Writing Skill: Writing a Summary Paragraph

When you finish reading a text, it is a good idea to write a summary of it. In a summary, you will use your own words to explain the main ideas of the original passage. Generally speaking, when writing a summary you should

1.            include all the main ideas and fewer details.

2.             follow the same order as the original copy.

3.             write a topic sentence for the main idea of the original copy.

And you should not

1.              write longer summary than the original copy.

2.              add your ownidea.

3.              contain newinformation.

A general rule of thumb for writing a summary is to make sure that it answers the 5 Ws:

→ WHO is the story about?

→ WHERE does the story take place?

→ WHAT happens in the story?

→ WHY does it happen?

→ HOW does it happen?

Writing Task

You are going to write a summary paragraph for the Passage B “After Twenty Years” in Part

IV.  Please follow the steps to write your summary.

Step 1 Brainstorming for ideas

Read Passage B. Fill in the chart below according to the items provided.

Step 2 Planning

Follow the outline to make notes for your paragraph. Don't write complete sentences.

Outline

Topic sentence: O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" tells the story of two old friends who reconnect after two decades apart.

      Key ideas:

1.  Bob has returned to New York City to reconnect with his friendJimmy after having spent two decades outWest.

2. Bob tells the police officer about his friendship with Jimmy.

3.  The cop, telling Bob that he is wanted by the Chicago Police Department, arrests him, and hands him a note.

4. Jimmy was unable to arrest his old friend himself, so he sent a plain clothes cop to dot he job.

Step 3 Use the notes in the outline to write the first draft of your paragraph. Practice the writing skill you have learned above.

Step 4 Now edit your draft, and correct the mistakes.