How to Write a Summary Part 1: O Level Paper 2 Summary Question

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Understand the Focus of the Question
• Analyse the Question
• Identify Key Words(s)
• Identify Content Word(s)
• Multiple Content words
• Identify the parameters
• Avoid Irrelevant Information
• The Challenge of Distractors 
• Distil Information
• Identify the Agent Clearly 
• Write Complete Points
• Sample Summary
• Examination Tips

Summary writing Tips 

Understand the Focus of the Question

The summary question tests candidates' ability to select relevant information from the passage while presenting it concisely and precisely within the stipulated word limit. It is important to note that ZIMSEC summary questions focus on specific aspect(s) so, candidates should select specific details as stated in the questions.

Analyse the Question

It is very important for candidates to carefully analyse the summary question in order to unpack all its demands. More often than not, candidates perform poorly on this question due to failure to understand its requirements.

Identify Key Words(s)

The key word provides specific instructions regarding the task to be performed. It typically takes the form of a command word such as "summarise" or "describe." Key words are not limited to writing summaries; they are also used in other types of questions and subjects.

Examples of Key Words

    A typical examination question might read:

• "Write a summary describing..."
• "Summarise the..."
• Give an account

In these examples, "summarise," "describe" and "give an account" are key words instructing the student on the required action. If a student chooses to discuss or list instead if summarising, it demonstrates a failure to understand the question's demands. 

Identify Content Word(s)

Candidates must identify the content words or phrases that specify the information to include in the summary. Not all questions require the same content, so it is essential to read the question carefully to note the specific content/ information needed from the passage. Underline the content words to easily refer to them while scanning through the passage selecting relevant points.

Examples of Content Words

Typical examination questions might read:

• "Summarise the actions..."
• "Summarise the feelings..."

In these examples, "actions" and "feelings" are the content words. Candidates should focus on finding information related to these ideas. Any irrelevant information (information not connected with actions or feelings)  should not be included in the summary.

Multiple Content words

Some summary questions have more than one content word or phrase, also known as question aspects or limbs. Unwary candidates may focus on just one aspect and ignore the others. For instance, in the question, "Summarise the thoughts and the feelings ..., " candidates should look for points about both thoughts and feelings.

Identify the parameters

Understanding the questions involves identifying the material to be summarised. The summary question always specifies the parameters of the material to be summarised, and candidates must stick to these parameters. Failure to do so may result in working on irrelevant material, risking the loss of all marks allocated for this question. Candidates should pay attention to phrases such as:

• "Use material from paragraph ... to the end of  paragraph ..."
• "... from line ... to line ..."

Such phrases direct candidates to the section of the passage where relevant points must be extracted. Any information taken from elsewhere is deemed irrelevant. It is advisable to draw a line at the beginning and another at the end of the material in questions.

Avoid Irrelevant Information

Candidates must be cautious to avoid irrelevant information when summarising. Sticking to the specified material is crucial to scoring well on the summary question. 

The Challenge of Distractors 

Identifying relevant points from the specified material requires careful reading because often passages contain distractors. In order for the candidates to differentiate between relevant points and distractors, they have to analyse the summary question before compiling points. Distractors are pieces of information that can mislead the reader into thinking they should be included in the summary. 

Distil Information

In some cases, candidates need to distill information by extracting relevant points from wordy sentences. This can be done through paraphrasing, where they rephrase lengthy sentences without altering the meaning. However,  candidates should lift points directly from the passage wherever possible to minimise language and grammatical errors. Paraphrasing and distilling should only be done when the original sentences are too wordy and containing irrelevant information such that lifting them as they are may result in writing a summary that exceeds the word limit.

Identify the Agent Clearly 

When writing a summary, candidates must clearly identify the agent given in the question. The agent is the specific reference to the character, person, animal or thing in the passage. In the passage below, the agent is "the master." If the passage contains several characters, people, animals, things e.t.c..., it is essential to clarify who is performing which actions. This avoids ambiguity and ensures that the summary accurately reflects the events in the passage. To prevent confusion, candidates should avoid referring to the agent using pronouns like "he", "she", "it" e.t.c especially when multiple agents are involved. Instead, candidates should explicitly name the agents. For instance, instead of saying "He dashed towards his opponent, "it is clearer to say, "The master dashed towards his opponent."

Write Complete Points

When summarising actions, it is essential to write complete sentences that fully capture the intended meaning. Include all crucial details, such as adverbs, which describe how the action is performed. Leaving out these essential elements can result in incomplete points. For example, if a passage describes someone walking "quickly," omitting the word "quickly" fails to convey the full meaning. Writing "She walked" alone might not score a point. Be careful when distilling information so that you don't cut out crucial details. As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, include the information. You won't be penalised for extra details, provided you do not exceed 160 words limit. However, omitting essential details may leads to a loss marks.

Example:

Summarise the actions of the master.

Original Passage

The master raised his left hand, the gesture sharp and decisive, signalling his readiness to fight. Outside the ring, the spectators roared with excitement, their voices a cacophony that reverberated in the master's chest, heightening his adrenaline. A Palpable tension hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of sweat and anticipation. In a heartbeat, the master sprang into action, his robe billowing like a dark cloud as he expertly dashed toward his feeble opponent. He could see the flicker of fear in the opponent's eyes, a brief moment of hesitation that fuelled his determination. It was at that moment that he resolved  to slay his opponent before he even had the chance to retaliate. 

Sample Summary

"The master raised his left hand sharply and decisively, signalling his readiness to fight. The master sprang into action as he dashed expertly towards his opponent and hesitated briefly."

Comment

• The agent is "the master" so the phrase "the master" should be used as the subject in all the sentences.
• The passage contains five relevant points.
• Some of them are explicitly stated in the passage allowing candidates to lift them directly from the passage to minimise language errors. 
• The adverbs "sharply," "decisively,"and expertly have been included to complete the actions of the master.
• the phrase "a brief moment of hesitation" implicitly indicates an action of the master therefore candidates should recognise and extract it by paraphrasing it.

Examination Tips

• Remember to identify at least fifteen (15) points. The other 5 points are for language. 
• It is wise to identify more than 15 so that if one or two of your points are irrelevant, you still have the 15 points that are required. 
• Write in continuous fashion, not in note form.
• Remember to maintain the sequence of the points as given in the text
• Maintain the tense given in the opening sentence