Summarizing

• What is summarizing defined as in academic texts?

  Summarizing is reducing text to one-third or one-quarter of its original size while retaining main ideas.
• What does summarizing involve according to Hacker (2008)?

  Summarizing involves stating a work’s thesis and main ideas simply, briefly, and accurately.
• How is a summary defined in dictionaries?

  A summary is a condensed version that covers the main points and expresses the most important facts or ideas about something or someone in a short and clear form.
• What is a key characteristic of a good summary?

  A good summary can be understood without reference to the original text.
• What should a summary retain from the original text?


  A summary should retain the essential information of the original text.
• What is the importance of reading the work first when summarizing?

  Reading the work first helps to understand the author’s intent, which is crucial for an accurate summary.
• What should you do to avoid difficulty in summarizing a text?

  You should know the main points and supporting details while excluding illustrations, examples, or explanations.
• Why is it important to analyze the text before summarizing?

  Analyzing the text helps save time in thinking about what to include in the summary.
• What steps should you follow to summarize a text effectively?


  You should read the text, identify the main idea, supporting details, and disregard unimportant details.
• What is the role of paraphrasing in summarizing?

  Paraphrasing helps to express the original ideas in one's own words and aids in understanding the text better.
• What is the first step in paraphrasing?

  The first step in paraphrasing is to read the original carefully and comprehend its meaning wholly and correctly.
• What does the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" technique help summarize?

  This technique helps summarize stories by identifying key elements such as the main character, their desires, problems, solutions, and the story's conclusion.
• How can you apply the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" technique to "Little Red Riding Hood"?


  Somebody: Little Red Riding Hood; Wanted: to take cookies to her sick grandmother; But: encountered a wolf; So: ran away; Then: a woodsman saved her.
• What does the SAAC method stand for in summarizing?

  SAAC stands for State, Assign, Action, Complete.
• How would you use the SAAC method for "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?


  State: The Boy Who Cried Wolf; Assign: Aesop; Action: tells; Complete: what happens when a shepherd boy repeatedly lies to the villagers about seeing a wolf.
• What are the 5 W's and 1 H in summarizing?

  The 5 W's and 1 H are who, what, when, where, why, and how.
• How would you apply the 5 W's, 1 H technique to "The Tortoise and the Hare"?

  Who: The tortoise; What: He raced a quick hare and won; When: Not specified; Where: An old country road; Why: Tired of the hare's boasting; How: By maintaining a slow but steady pace.
• What does the "First, Then, Finally" technique help summarize?

  This technique helps summarize events in chronological order by identifying the beginning, main action, and conclusion of a story.
• What does "Give Me the Gist" mean in summarizing?

  "Give Me the Gist" means to provide a summary of the story without retelling every detail.
• What are the key terms/ideas related to Self-Access Language Learning?


  • Independent learning
  • Face-to-face language classes
  • Online feedback
  • Guidance and support from tutors and peers