SUMMARY WRITINGFORM TWO

TIPS1. Pick out the main ideas in a passage.2. Read the passage twice.3. Underlined the important details4. Don’t copy sentences from the original

passage. You need to use your own words.5. Leave out unnecessary details such as

repeated information, pronoun, definition and examples.

6. Use the same tense in your summary.7. Write in one paragraph.

8. The name of person, place or an animal is counted as one word.

9. State the number of words. Make sure your words not more than 60 words.

10. It would be helpful to turn the summary task into an actual question.Ex: Write a summary on the uses of water.

Change the task into a question:What are the uses of water?

11. You must have 5 contents in the passage.

Contents – 5 marksLanguage – 5 marks

_________________________________________________________

10 marks

HOW TO PICK OUT MAIN IDEASPASSAGE MAIN IDEA

Write a summary on how to prepare well for an exam.

You can draw up a study timetable to follow, which includes time for breaks, time for exercise, meal and sleep.

1. Draw up a study timetable.

PASSAGE MAIN IDEA

Write a summary on the importance of a healthy breakfast.

Studies conducted show that the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Children who eat a healthy breakfast do better in school. Adult perform better at work if they have a healthy breakfast.

1. Children do better in school.

2. Adult perform better at work.

EXERCISE 1

What are the tips to face examination with confidence?

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Many students fear examinations. There are many tips for students to face examinations with confidence.

No main point

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Do not burn the midnight oil at the last minute. Start your revision early. Prepare for the examination as early as possible. Set a time table and follow it strictly.

1. Start your revision early

2. Set a timetable

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Discussion with classmates is equally important. Form group discussion with your classmates. You would be able to help each other. Those who are good in certain subjects can help the poorer ones.

3. form group discussion

OrDiscussion

with classmates

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Have a good sleep the day before the examination. Enough sleep is important as it keeps your mind clear. You need lots of concentration and strength during examinations.

4. Have a good sleep

OR

Have enough sleep

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Do not panic when you enter the examination hall. You might forget everything that you have learnt. Relax before you enter the examination hall.

5. Do not panic when enter the examination hall.

EXERCISE 2

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Drive along any coastal area and you will find the beaches lined with rows and rows of coconut trees. These trees not only make add to the beauty of the place, they actually serve a purpose. To be exact, the coconut trees serve many purposes. They are known as trees of a hundred uses.

What are the uses of the coconut tree?

No main point

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

First of all, the fruit of the coconut tree can be used for many things. The white juicy flesh can be eaten or scraped to obtain coconut milk. In many asian homes, the coconut milk is essential to make curries and local cakes. In addition to that, the clear coconut water is a refreshing drink. It is believed to have healing and cooling properties.

1. flesh can be eaten or scraped

2. the coconut milk is essential to make curries and local cakes.

3. the clear coconut water is a refreshing drink.

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Besides the fruit, even the leaves can be used. Many villagers use the coconut leaves to make roofs of their huts or houses. Furthermore, in traditional homes, womenfolk collect the leaves, dry them and then dye the leaves into different colours. These leaves are then woven into mats.

4. leaves to make roofs

5. leaves are then woven into mats.

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

The trunk of the coconut tree is very strong and solid. Because the trunk of the tree is usually straight, it can easily used to build houses or bridges, and once the trunks are old and rotten, the villagers can easily replace them with another one.

6. The trunk is used to build houses or bridges.

EXERCISE 2IN PAIRS, UNDERLINE AND WRITE DOWN

THE MAIN POINTS FROM THE PASSAGE GIVEN.

What one can do in Pangkor?PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Dear Mum,I’m having a great time here

in Pangkor. My friends and I have been spending our days swimming in the sea. The water is warm and inviting. In fact, we are enjoying ourselves so much that we would only get out of the water when the sun sets. We also enjoy water-sports activities such as jet skiing and para-sailing.

1. Swimming2. Enjoy water-

sports

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

Yesterday, we took a boat to another island off the west coast to do some fishing. We didn’t catch any fish though, just some old shoes and plastic bottles!

3. Fishing

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

We also took a day tour round the island that offered us a glimpse of some historical sights that date back to the time of the Dutch. The tour also included visits to some cottage industries such as a batik-making factory. The nights are the best for us. The streets come alive with little stalls selling all sort of things and we really like strolling along the streets then.

4. Visit historical site5. Visit batik-making factory.6. Little stalls selling at night.

PASSAGE MAIN IDEAS

We will be leaving the island tomorrow to continue our journey up north to Penang. I will write again soon to tell you about my adventures there. Bye.

Love,

Nicole

No main idea