SUMMARIZING & OUTLINING

SUMMARY

•Restates major findings, conclusions, and support data found in a document.

•Appear at the beginning of the report, before the body.

ABSTRACT

•A short version of a report or journal article.

•Appear with the report/article in the periodical or as an independent unit.

•Types of abstracts: Informational Abstract and Descriptive Abstract.

INFORMATIONAL ABSTRACT

Format: Includes the major points from original doc.

Purpose: Give readers enough information to grasp the main findings, conclusions and recommendations of original document.

Length: One to three paragraphs.

Example: “The article notes that functional resumes should include a career objective, academic experience and a list of the applicant’s skills.

DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT

Format: Gives only the main topics of the document.

Purpose: Help readers to decide whether they want to

read the original document.

Length: One paragraph only.

Example: “The article lists the main parts of the functional resume.”

Use Basic Summarizing Strategies

1.Read to find the main terms and concepts.

•What are the main divisions of document?

•What are the key statements?

•Which sentence expresses the overall purpose of the document?

1.Read to find the main terms and concepts (cont.)

•Which sentences tell the main ideas of each paragraph?

•What details support the main ideas?

•What are the key terms? Which words are repeated or emphasized?

Use Basic Summarizing Strategies

2.Decide how much detail to include.

• Consider audience’s needs

• Description of contents – name only main sections.

• Understand the underlying ideas – provide details.

CHOOSE AN ORGANIZATION

• Proportional reduction – refers to the idea

that each part in the summary should be proportionally equal to the corresponding part in the original.

•Main point followed by support – writer should write a clear topic sentence that repeats the central thesis of the document.

Use the Usual Form

• Length of 250 words to 1 page

• Verbs in the active voice and present tense

• A clear reference to the document

• No terms, abbreviations, or symbols unfamiliar to the reader

• Report the contents of document without bias

•Main points first

OUTLINING

Definition: a map of document’s main and

supporting points.

Purpose:

• Reading Aid

• Prewriting Device

Types of Outlines

1.Traditional Outline

• Each phrase is on a line of its own.

• Numbers and letters show the sequence of ideas.

• Indentations show which ideas are equal and which are subordinate to others.

EXAMPLE

I. Problems with Europallets

A. Regulatory Difficulties

1. Only railroads issue licenses

2. Only Europeans receive licenses

a. French company agrees to import pallets

b. Americans rent from the French

B. Domestic Difficulties

1. No used pallets are available

2. No automated production is available

2. Nucleus Outline

• Uses clusters to group similar ideas.

• Like mind-mapping

• Can be used to group related thoughts.

THE END