Integrating the techniques learned in L1–L4, you will practice actually writing summaries. You will learn strategies for different lengths.
Basic Rules
① 100 words → 50-word summary (50% compression):
- Half the length of the original text. Keep the main idea and major supporting evidence.
- Keep only one representative specific example (if there are several, combine them into one)
- Remove modifiers (very, extremely, etc.)
- Delete repeated content
② 50 words → 3-sentence summary (extreme compression):
- Sentence 1: Main idea (What is this about)
- Sentence 2: Claim or contrast (What does the author say)
- Sentence 3: Conclusion or implication (So what)
③ 100 words → 1-sentence summary (10% or less):
- Use a “compound sentence” or “complex sentence”
- Condense logical relationships with because / although / despite
- Compress “~. As a result, ~.” into “~, resulting in ~”
Strategy Summary:
- Candidates for deletion: examples, modifiers, repetition, and linking phrases
- Essential elements to keep: the core of the main clause (S+V+O), contrast (however), and the conclusion
- Combining techniques: clause to phrase, phrase to word (A book that is interesting → an interesting book → A. in three stages)
Original text (100 words): “Many students find it difficult to balance studying and hobbies. They worry that spending time on hobbies will reduce their study hours and lower their grades. However, research shows that students who pursue hobbies actually perform better academically. Hobbies provide mental refreshment, reduce stress, and improve focus during study sessions. For example, a study at Stanford University found that students with regular hobbies scored 12% higher on standardized tests. Therefore, instead of cutting hobbies for more study time, students should embrace them as part of a balanced life.”
50-word summary: “Many students fear hobbies hurt grades. However, research shows the opposite — hobbies refresh the mind, reduce stress, and improve focus. A Stanford study found students with hobbies scored 12% higher. Thus, hobbies are beneficial, not harmful, to academic performance.”
3-sentence summary: “Students often worry that hobbies harm their grades. However, research shows hobbies actually improve academic performance by refreshing the mind. Therefore, students should pursue hobbies as part of balanced lives.”
1-sentence summary: “Although students fear hobbies hurt grades, research shows hobbies actually improve academic performance through mental refreshment.”
Points to Note
① Trade-off between compression rate and information loss: With 50% compression, 70% of the main information can remain, but with 10% compression, only the core remains. Match the specified number of words in the question.
② Follow the word limit: “Summarize the passage in 100 words or fewer.” ← Exceeding 100 words results in a deduction. Being too short also results in a deduction because of insufficient information. Aim for 80–100% of the specified limit.
③ Keep grammar accurate to the end: Even when compressed, grammatical errors result in deductions. Check verb tense, subject–verb agreement, and articles at the end.
④ Adjust the word count through paraphrasing: Shortening “is important” to “matters” and “on the contrary” to “but,” for example, is effective for adjusting the word count.
⑤ Practice method: Each week, choose one long passage and progressively compress it into (a) a 100-word summary, (b) a 50-word summary, (c) a 3-sentence summary, and (d) a 1-sentence summary. This will expand your range of expressions.
- 50% compression: main idea + major supporting evidence + 1 example
- 3-sentence summary: topic + claim + conclusion
- 1-sentence summary: condense with a complex sentence and logical connectors
- Candidates for deletion: examples, modifiers, and repetition
- Aim for 80–100% of the word limit
Practice
- Summarize the following passage in one sentence (20 words or fewer): “Exercise improves both physical and mental health. It strengthens muscles, boosts mood, and reduces stress. Studies show that even 20 minutes of daily exercise can extend life expectancy by several years.”
- Name two techniques that can be used to “adjust the word count” in a summary.
- State the structure of a 3-sentence summary (the role of each of the first, second, and third sentences).