Summary Writing

Hey guys!

This is my entry on one of our main topics in this semester, namely summary writing. This may do not sound that complicated, and with the right techniques, indeed it is quickly done. However, it requires a lot of practice to make a flawless summary. A couple of weeks ago, we were supposed to prepare a summary under exam conditions for then getting feedback from our English teacher. Mine was better than I had expected, but it had left space for improvement, that is for sure. I’ve provided my summary made in class with a correction based on the feedback I got. First though, I’ll give you a quick instruction of how I learned to create a summary.

 

1)      Don’t think too much and REALLY don’t try to understand everything!! (It took me a long time to actually get it ;-)

2)     Read the text and pay attention to the key aspects. Should the text be about complex topics, keep calm and try to infer from the language and how it changes throughout the text what to pay attention to. For example, at the beginning of the text there was positive language used for a new introduced theory. Throughout one paragraph, the language changes and there are words like “however”, “but”, “error”, “problem” etc. Later, you can find out more about it. For now, to see the development of the text is your framework.

3)     Read the text one more time and create a shopping list (subheadings with bullet points) and then a mind map. This helps you to connect your ideas and to deviate your text from the original. Unless you do a mind map, you tend to stick to the structure of the original text, which is not exactly the idea of a summary.

4)     Plan your paragraphs and add information when necessary.

As promised, here is my first attempt of making a summary under exam conditions. Here is the link for the original text.

Before

The article Great profits during the Great War? deals with innovations made during World War One and asks the question if this was done out of pure patriotism.

During wartime, Britain put much effort in improving the infrastructure of weaponry. Realizing that other means than private industries were needed in order to win the war, Britain established the Department of Scientific Industrial Research, also DSIR.

Numerous companies, however, refused to serve the state. The only company willing to contribute to the state’s warfare was the Marconi Company. The obviously patriotic company facilitated wireless communication for Britain during the war and made it possible to track German navy and airships.

It was evident that the Germans had an advantage over Britain due to interception. The British reaction was the invention of the Fullerphone , a device that hindered the Germans from   further intercepting.

Although the texts says that both Fuller’s invention and the support of the Marconi Company were a great support for the British to win the war, the Marconi Company was more richly awarded than Fuller. Both brought their interests into conflict with the British government, namely claiming to not being fairly compensated for their significant work during the war. Fuller thereupon reached the rank of major general and the Marconi Company was paid enough to become a telecommunications giant.

The text ends on an ambiguous note; how should inventors like these be awarded? Were they looking for recompense or were they benefitting by other means? 

Analysis:

• too many words
• weakly linked paragraphs
• sticking to shopping list- scheme
• some misunderstanding of the original article

After

The article Great profits during the Great War? by Elizabeth Bruton and Graeme Gooday in The Guardian of 28 October 2013, questions whether scientists and engineers provided the British government with their victory-leading invention for pure patriotism or profit.  

In 1915, the UK government established the Department of Scientific Industrial Research (DSIR), encouraging scientists and private firms to form industrial research associations. However, none was willing to cooperate with the state, except the seemingly patriotic Marconi Company. The Marconi Company’s contribution to British warfare resulted as highly valuable as the company facilitated wireless communication for the country. Most beneficially though was the tracking of German navy and airships. Another device the British government benefitted from was the Fullerphone, a device that hindered the Germans from intercepting.

At a Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors, the Marconi Company and particularly the Fullerphone were deprived from rich awards. Furthermore, The Marconi Company had not been compensated several years. A post-war dispute with the British government ensued with Marconi’s lawyers accusing the state of exploiting its intellectual property. The amount of the final compensation has remained unknown.

The article concludes with the aforesaid question and an open end.

Analysis:

• concise summary 
• well linked paragraphs
• using a mind map -> less paragraphs, different structure than the original text

As you can see, I’ve already analysed both of them but don’t hold back to leave a comment if you find more. I would very much appreciate it!

Have a nice evening J