Complete the following exercises about writing a summary in English. Read each instruction carefully, use your notebook when extra space is needed, and remember to apply the rules studied in the explanation (third person, own words, neutral tone, logical connectors).
- Which of the following is the BEST definition of a summary?
- A) A copy of the original text with a different title
- B) A shorter version of a text that keeps only the main ideas, written in your own words
- C) A list of personal opinions about the text
- D) A translation of the text from English into Italian
- In a summary you should add your personal opinions and comments to make it more interesting.
- Vero / Falso
- A good rule of thumb is that a summary should be about one third or one quarter of the original text.
- Vero / Falso
- Before writing a summary, how many times should you read the original text, at minimum?
- A) Once, very quickly
- B) Twice: a global reading and an analytical reading
- C) Four times, learning it by heart
- D) It is not necessary to read it, you can skim the titles
- Which person should normally be used when writing a summary?
- A) First person singular (I)
- B) First person plural (we)
- C) Third person (he, she, it, they)
- D) Second person (you)
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Match each connector with the logical function it expresses in a summary. | Colonna A | Colonna B | |---|---| | However | consequence | | Therefore | addition | | Moreover | conclusion | | Finally | illustration | | For example | contrast |
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Complete the sentence: "For every paragraph of the original text, you should write a single short ___ that captures its main idea."
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Complete the sentence: "A summary must be written in your own ___, not by copying the original sentences."
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Read this mini-paragraph: "Tom is a boy who lives in Dublin. He has black hair, green eyes and a tall, slim body. He loves football and plays every Saturday with his friends in the city park." Which sentence is the BEST one-line summary?
- A) Tom has black hair and green eyes and is tall and slim.
- B) Tom is a boy from Dublin who loves playing football with his friends.
- C) Tom plays football every Saturday in the park of Dublin city with friends.
- D) I think Tom is a very nice boy who likes sports very much indeed.
- When you summarize a literary story or a novel, you normally use the present simple tense.
- Vero / Falso
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Rewrite the following two short sentences as a single, well-connected sentence suitable for a summary: "Lisa moved to Rome in 2020. She found a job in a small art gallery."
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List, in order, the FIVE main steps to follow when writing a summary in English, as explained in class.
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Read the following text and write a summary of about 40-50 words, using your own words and the third person: "Jane is a seventeen-year-old student from Manchester. She lives in a small house with her mother, her stepfather and two cats. Every morning she takes the bus to school, where her favourite subjects are biology and chemistry because she dreams of becoming a doctor. In the afternoon she studies hard, but she also finds time to play the guitar in a small band with three friends. On Sundays the whole family goes for a long walk in the countryside, which Jane considers the best moment of the week."
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Which of the following sentences would NOT be appropriate in a summary?
- A) The novel tells the story of a young soldier during the First World War.
- B) The author explores the theme of friendship through several characters.
- C) In my opinion this novel is absolutely fantastic and everybody should read it.
- D) The protagonist finally returns home and finds his village completely changed.
- Match each stage of the summary-writing process with the action you must perform. | Colonna A | Colonna B | |---|---| | First reading | underline key words and topic sentences | | Second reading | write one short sentence for each paragraph | | Drafting | join the sentences using connectors | | Linking | check length, grammar and faithfulness to the original | | Revision | understand the general topic of the text |