther King Jnr. and Malcom X mastered the art of drawing the focus and attention of the crowd with their speeches. One key to powerful speeches is being able to gain control of a crowd by captivating the interest of that audience and successfully convincing them into sharing your beliefs.

            Every important figure in the society should be able to master the art of public speaking in order to manage the pressure from the public and mass media. For one to understand and master the art of speaking, that individual must know all it entails. The following guidelines should enlighten on how one could become a more efficient speaker.

            Choosing the right topic is the first step. This step is very important in the process of making a speech. The title or main focus of the speech must befit and be suitable for the occasion. The whole speech should correlate with the reason for the event. One must really settle down and think of a suitable topic for an occasion; the only reversal for this is in a situation where one is already given a topic to speak on.

            The second step is developing the topic. Once a suitable topic is picked, the next step is to develop that topic. At this point the speaker has to gather information from all available sources that would be needed for the content. The speaker should also be careful to choose his words according to the class and calibre of the audience. For instance, if you are to speak to intellectuals, your language should be formal.

            The third step is rehearsing the speech. After the individual is through with composing the speech, the next phase is when the speaker rehearses the speech. A rehearsal in preparation for the main performance has to be conducted. This is done in order for the speaker to review his speech, correct errors and picture how actually rendering the speech would look like.

            The final step is rendering the speech. This is the final and most important phase. The preparation towards actually giving the speech is inevitable. Everything has to be in place for the big occasion. As a speaker, you should not joke about your appearance. Your dressing goes a long way to give an impression to the audience. You must dress appropriately for the occasion. You are meant to wait for your turn and be comported until it is time to step up to the stage.   

            When you are called up, you walk up to the stage boldly. Acknowledge any important personalities respectively when you begin. You are meant to notice the atmosphere and countenance of your audience before you begin. For instance, if the atmosphere is dull, try to lighten it up and make it vibrant. When you are talking, speak audibly and talk with authority. Make sure your words do not sound ordinary and banal; in other words, speak convincingly and make your listeners read deep meaning in your words. Conclude the speech and step down from the stage.