English for Academic
and Professional
Purposes
1
English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Quarter 3 – Self-Learning Module 3: Techniques in Summarizing Academic
Text
First Edition, 2020
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English for Academic
and Professional
Purposes
Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 3
Techniques in Summarizing
Academic Text
3
Introductory Message
For the Facilitator:
Welcome to the English for Academic and Professional Purposes SelfLearning Module on Techniques in Summarizing Academic Text!
This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and
reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.
This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:
Notes to the Teacher
This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.
As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
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For the Learner:
Welcome to the English for Academic and Professional Purposes SelfLearning Module on Techniques in Summarizing Academic Text!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an
active learner.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:
Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills
that you will learn after completing the module.
Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson
at hand.
Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts
and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.
Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.
Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.
Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and
application of the lesson.
Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the
lesson.
Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
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EXPECTATIONS
This is your self-instructional learner module in EAPP 12. All the activities
provided in this lesson will help you learn and understand: Techniques in
Summarizing Academic Text.
Specifically, you will learn about the following:
1. familiarize the various techniques in summarizing academic text;
2. identify what summarizing technique is suitable to use from the various
passages; and
3. summarize a text using one summarizing technique in academic text.
PRETEST
Identify what kind of summarizing technique is described in each of the following
sentences. Write the letter of your answer on the space before the number.
1. It is a kind of summary where one needs to understand how the study goes
and its results.
A. Cornell Method B. Argumentative/Theoretical C. Experimental Report
2. It is a summary which is considered as comprehensive, accurate, neutral
and independent.
A. Cornell Method B. Argumentative/ Theoretical C. Experimental Report
3. This summary technique needs two columns: the first is for main point/s
and the other is for important explanations or details about the main
point/s.
A. Cornell Method B. Argumentative/ Theoretical C. Experimental Report
4. One needs to follow the author’s main line of reasoning, spot arguments,
identify the counterarguments, differentiate main ideas and evidence to
support.
A. