Writing a Summary (Grade 10 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes

Writing a Summary

What is a summary?

A summary is a condensed version of a longer text that presents only the essential information relating to the specific topic mentioned in the question. Think of it as capturing the heart of a passage without all the extra details.

When writing an effective summary, you need to demonstrate several important skills. Your summary must focus on the question's requirements and present information in a clear, organised manner.

Key requirements for a good summary

A successful summary demonstrates the following characteristics:

• Seven clear, relevant points: Your summary must contain exactly seven distinct ideas that directly respond to the question's focus. Each point should be meaningful and connected to the topic.

• Original wording: You should express the ideas using your own language as much as possible. This shows you understand the content rather than simply copying it.

• Accurate language use: Your writing must be free from grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and punctuation problems. These errors can cost you marks.

• Objectivity: A summary presents facts and ideas from the text without adding your personal opinions, interpretations, or explanations. Stay neutral and factual.

• Appropriate length: You must stay within the specified word limit given in the instructions. Typically, this ranges from 80 to 90 words, but always check the question carefully.

Steps to writing a summary in the exam

Step 1: Read the question carefully

Before you even look at the passage, you must fully understand what the question is asking you to do. This step is crucial because it guides everything that follows.

Identify the focus: Work out exactly what topic or aspect you need to summarise. For example, a question might ask: "Summarise the writer's suggestions for reducing pollution." Here, your focus is specifically on suggestions for reducing pollution, not general information about pollution.

Underline keywords: Mark the important words in the question that tell you what to look for when reading. These keywords act as a filter, helping you identify relevant information in the passage.

Follow all instructions: The question will specify how to present your answer. Pay close attention to format requirements. If the instruction states "Write a paragraph summarising...", you must write in continuous sentences forming a paragraph. Bullet points would not be acceptable in this case.

Step 2: Read the passage

Reading the passage effectively requires a two-stage approach that helps you identify the most important information.

First reading: Read through the entire text once to gain an overall understanding of the content, main theme, and general message. Don't mark anything yet—just familiarise yourself with the material.

Second reading: Now read more carefully and actively. As you read, highlight or underline key ideas that connect directly to the question's focus. Remember, you're looking for ideas that answer the specific question, not just any interesting information.

What to include and exclude: Focus only on main points. Leave out examples, background details, statistics, anecdotes, and the writer's opinions unless the question specifically asks for opinions. These supporting details make the original text interesting, but they don't belong in a summary.

Strategy for active reading: After reading each paragraph, pause and ask yourself: "Does this section help answer the question?" If the answer is yes, underline or make a note of the key idea. If no, move on. This technique ensures you stay focused on relevant content.

Step 3: Plan your summary

Planning prevents you from including too many points or missing important ones. This step requires careful selection and organisation.

Review your highlights: Look at all the key ideas you marked during your second reading. You'll likely have more than seven points at this stage.

Select the seven most important points: From your highlighted ideas, choose the seven that most directly and clearly answer the question. These should be the most significant and relevant ideas.

Number your points: Write numbers 1 to 7 next to your chosen ideas. This helps you confirm that you have exactly seven distinct points and that none overlap or repeat the same information.

Remove repetition: Sometimes writers express the same idea in different ways throughout a text. Make sure each of your seven points is unique and adds new information.

Step 4: Write and edit your draft

Now you're ready to create your first version. This is where you transform the highlighted ideas into your own words.

Use your own words: Rewrite each point using different vocabulary and sentence structures from the original. This demonstrates comprehension and avoids plagiarism. While some key terms may need to stay the same, rephrase as much as possible.

Avoid copying: Don't lift long phrases directly from the passage. If you find yourself using more than two or three consecutive words from the text, you're copying rather than summarising.

Combine ideas: If you have similar points, try to merge them into a single sentence. This keeps your summary concise and may help you stay within the word limit.

Check your writing: Read through your draft to ensure it flows well, makes sense, and uses correct grammar. Check that all seven points are clearly expressed.

Useful phrases for summarising

Using appropriate introductory phrases makes your summary sound more academic and helps connect your points smoothly:

• "The writer explains that..."
• "According to the text..."
• "The passage suggests that..."
• "It is stated that..."
• "In summary, the author emphasises..."

Step 5: Write the final version

Your final version should be neat, accurate, and properly formatted. This is what the examiner will mark.

Write neatly: Present your seven key points in complete, well-constructed sentences. If the question requires paragraph form, ensure your sentences flow together logically.

Stay within the word limit: Count your words carefully. Typically, summaries require 80 to 90 words, but always check the specific instruction. Going over or significantly under the limit may result in penalties.

Include your word count: Write the exact number of words in brackets at the end of your summary, like this: (87 words). This shows the examiner you've followed the instruction.

Cross out your draft: Draw a clear line through any planning notes or draft versions. Only your final version should be visible for marking. This prevents confusion about which version to assess.

Final check before submitting

Before you move on to the next question, verify that your summary meets all requirements:

• ✓ Contains exactly seven points
• ✓ All points are relevant to the question
• ✓ Written in your own words
• ✓ Clear, correct, and concise
• ✓ Within the word limit
• ✓ Word count included
• ✓ Draft crossed out

Remember!