identtifying content points by haroon

Paper 2: Reading TIME:1 hour 45 minutes, 50 marks

Section 1: Reading for Ideas (25 marks)

• Candidates scan a factual communication (or communications) of approximately 700 words – e.g.

report(s), article(s), advertisement(s), email(s), letter(s).

• They identify and note down required information – e.g. similarities and differences, or causes and

effects, or advantages and disadvantages, or problems and solutions, or actions and consequences.

Only one example content point will be given as guidance to candidates.

• 15 marks are allocated for content points.

• Candidates use these notes to write a summary of 160 words. 5 marks are allocated for language.

Introduction

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:

Content and Style Content

- The key points you were asked to select from the passage.

Style

The accuracy and quality of your writing.

- The extent to which you are able to use your own words

FORMAT In this interactive lesson, you shall learn how to

improve your summary skills. A sample passage will be provided, together with a summary question. We shall look at both categories (content and style) separately.

Ready to begin? Let's start

O’LEVEL ENGLISH

Passage

GCE 'O' Level November 1996 Paper 2

Read the passage, and we shall attempt to answer the summary question together.

Now, here is the summary question set on the above passage:

The archaeologist Fiorelli undertook the task of uncovering the ruins of Pompeii.

Using your own words as far as possible, write a summary of the problems he faced when he began his work, what methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately and how he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries.

USE ONLY THE MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPH 4 TO PARAGRAPH 10.

Your summary, which must be in continuous writing (not note form), must not be longer than 150 words, not counting the words given to help you begin.Begin your summary as follows:

Over the centuries, people had eventually forgotten about Pompeii

THREE SIMPLE STEPS FOR INDENTIFYING CONTENT POINTS FROM THE PASSAGE

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 1 Read the question and pick out the key instruction

words. The archaeologist Fiorelli undertook the task of uncovering the ruins of Pompeii.

Using your own words as far as possible, write a summary of the problems he faced when he began his work, what methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately and how he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries.

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

1. The problems Fiorelli faced when he began his work.2. The methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately.3. How he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries.

STEP 2 Mark out clearly the area of text to be summarised

from the passage

USE ONLY THE MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPH 4

TO PARAGRAPH 10.

Step 3

Pick out the content points. Avoid the distractors and elaboration points. Never lose sight of what the question wants!

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

Elaboration points: phases 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 (15 marks). Therefore, it is possible to score full marks for content!

Let's identify the content points together - one paragraph at a time!

PARAGRAPH 4

Through time, Pompeii almost completely slipped from the world's memory. Even among scholars, the precise location of Pompeii remained unknown, primarily because a thick flow of molten rock had poured over the area from eruptions in later years. This had entirely altered the shape of the coast. Also, when the digging to uncover the ruins began in the eighteenth century, the debris from these excavations had been left in scattered heaps around the site, further obscuring it. Rainwater, too, collected and had hastened its decay. These early excavators had acted purely for the sake of plunder; they made no genuine effort to investigate the past. This did not come about until the appointment in 1860 of the archaeologist Fiorelli as director of the excavations.

CONTENT POINTS

Through time, Pompeii almost completely slipped from the world's memory. Even among scholars, the precise location of Pompeii remained unknown, primarily because a thick flow of molten rock had poured over the area from eruptions in later years. This had entirely altered the shape of the coast. Also, when the digging to uncover the ruins began in the eighteenth century, the debris from these excavations had been left in scattered heaps around the site, further obscuring it. Rainwater, too, collected and had hastened its decay. These early excavators had acted purely for the sake of plunder; they made no genuine effort to investigate the past. This did not come about until the appointment in 1860 of the archaeologist Fiorelli as director of the excavations.

Here's the points for quick reference:

Paragraph 4

Read the paragraph and pick out the content points.

Keep in mind that the question requires you to identify 3 key areas:

1. The problems Fiorelli faced when he began his work.

2. The methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately.

3. How he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries.

ACTIVITY Write down the content points from this

paragraph

Done? Let's move on to the next paragraph!

Paragraph 5


Once again, keep in mind that the question requires you to identify 3 key areas:




Activity: Write down the content points from this paragraph

Paragraph 6







Paragraph 7







Paragraph 8 Read the paragraph and pick out the content points.






Do you think there's any content point in this paragraph? Hmm... Is it a trick question? Shall we move on to the next paragraph?







It seems tough to find a content point in this paragraph! Could you find one? If you're done with this paragraph, let's move on to the finalparagraph

15 CONTENT POINTS

Yes, we've finally reached the last paragraph! Do you have at least 15 content points in your list?

If you don't have at least 15 points, you need to go backto the paragraphs to identify more content points!

