Make use of the british online newspapers

Topic book

A summary of the main facts

A summary is a short account of the text, which gives the main points but not the details

1. A good summary makes obvious that you understand the text under study and you can translate that knowledge to your readers. Your summary cannot be a rewrite of the original piece, you present the information in your own words. It shouldn’t be long. A trick here is to present neither little nor much information.

2. In the beginning present the title, author and source of the piece. Then proceed with the thesis, or central idea of the text. State clearly what the text is about.

3. Then skim the text, i.e. read through it quickly. Focus on the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

4. Then reread the text carefully. While rereading, underline the key points of the text. Note down the text outline including the main idea and the supporting facts. Avoid insignificant details.

5. Your first draft is ready. Reread the text and critically review your piece of writing. Have you managed to include all the main facts? Add introductory phrases (in the beginning, then, what’s more and others).

6. Summary doesn’t presuppose your own ideas and thoughts.

7. Proofread the text. Make sure there are no grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation mistakes.

A graphic organizer

A graphic organizer helps you to organize your thoughts and ideas, for example:

There are quite a few ideas of graphic organizers for you at the cite http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

another example:

A list of questions

Make up a list of questions which this text gives answers to. Be sure you can answer these questions.

K-W-L charts

what I already know about this topic / what I want to know / what I've learned from the text

IDEAL

I Identify a problem

D Debate a problem

E Essential solutions

A Activity (best variants of problem solving)

L Logical conclusions

Critical analysis of the newspaper article

Answer the following questions when reading your article:

Who is the author of the article?

Do you feel the facts mentioned in the text are accurate? Why or why not?

Does the journalist pay the same attention to all sides of the issue?

What feelings does this article provoke? What people from other countries or cultures might feel about it?

Do you see examples of prejudice, either in the article text or in the language chosen?

Wh questions