summary and critique

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Summary and Critique

What’s the difference…?

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SummaryWhat’d he say…?

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summary is a record in a reader's own words

that gives the main points of a piece of writing such as a newspaper article, the chapter of a book, or even a whole book.

It is possible to summarize something that you have heard, such as a lecture, or something that you have seen and heard, such as a movie.

Omits details, and does not include the reader's interpretation of the original

Summary

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If you are reading something that is very

important for your studies and/or difficult to understand, writing a summary helps you to make sure that you have understood it.

Refer to it later to refresh your memory, for example when you are studying for an

exam, when you are talking about it in class. (It is also

a good idea to turn lecture notes into summaries.)

When to Use Summary

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When writing academic papers people often

need to insert summaries of something that they have read or heard. to summarize the main points of a book that is

relevant to your topic. it is extremely important to use your own

words, or quotation marks if you are actually quoting, in order to avoid plagiarism.

When to Use Summary

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As you read, underline all the important points

and all the important evidence. look for all the topic sentences.

List or cluster the main idea of the whole piece, the main supporting ideas, and the main evidence for each idea.

Use your own words rather than copying or just rearranging.

Do not include too much detail

How to Write a Summary

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Find the main idea first

Move on to the various topics that support that idea

Then find evidence that supports these topics.

Main Idea

topic topic

evidence

evidence

evidence

evidence

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Give an objective outline of the whole piece of

writing. Answer basic questions about the original text

such as "Who did what, where, and when?“ "What is the main idea of the text?“ "What are the main supporting points?“ "What are the major pieces of evidence?"

A Good Summary Should…

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Use key words from the original text

but should not contain whole phrases or sentences from

the original unless quotation marks are used. Only quote if the choice of words is significant, or

because the original is well expressed Not simply rearrange the words used in the original. Just substituting different words is not

enough. You must express the sense of the original using your own words and structures.

A Good Summary Should…

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Critique

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A detailed analysis and assessment of

something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory

Often this includes the reader’s reactions, opinions, and judgments of a piece of writing, a speech, etc.

Critique

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A summary merely reports what the text said;

that is, it answers only the question, "What did the author say?"

A critique, on the other hand, analyzes, interprets, and evaluates the text, answering the questions how? why? and how well?

Critique

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A critique does not necessarily have to criticize the

piece in a negative sense. Your reaction to the text may be largely positive, negative, or a combination of the two.

It is important to explain why you respond to the text in a certain way

Critique

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Analyze the text. Ask the following

What is the author's main point? What is the author's purpose? Who is the author's intended audience? What arguments does the author use to support

the main point? What evidence does the author present to

support the arguments? What are the author's underlying

assumptions or biases?

How to Write a Critique

Summary

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Evaluate the text

Is the argument logical? Is the text well-organized, clear, and easy to

read? Are the author's facts accurate? Have important terms been clearly defined? Is there sufficient evidence for the arguments? Do the arguments support the main point? Is the text appropriate for the intended

audience?

How to Write a Critique

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Evaluate the text

Does the text present and refute opposing points of view?

Does the text help you understand the subject? Are there any words or sentences that evoke a strong

response from you? What are those words or sentences? What is your reaction?

What is the origin of your reaction to this topic? When or where did you first learn about it? Can you think of people, articles, or discussions that have influenced your views? How might these be compared or contrasted to this text?

What questions or observations does this article suggest? That is, what does the article make you think about?

How to Write a Critique

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Do not follow the author's organization when

organizing your analysis—this approach lends itself to summary rather than analysis.

Begin with an introduction that defines the subject of your critique and your point of view.

Defend your point of view by raising specific issues or aspects of the argument.

Conclude your critique by summarizing your argument and re-emphasizing your opinion.

How to Write a Critique

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First, identify and explain the author's ideas. Include

specific passages that support your description of the author's point of view.

Offer your own opinion. Explain what you think about the argument. Describe several points with which you agree or disagree.

For each of the points you mention, include specific passages from the text (you may summarize, quote, or paraphrase) that provide evidence for your point of view.

Explain how the passages support your opinion

How to Write a Critique

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