Human beings go through their lives processing tons of information, filtering out which bits of information are important, and which are less so. What we are doing is actually summarising – we are taking the essence of what we see and hear and distilling it into smaller, bite-sized chunks for our processing and consumption. It is the reason why we cannot remember everything that our teacher says verbatim, but we know that no matter what, we need to submit our homework the next day. With intensive WRITERS AT WORK tuition classes, students have the opportunity to learn how to summarise a paragraph using essential language techniques to capture only the important bits of information, while filtering out those that are not.
What Does the Summarising Skill Entail?
When a student does a summary, they do a short overview of a passage which highlights the key points. Secondary students will be familiar with the summary exercise – some students may even dread it because they think everything is important to include. A good summary will let its readers grasp the central gist of the passage while foregoing the finer details. Students will need to have the goal of being concise and accurately capturing the main point. When reading a summary, the reader should glean the main points without having to read the passage.
Reading the Paragraph to Understand It
We cannot summarise what we cannot understand. It is important for the student to first read the paragraph and see what it is about in the first place. What is the author talking about in the paragraph? Understanding the context will inform your writing – knowing what the paragraph is trying to say will give you an idea of which points are relevant. Knowing the context of the paragraph will also help the student frame his summary. The first step in summarising should thus be to read the entire paragraph and figure out what the paragraph is talking about.
Step-By-Step Guide to Summarising a Paragraph
Things to Do When Summarising:
Do not invent anything or paraphrase things in such a way that the meaning will change. The sentences must still be relevant to the passage and should still reflect the passage properly.
What NOT to Do When Summarising:
1. You should not write down everything
2. You should avoid plagiarism
3. You should not omit key information
Attain Stellar Results with W@W!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK has expanded to 8 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS AT WORK!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Creative Writing in Primary School?
2. What is an Enrichment Class in English?
3. What Does a Writing Specialist Teach?
4. How Does My Child Benefit From Writing Classes?
