WRITING ACTIVITIES

The two most important things to bear in mind in summary writing are:

1.       Following the rules

2.       Understanding the passage

When students master the rule of summary writing, it makes understanding of the passage easier. Reading is a complex act that needs also to be mastered in order to understand what is read. Reading should be with concentration and at the same time bad reading habit should be avoided.

BAD READING HABIT

1.       Reading with one’s finger or with biro

2.       Regression i. e. reading and going back

3.       Shaking of one’s head while reading

4.       Vocalization of the word – voicing out

RULES FOR GOOD SUMMARY WRITING

1.       In summary writing, there is no room for giving examples, illustration, analogy (comparism) and repetition. All these listed are meant to clarifying issues for someone to understand something. Whenever any of such words is used, the length of what is meant to be summarized would increase.

2.       There is no room for flowery language. That is use of figure of speech.

3.       Linking words are not also used. Words like furthermore, moreover, also, however, in addition, etc.

4.       Verbatim lifting of answer from the passage attracts a zero mark.

5.       Scoring points must be written in full sentences.

6.       Irrelevant or extraneous materials should be avoided – it attracts a reduction of one mark.

7.       Students should not give two answers to a question that demands one.

8.       Spelling and or any grammatical error attracts reduction of ½ a mark.

9.       Preamble is necessary but it is not compulsory. Preamble is that statement that refers to a given question. When preamble does not match with the scoring point, it could attract a zero mark or ½ of the allotted mark to that question.

10.     Students should not summarize more than the required number of stated sentence(s).