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summary
The purpose of a summary is to make a document smaller, to reduce it in size. This reduction is achieved by omitting all details and concentrating on the main points in the excerpt. The other important element of a summary, a very important element of a summary, is to use your own words. So, the summary should resemble the original document in terms of the content, but it should have new, yet similar, words that mirror the ones in the original document. So an important aspect of producing the summary is the use of synonyms, as well connective words and phrases to ensure that your document flows smoothly.
The Examination
The examination is organized in three sections and each section asks you to summarize a different type of writing. Module 1 is the Informative Discourse, which asks you to shorten an expository article, module 2 is the Literary Discourse, which asks you to summarize an excerpt from a story, while module 3, the Persuasive Discourse, focuses on shortening a persuasive article.
The examination is organized in three sections and each section asks you to summarize a different type of writing. Module 1 is the Informative Discourse, which asks you to shorten an expository article, module 2 is the Literary Discourse, which asks you to summarize an excerpt from a story, while module 3, the Persuasive Discourse, focuses on shortening a persuasive article.
A question that can be asked in any of the three modules, for the analysis question, is the writer’s purpose in creating the article, but each type of writing - expository, narrative and persuasive, all have elements that are specific to them. For example, the elements of narrative writing are plot, character, conflict, theme, setting and point of view. This means that the analysis question for narrative excerpt could ask you to describe the setting in the excerpt.
The analysis question is worth three (3) marks, so you must add at least two details that prove that the main point that you identified is correct, or use three topic sentences to formulate your answer. The second portion of the question, the evaluating and creating section, asks you to identify three main points and produce a summary, in prose format, in no more than fifty (50) words. So here is a checklist that will help you to evaluate (identify the points) and create (produce) the summary.
Checklist for Summary Writing
- Read the question asked, ensure that you have identified the word limit, and exactly what you are asked to summarize in the article.
- For the analysis question, referred to as (a), ensure that you have one main point and two supporting evidence or three topic sentences.
- For the evaluation and creating question, referred to as (b), ensure that you have identified three (3) topic sentences or three points that answers the particular question that is asked.
- Reword each topic sentence - they must mirror the original document, but with synonyms for outstanding words - and shifting the organization of the sentences.
- Count your words in order to ensure that you are within the parameters of the word count, which is no more than fifty (50) words.
- Use conjunctions, or linking words, to ensure that your paragraph flows.
Examples
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Module 1
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Module 2
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Module 3
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Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Reference:
Caribbean Examination Council. CSEC English Syllabus Amended 2026 for exams 2027. https://cxc-store.com
Reference:
Caribbean Examination Council. CSEC English Syllabus Amended 2026 for exams 2027. https://cxc-store.com
