HOW TO SUMMARISE A TEXT IN ENGLISH…

The smart way…

http://coolstuffschool.com/?page_id=1189

W H E R E T O S TA RT ? ?

• Don’t waste your time on aspects of the text that are not relevant to the “topic” or module you’re doing

• You should look for evidence from each of your texts which fit with the ideas and focus of your “topic” or module.

• Your summary / research / analysis of a text is as simple as 1, 2, 3!

1 = locate2 = select3 = organise

FOR EXAMPLE – YOUR TOPIC IN ENGLISH THIS TERM IS CALLED

“CLOSE STUDY OF A NOVEL – AND OF NARRATIVE STRUCTURE”

• You will “explore” (not just read) Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

• As you explore the novel, you will figure-out how language techniques and structures show all the “IDEAS / BELIEFS / ATTITUDES / VALUES / INDIVIDUALS / SOCIETY / CULTURE AND HISTORY” - which are shown in:

THE CHARACTERS – who is powerful? Who is powerless? THE EVENTS – which show power over powerlessness? THE SETTING – how does the setting(s) cause the powerful groups to

stay powerful? Does the setting keep group powerless? THE OPINIONS OF THE COMPOSER - about those in power and those

who are powerless? THE RESPONSES FROM THE RESPONDER – how do you (and others) in

different times and places feel about the perceptions of “power and authority” shown in the set text?

*Perception = insight – view – opinion – attitude – awareness

LOCATE

1. Get some post-it notes

2. Copy the most “obvious” and main ideas in Lee’s novel onto separate post-it notes

• The characters – who is powerful? Who is powerless? Who wants to change characters’ attitudes?

• The events – which show the class and race divisions? Which events shoe success? Failure? Prejudice?

• The setting – how does the setting(s) cause the different groups in Maycomb to stay “divided?

• The opinions of the composer - about those in power and those who are powerless?

• The responses from the responder – how do you feel about the ideas of “prejudice and acceptance” shown in the set text?... Etc…

1. As you study / explore your text… locate the best-matched quotation (in your text) to fit your different post-its

2. “post” each post-it note on the evidence you have located – in the text itself.

LOCATE

Your English novels, poetry, non-fiction and even your visual texts

should be filled with post it notes!

SELECT

How are the character’s perceptions about prejudice and tolerance shown?Pg ____“………………………………………………………………………………………………………………”

How is your perception of certain groups of people, in the novel, manipulated by the composer

How do

language

features show

people in

power?

Pg # __

You will look for… • Personal context – identity / being / individuality /

appearance / hobbies • Cultural context – customs / leisure activities / work ethic• Historical context – time and place / political era / war:peace

/ pre:post colonial• Social context – rich : poor / educated : uneducated / social

status / manners / language style / leisure activities / appearance

• HOW ARE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT Prejudice, acceptance AND ignorance SHOWN IN THE TEXT?

• HOW DOES Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO CHALLENGE (AND OPPOSE) THE POWERFUL COMMUNITY OR GROUP?

1 = locate - IDEA2 = select – 3 QUOTES3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE

HOW DO DIFFERENT NARRATIVE VOICES (CHARACTERS) REVEAL DIFFERENT ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

1 = locate - IDEA2 = select – 3 QUOTES3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE

HOW DOES Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD SHOW:

• AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHOICE NOT TO BE IN A POSITION OF POWER AND PREJUDICE?

• BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT AN INDIVIDUAL’S ABILITY TO BE TOLERANT AND INFORMED?

1 = locate - IDEA2 = select – 3 QUOTES3 = organise – COMPLETE ANALYSIS TABLE