If you have at least 15 points, good job! Now, let's review the content points together!

http://summary-writing.tripod.com/content04.htm

Content Here's the list of content points that I have compiled. The

points are listed according to the paragraphs that they are located in. Please check your list with mine.

Here's the points for quick reference:

1. The location of Pompeii remained unknown.2. Molten rock had poured over the area from later eruptions.3. This had altered the shape of the coast.4. Debris from excavations had obscured the site.5. Rainwater had hastened the decay of the site.

Do these points answer any key area required by the question? Yes, these are the problems he faced when he began his work.

Content

Paragraph 5 Here's the points for quick reference: 6. Fiorelli's approach was disciplined/orderly. 7. He removed all the debris. 8. He installed a drainage system. 9. He made a systematic study of the ruins. 10. He traced the perimeter walls. 11. He mapped out the site/divided it into districts. 12. He identified/numbered the buildings

Do these points answer any key area required by the question? Yes, these are methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately.

Paragraph 6 Here's the points for quick reference:

13. He gave each object a precise description.14. He recorded its position.15. He left discoveries in their positions.

Do these points answer any key area required by the question? Yes, these are methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately.


16. He recorded his progress in journals.

Does this point answer any key area required by the question? Yes, this is one of the methods he employed to restore the ancient city accurately.

Paragraph 8 There is no content point in the paragraph below -

Pretty obvious, right?

Paragraph 9 Here's the point for quick reference:

17. He realised that human remains could be found.

Does this point answer any key area required by the question? Yes, this is how he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries.


18. He noticed there was a cavity.19. He ordered liquid plaster to be poured into it.20. He allowed it to solidify.21. He had the surrounding ash removed.22. He revealed figures/victims.

Does this point answer any key area required by the question? Yes, this is how he used the volcanic ash to produce his most dramatic discoveries

DONE Alright, we have successfully managed to locate and

identify the content points from the paragraphs. There are 22 in total, but you only need to have 15 content points in your summary!

Let's move on to the next part of this exercise - how to improve the style of your summary!

Style

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.

STYLE Now, let's look at style. There are 10 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

STYLE Use of Own Words

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!

STYLE Use of English

This can be classified under 3 sections: 1. Mechanical accuracy

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

2. Sentence structure- The ability to write in sentences and to vary their types by using:

Conjunctions, eg. and, but, since, when Present participles, ie. the part of the verb ending in -ing Relative pronouns, ie. who, whose, whom, which, that

3. Organisation and linking

- The ability to organise and link your content points by: Combining points Taking a point in a later stage of the text and linking it to one made earlier Using linking devices

- To indicate a change of direction, eg. however, although, nevertheless- To indicate a continuation of ideas, eg. in addition, also, furthermore

STYLE Alright, now that you have a better understanding of

style, let's practise!

Style

Here's the list of content points that I have compiled earlier 1. The location of Pompeii remained unknown.

2. Molten rock had poured over the area from later eruptions.3. This had altered the shape of the coast.4. Debris from excavations had obscured the site.5. Rainwater had hastened the decay of the site.6. Fiorelli's approach was disciplined/orderly.7. He removed all the debris.8. He installed a drainage system.9. He made a systematic study of the ruins.10. He traced the perimeter walls.11. He mapped out the site/divided it into districts.12. He identified/numbered the buildings.13. He gave each object a precise description.14. He recorded its position.15. He left discoveries in their positions.16. He recorded his progress in journals.17. He realised that human remains could be found.18. He noticed there was a cavity.19. He ordered liquid plaster to be poured into it.20. He allowed it to solidify.21. He had the surrounding ash removed.22. He revealed figures/victims.

Activity: Apply style to these content points.

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.

When you're done, we shall take a look at 2 sample summaries of the same passage done by 2 candidates!

SAMPLE SUMMARIES

SAMPLE SUMMARIES 11

As both candidates have more than 15 content points in their summaries, they will both score full marks (15 marks) for content.

To assess which candidate has done better in summary writing, we need to compare the stylein which their summaries are written.

Candidate A has done little to use his own words, but Candidate B has made a sustained and successful attempt to use his own words.

Both candidates have made no errors under mechanical accuracy.

Candidate B used much more present participles and conjunctions than Candidate A, hence showing more complexity in his sentence structure.

Candidate B maintains a good 'flow' to his writing by maintaining an orderly sequence of ideas and using linking devices, but Candidate A shows no clear attempts at organisation and linking.

Therefore, it is clear that Candidate B will score well in style assessment - for the use of own words and for the use of English. Overall, Candidate B will score much higher than Candidate A in summary writing.

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 15 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.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed this lesson on

summary writing!

Keep practising, and remember to use the skills you have learnt here today to write better summaries!

identtifying content points by haroon

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