Summary

A Step by Step Guidance

Step 1: You need to understand what is required of the question. Then, proceed to read the
passage.
Step 2: As you read, identify the points required by the question.
Step 3: After that, try and condense the points.
Step 4: Lastly, ensure that your summary has cohesion.

Step 1: Understand the question and passage.

a) Firstly, read the question carefully. Ask yourself what the question requires you to do.
In short, what are you supposed to summarise?
b) Then, read the passage carefully to get the general idea of it. What the passage is
about? What is the writer talking about?

Step 2: Identify the required points.

a) To identify the required points, it would be useful to turn the summary task into an
actual question.
b) For example: Summarise in not more than 60 words the uses of water.
c) Change it into a question: What are the uses of water?
d) As you read the passage, look for the answers to this question. Anything that answer
this question is a point. Anything that does not answer the question is not a point.
e) With the question in mind, read the text again slowly and carefully to locate your
required points.
f) Each paragraph in a passage usually contains one main point. In most paragraphs, the
main idea can usually be found at the beginning or end of the paragraph.
g) You can also look out for transitional linkers like besides that, moreover, on top of
that, furthermore etc as these are usually used to indicate new points.
Step 3: Condense the Text.
a) As the name ‘summary’ implies, a summary must be short and concise. Condensing
information means we must economise on the number of words without changing the
original meaning of the passage.
b) How can a passage be shortened? This can be done by:
1) Using a Generic Word
- Writers often provide examples to illustrate an idea.
- Sometimes, these examples can be replaced with just one word.
 - Example:
1 mug, plate, cup, bowl crockery
2 t-shirt, pants, jacket, coat Clothes
3 Winter, summer, spring, autumn Seasons
4 Spanner, hammer, wire-cutter, pliers Tools
5 Lawyer, conductor, musician Professions/
occupations
6 Dengue, hepatitis, cholera Diseases
7 Happiness, frustration, joy, passion Feelings/
emotions
8 French, Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Korean Languages/
Nationalities
9 Cupboards, chairs, tables, stools Furniture
10 Forks, spoons, knives Cutlery
11 Broccoli, spinach, cabbage, lettuce Vegetables
12 Roses, carnations, daisies, lilies Flowers

2) Leaving Out Unnecessary Details

- Besides using a generic word to replace examples given, you have to decide
which details should be left out and which must be included.
- You should only include information that is important or necessary. For
example:
The brave soldier, whose wife died in an automobile accident last year,
was awarded the Pingat Panglima Perkasa at the Istana Negara
yesterday. The award was for saving the life of a drowning child.
- To summarise the paragraph above, you have to decide the following:
i) What are the main points?
- The soldier was given an award for saving the life of a child

ii) What details should be left out?

- The information about his wife
- The venue of the award ceremony
- The name of the award

- As a result, your summary of the above should read:

The soldier was given an award for saving the life of a child.

3) Leaving out Repetitions or Redundant Sentences

- You will notice that writers sometimes like to repeat their ideas to stress
their points. In summary writing, you need to identify these repetitions and
leave them out.
 - These types of sentences may be marked by expressions such as in short, in
other words.
- Example
Through years of hardship and toil, Anand managed to build his textile
business to what it is today. Having succeeded in doing that, he was
encouraged to venture into the automotive industry. In other words, we
can say that Anand’s success in the textile industry encouraged him to
venture into the automobile business.
- In writing your summary, you need to leave out repetitions and redundant
phrases like:
a) Having succeeded in doing that
b) In other words… (which is actually a repetition of the first two
sentences)
- Your summary should read:
Anand’s move into automotive industry was a result of his success
in the textile business.

4) Using Your Own Words (Paraphrase)

- In a summary, you would be asked to use your own words as far as possible.
This does not mean you cannot use words from the passage. Sometimes, there
are words that you just cannot replace with other words.
- What you need to do is paraphrase or restructure your sentences.
- However, be mindful that you do not change the original meaning of the text.
- To help you paraphrase you sentences, jot down all your identified points on
a separate sheet of paper. Try and rewrite you points using your own sentence
structure and words without looking at the text if possible.
- You will notice that if you have your text in front of you, you will tend to
copy the points directly from the text. So, if you can do without it, put away
the text.

Step 4: Maintain Cohesion.

a) After identifying and paraphrasing all your points, you need to link all your points well.
b) Transitional linkers not only help you identify points, they also help you link ideas.
c) Connectors such as in addition, besides, furthermore, on top of that show similar ideas.
d) Linkers like although, however, on the other hand are used to show contrast.
e) Using connectors or linkers is very important to make your points flow smoothly.
Sample A
Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage Comments
Drive along any coastal area and you will find the What are the uses of the
beaches lined in rows and rows of coconut trees. These coconut tree?
trees not only add to the beauty of the place, they actually
serve a purpose. They are known as trees of a hundred
uses.
First of all, the fruit of the coconut tree can be used
for many things. The white, juicy flesh can be eaten or flesh can be eaten
scraped to obtain coconut milk. In many Asian homes, made into coconut milk for
the coconut milk is essential to make curries and local cooking
cakes. In addition to that, the clear coconut water is coconut water can be drunk
refreshing drink. It is believed to have healing and
cooling properties.
Besides the fruits, even the leaves can be used. Many
villagers use the coconut leaves to make the roofs of their leaves to make roofs
huts or houses. Furthermore, in traditional homes,
womenfolk collect the leaves, dry them and then dye the
leaves into different colours. These leaves are then woven woven into mats
into mats.
The trunk of the coconut tree is very strong and solid.
Because the trunk of the tree is usually straight, it can be trunk can be used to build
easily used to build houses or bridges, and once the houses and bridges
trunks are old and rotten, the villagers can easily replace
them with another one.

*Take note of the linkers in italics. They usually introduce a new point.
*As you read, underline your main points and jot them down on a piece of paper.

Question
Write a summary of the uses of the coconut tree.
Your summary must:
• Not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below
• Be in continuous writing (not in form)
• Be written in one paragraph
Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning.
Begin your summary as follows:
The coconut tree is a tree that has many uses…
Suggested answer:
The coconut tree is a tree that has many uses. The flesh of the coconut can be eaten of
scraped and squeezed for its milk, which is used for cooking. Coconut water can also be
drunk. Furthermore, the leaves can be woven into mats or used to make roofs. Additionally,
the tree trunk is suitable for constructing houses or bridges.
(60 words)