Writing the summary/response essay
This information has been taken from Steps to Writing Well 10th ed by Jean Wyrick.
ISBN: 9781413032307
This kind of assignment asks students to read an article, summarize it with a thesis and main points, and write a response agreeing or disagreeing with the author’s ideas.
Used for:
Placement exams, college entrance exams, final exams, etc. to show reading and writing skills.
How to do it:
1.
Read the assignment to make sure you know what you are being asked to do.
Read the assignment to make sure you know what you are being asked to do.2. Writing the summary:
Writing the summary:a.Always include the author’s name and title of the article in the first sentence
Always include the author’s name and title of the article in the first sentencei.In the Newsweek essay “Our Youth Should Serve,” Steven Muller proposes a voluntary youth corps that would address America’s need for social services and benefit our nation’s youth.
In the Newsweek essay “Our Youth Should Serve,” Steven Muller proposes a voluntary youth corps that would address America’s need for social services and benefit our nation’s youth.b.Present the thesis and main ideas (essay map) in a few concise sentences. Use your own words for this.
Present the thesis and main ideas (essay map) in a few concise sentences. Use your own words for this.c.Omit all references to the supporting examples and details in the selection.
Omit all references to the supporting examples and details in the selection.d.If, for clarity or emphasis, you do need to include an exact word or phrase from the original text, be certain to enclose the words in quotation marks.
If, for clarity or emphasis, you do need to include an exact word or phrase from the original text, be certain to enclose the words in quotation marks.e.Do not give your own opinion or interpretation of the material you are summarizing. Your goal is an objective, accurate, condensed overview of the selection that does not reveal your attitude toward the ideas presented.
Do not give your own opinion or interpretation of the material you are summarizing. Your goal is an objective, accurate, condensed overview of the selection that does not reveal your attitude toward the ideas presented.3.Writing the response:
Writing the response:a.What is your general assessment of the article? Do you agree or disagree with the author? This assessment will be the thesis in the “response” portion of your essay.
What is your general assessment of the article? Do you agree or disagree with the author? This assessment will be the thesis in the “response” portion of your essay.b.Plan the rest of your essay. If you disagree with the author, you might want to note two or three reasons you don’t like the author’s opinion. These reasons will be the main points for each paragraph. Important: make sure you have evidence of your own to support your position. Responding with personal examples is perhaps the most common kind of support for essays written in class, but if you know facts, statistics, testimony, or other info that would support your position, you may certainly include them. One area that can really be helpful is your knowledge of novels you have been studying.
Plan the rest of your essay. If you disagree with the author, you might want to note two or three reasons you don’t like the author’s opinion. These reasons will be the main points for each paragraph. Important: make sure you have evidence of your own to support your position. Responding with personal examples is perhaps the most common kind of support for essays written in class, but if you know facts, statistics, testimony, or other info that would support your position, you may certainly include them. One area that can really be helpful is your knowledge of novels you have been studying.c.Start the first paragraph of your response that clearly indicates the “response” section is now beginning. Present a smooth transition to your thesis and consider using an essay map to indicate to your readers the points you will discuss.
Start the first paragraph of your response that clearly indicates the “response” section is now beginning. Present a smooth transition to your thesis and consider using an essay map to indicate to your readers the points you will discuss.i.Although is his article “Test!” Paul Perez correctly identifies a growing drug problem in our public schools, his plan to drug-test all students involved in campus activities should be rejected. Such a test could not be implemented fairly and is an unreasonable invasion of students’ privacy.
Although is his article “Test!” Paul Perez correctly identifies a growing drug problem in our public schools, his plan to drug-test all students involved in campus activities should be rejected. Such a test could not be implemented fairly and is an unreasonable invasion of students’ privacy.1.Smooth transition from article summary to position (which is the thesis)
Smooth transition from article summary to position (which is the thesis)2.Essay map as last sentence of paragraph (2 points—fairness, invasion)
Essay map as last sentence of paragraph (2 points—fairness, invasion)d.In each paragraph make clear which of the author’s claims or ideas you are refuting or supporting
In each paragraph make clear which of the author’s claims or ideas you are refuting or supportinge.Once you have signaled the point in question and stated your position, develop each body paragraph with enough specific supporting evidence to make your claim convincing.
Once you have signaled the point in question and stated your position, develop each body paragraph with enough specific supporting evidence to make your claim convincing.4.Concluding paragraph
Concluding paragrapha.Your conclusion should always be consistent with your overall assessment of the article and its ideas.
Your conclusion should always be consistent with your overall assessment of the article and its ideas.Read pp 193-195 in text So What’s So Bad About Being So-So and write a summary/response essay.
