Guidelines for using IN-TEXT
CITATIONS
The purpose of a
summary is to give the reader, in a about 1/3 of the original length of an
article/lecture, a clear, objective picture of the original lecture or
text. Most importantly, the summary restates only the main points
of a text or a lecture without giving examples or details, such as dates,
numbers or statistics.
Skills practiced: note-taking,
paraphrasing (using your own words and sentence structure), condensing
Before writing the
summary:
1.
For
a text, read, mark, and annotate the
original. (For a lecture, work with the notes you took.)
·
highlight the topic sentence
·
highlight
key points/key words/phrases
·
highlight the concluding sentence
·
outline
each paragraph in the margin
2.
Take
notes on the following:
·
the
source (author--first/last name, title, date of publication, volume number,
place of publication, publisher, URL, etc.)
·
the
main idea of the original (paraphrased)
·
the
major supporting points (in outline form)
·
major
supporting explanations (e.g. reasons/causes or effects)
3.
The
main idea or argument needs to be included in this first sentence. Then
mention the major aspects/factors/reasons that are discussed
in the article/lecture. Give a full reference for this citation at the
end of the summary (see #6. below).
a.
For
a one-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a separate
sentence. Give 1-2 explanations for each supporting point, summarizing
the information from the original.
b.
For
a multi-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a
separate paragraph. Introduce it in the first sentence (topic
sentence).
Example: The first major area in which women have
become a powerful force is politics.
4.
Support
your topic sentence with the necessary reasons or arguments raised by the
author/lecturer but omit all references to details, such as dates or
statistics.
5.
Use
discourse markers that reflect the organization and controlling idea of the
original, for example cause-effect, comparison-contrast, classification,
process, chronological order, persuasive argument, etc.
6.
In
a longer summary, remind your reader that you are paraphrasing by using "reminder
phrases," such as
·
The
author goes on to say that ...
·
The
article (author) further states that ...
·
(Author's
last name) also states/maintains/argues that ...
·
(Author's
last name) also believes that ...
·
(Author's last name) concludes that
7.
Restate
the article’s/lecturer’s conclusion in one sentence.
8.
Give
a full reference for the citation (see the example below for the in-text
citations in #2). For citing electronic sources, please see Citation of Electronic Resources.
Writing your
summary--Steps:
- Organize your notes into an
outline which includes main ideas and supporting points but no
examples or details (dates, numbers, statistics).
- Write an introductory paragraph
that begins with a frame, including an in-text
citation of the source and the author as well as a reporting
verb to introduce the main idea. The reporting
verb is generally in present tense.
- At the end of your summary,
double-space and write a reference for the in-text
citation (see #8 below), following APA guidelines.
o
ARTICLE:
·
In
the article, ___ (author's last name, (year)
argues (claims/ reports/ contends/ maintains/ states) that ___ (main
idea/argument; S + V + C).
§ Example: In his article, Serwer (1997) describes how Michael Dell founded Dell
Computers and claims that Dell’s low-cost, direct-sales strategy and high
quality standards accounted for Dell’s enormous success.
o
BOOK:
·
In
his book The Pearl, John Steinbeck (1945) illustrates the fight
between good and evil in humankind.
o
INTERVIEW:
·
In
an interview ________ (first name last name) stated that ______ (main
idea/argument; S + V + C) (personal communication, month day, year).
Other
examples of frames:
1.
According
to ___________ (author's last name) (year), _____________ (main idea; S + V +
C).
2.
_________
(author's last name) (year) argues that ____________ (main idea; S + V +
C).
3.
If no author is given, use the title of the article:
According to "___________" (Title of the Article) (year), _____________ (main idea; S+V+C).
According to "___________" (Title of the Article) (year), _____________ (main idea; S+V+C).
4.
____________
(topic/NP) has had a major impact on the____________ (NP) of _________________
(main idea; NP) (author's last name, year).
5.
_____________'s (author's
last name) article on _____________ (topic/NP) (year) discusses the ________
(main idea; Noun Phrase) of ________ (NP).
Further illustrations: Please see the
video Tips on Summarizing on the Ohio State Flipped ESL YouTube channel. This video investigates the basic elements
needed to create an effective one sentence summary and a summary paragraph.
References
Serwer, A.
(1997, Sept. 8). Michael Dell turns the PC world inside out. Fortune,
76-86.
Steinbeck,
J. (1945). The pearl. New York: Penguin Books.
No comments:
Post a Comment