SUMMARY A summary means condensing or shortening a passage by picking out the main points and then rewriting them

in concise and fluent English. It is usually written in a paragraph. To write a good summary, a student must: Understand the passage Pick out the main points in the passage Express these points in good and fluent English Guidelines for Summary Writing:
1.

Read the question and the passage carefully and understand it. Make sure you understand what is required. Underline the important points. Leave out unnecessary details, repeated information and examples. Use the important points to write a draft of your summary. If possible in your own words. The first ten words of the summary are given. Include this in your summary.

2.

3.

4. Use short, simple sentences with linking words. 5. Use suitable words to replace phrases or details. 6. Read your draft and revise it so that it reads clearly.
7.

Count the number of words. Make sure you do not have more than the number of words stated. The number of words includes the 10 words given. Revise your summary if you have exceeded the word count.

8. Read through the summary and check for spelling and grammatical errors. 9. Write in one paragraph.

PRACTICE 1 Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. You have often heard that sugary snacks cause tooth decay. What actually causes holes to develop in your teeth? Is it the sugar in the food? Actually, what causes tooth decay is not the sugar in the food itself. What happens is, when sugary food is eaten and the teeth are not cleaned, a colourless film called plaque forms on the teeth. Bacteria collect on the plaque. These bacteria feed on the sugar and produce an acid. It is the acid produced by the bacteria that causes holes to form in the tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the outer covering of the tooth. It is very hard but it can still wear out. This happens in much the same way as rust holes form in iron. Therefore, if you want to avoid tooth decay, you should cut down on sweet food. After you have eaten sweet food, rinse your mouth immediately with water. It is also better to eat sugary food at meal times with other food such as diary food or green leafy vegetables. Write a summary on What causes tooth decay. Your summary must: Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below Be in continuous writing Be written in one paragraph

Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Tooth decay occurs when teeth are not cleaned after eating..

PRACTICE 2 Many people complain that they do not have time to do all the things they want to do. Actually, what it really boils down to is they do not know how to manage their time well. Time management is a skill that makes a person more efficient. How can we manage our time well? Well, in the first place, we should plan. Plan your work well in advance perhaps a week or two. Your plans must be realistic and practical. Do not be over ambitious and plan too many things. When you plan, make sure you set aside some time to deal with the unexpected. Set out your priorities. Start with the more important tasks for the day and leave the less important ones. It is better to do the most important tasks when you feel you are at your best and leave the less important ones when you are tired. Make sure you give enough time for each task and make sure you do one task at a time. Juggling too many tasks together at the same time will make you lose your concentration. Time management has to be cultivated. It may take time to get organized and plan our work but it is worth the effort. With proper time management, one will gain self confidence and feel less stressed. Write a summary about how one can manage time. Your summary must: Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below Be in continuous writing Be written in one paragraph

Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Time management is a skill that increases a persons efficiency

PRACTICE 3 KUALA LUMPUR: Drink more water and stay indoors during the hot spell, especially during Mondays equinox. This is the advice of the Disease Control Department director, Dr. Ramlee Rahmat. Firstly, people should avoid hot areas. If they feel hot, they should avoid hot areas. If they feel hot, they should consume more fluids. If there is a need, they should take a bath to cool down. If possible, stay indoors during the hot spell. Good ventilation is also important to keep the body cool, he said yesterday. The spring equinox on Monday, when the sun is directly over the Equator, might result in excessive heat causing vision blackout, nausea or heatstroke, but Dr. Ramlee said only those exposed to heat continuously for a long time would experience such symptoms. He said anyone showing such symptoms should be given ample ventilation and be admitted to hospital to prevent complications, such as oxygen deprivation which might lead to damaged organs. Meteorological Services Department Director General, Chow Kok Kee was quoted as saying that Malaysia would not experience any significant temperature during equinox as the country was already located near the Equator. The spring Equinox falls on March 21 and the autumnal equinox on September 23 while the dates vary during the leap years. Adapted: The Star, 20 March 2005

Write a summary on the effects of the equinox and how to take precautionary measures to avoid the effects. Your summary must: Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below Be in continuous writing

Be written in one paragraph

Use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: The Equinox on Monday might result in excessive heating causing PRACTICE 4 Recycling is one of the best ways of reducing waste. It turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable products. Recycling saves resources as the need to destroy habitats and ecosystems to extract raw materials is reduced. Thus, purchasing goods made from recycled materials saves resources for future generations. Using recycled contents saves energy and reduces both air and water pollution as recycling prevents emissions of greenhouse gases and water pollutants. To make recycling economically feasible, we must buy recycled products. When we do so, we make manufacturers collect, manufacturers collect, manufacture and market recycled products. It will create an economic incentive for recyclable materials. Write a summary about the benefits of recycling and how to make recycling a success. Your summary must: Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below. Be in continuous writing (not note form) Be written in ONE paragraph.

Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Recycling reduces waste and has a host of other benefits

PRACTICE 5 Regular exercise is extremely important in maintaining good health. In general, it is recommended that we exercise two or three times weekly, at least half an hour for each session. Exercise uses up a lot of oxygen to produce energy, which in turn generates high amounts of damaging particles known as free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an uneven electrical charge. As they are unstable, they try to balance themselves out by stealing electrons from neighbouring cells, creating new free radicals. This results in a chain that can cause cell damage. Certain nutrients, known as anti free radicals nutrients or anti oxidants, are able to neutralize these free radicals and store cells health. Examples of anti free radical nutrients include Vitamin C and E, as well as beta carotene. The benefits of exercise are diminished by the damage caused by free radicals, especially if we are deficient in anti free radical nutrients. Therefore, getting an adequate supply of antioxidants is the foremost step for active individuals to fully benefit from physical activities without the side effects of free radicals. Apart from the antioxidant supplements, eating a diet rich in antioxidants such as fruit, vegetables and beans enables the body to get rid of harmful oxidants. Write a summary on how free radicals are formed and their effects on the body. Your summary must: Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below. Be in continuous writing (not note form) Be written in ONE paragraph.

Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning.

Begin your summary as follows: When exercising, the energy body uses up oxygen to produce