Guidelines for writing a SUMMARY

Guidelines for writing a SUMMARY

The purpose of a summary is to give the reader a clear, objective picture of the original lecture or text. Most importantly, the summary restates only the main points of a text or a lecture without giving examples or details, such as dates, numbers or statistics.

Skills practiced: note-taking, paraphrasing (using your own words and sentence structure), condensing

Before writing the summary:

1. For a text, read, mark, and annotate the original. (For a lecture, work with the notes you took.)

o highlight the topic sentence

o highlight key points/key words/phrases

o highlight the concluding sentence

o outline each paragraph in the margin

2. Take notes on the following:

o the source (author--first/last name, title, date of publication, volume

number, place of publication, publisher, URL, etc.)

o the main idea of the original (paraphrased)

o the major supporting points (in outline form)

o major supporting explanations (e.g. reasons/causes or effects)

Writing your summary--Steps: 1. Organize your notes into an outline which includes main ideas and

supporting points but no examples or details (dates, numbers,

statistics).

Write an introductory paragraph that begins with a frame, including an in-text citation of the source and the author as well as a reporting verb to introduce the main idea. The reporting verb is generally in present tense.

? ARTICLE: 2.

In his/her article (or lecture) “_________________________(title, first letter capitalized)” , ___________________ (author/lecturer's last name) (year) argues/ claims/ reports/ contends/ maintains/ states that

_____________________ (main idea/ argument; S + V + C).

Example: In his article "Michael Dell turns the PC world inside out," Andrew E. Serwer (1997) describes how Michael Dell founded Dell

Computers and claims that Dell’s low-cost, direct-sales strategy and high quality standards account for Dell’s enormous success.

? BOOK:

In his book The Pearl, John Steinbeck (1945) illustrates the fight

between good and evil in humankind.

? INTERVIEW:

In my interview with him/her (date), __________________(first name,

last name) stated that ....

Reporting Verbs:

ARGUMENT==>NEUTRAL==>COUNTERARGUMENT==>SUGGESTION==>CRITICISM

argue

claim

contend

maintain

insist

posit state report explain discuss illustrate observe refute the claim suggest criticize argue against recommend

Other examples of frames:

According to ___________________ (author's last name) (year),

_______________________. (main idea; S + V + C)

? ___________'s (author's last name) article on ______________

(topic) (year) discusses the __________ (main idea; Noun Phrase).

? ___________ (year), in his/her article, "________________" (title

of article), (author's last name) argues that ______________. (main

idea; S + V + C)

? According to "Title of the Article" (year), _____________________.

(main idea; S+V+C)

? _____________ (author's last name, year) has a major impact on

________.(topic/NP) ?

3. The main idea or argument needs to be included in this first

sentence. Then mention the major aspects/factors/reasons that are

discussed in the article/lecture.

a. For a one-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point

in a separate sentence. Give 1-2 explanations for each

supporting point, summarizing the information from the original. For a multi-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point

in a separate paragraph. Introduce it in the first sentence (topic

sentence). b.

4. Support your topic sentence with the necessary reasons or arguments

raised by the author/lecturer but omit all references to details, such as

dates or statistics.

5. Use discourse markers that reflect the organization and controlling idea

of the original, for example cause-effect, comparison-contrast,

classification, process, chronological order, persuasive argument, etc.

6. In a longer summary, remind your reader that you are paraphrasing by

using "reminder phrases," such as

o The author goes on to say that ...

o The article (author) further states that ...

o (Author's last name) also states/maintains/argues that ...

o (Author's last name) also believes that ...

o (Author's last name) concludes that

7. Restate the article’s/lecturer’s conclusion in one sentence.

After finishing the summary, check whether it meets the following three main requirements:

1. The summary should cover the original as a whole.

2. The material should be presented in a neutral fashion. (Also do not include anything that does not appear in the original. (Do not include your own comments or evaluation.)

3. The summary should be a condensed version of the material, presented in your own words.

For example:

Global Implications of Patent Law Variation

A patent is an exclusive right to use an invention for a certain period of time, which is given to an inventor as compensation for disclosure of an invention.

first-to-file principle awards a patent to the person or institution that applies for a patent first, while the first-to invent principle grants the patent to the person or institution that was first to invent –

despite obvious shortcomings. On the contrary, ownership may change depending on the country. It is not uncommon for an invention to have two patent owners –If a company is interested in using a patented invention, it may be unable to receive permission from both patent owners, which in turn may prevent manufacture of a particular product. Even if permission is received from both owners, pay royalties to both may be quite costly. In this case, if the invention is useful enough, a company may proceed and pass on the added cost to consumers.

Many foreign individuals and companies believe that they are at a serious disadvantage in the United States with regard to patent ownership because of the to treat all taking into account the reality of a global economy. This push may indeed result in more global economic cooperation.

Summary:

In his paper “Global Implications of Patent Law Variation,” Koji Suzuki (1991) states that lack of consistency in the world’s patent laws is a serious problem. In most of the world, patent ownership is given to the inventor that is first to file for a patent. However, the United States maintains a first-to-invent policy. In view of this, patent ownership can change depending on the country. Multiple patent ownership can result in economic problems or even worse international economic tensions. The fact that the United States does not recognize patent ownership in other countries, in violation of the Paris Convention on Industrial Properties, has prompted the World Intellectual Properties Organization (WIPO) to push the United States to review its existing patent law principles.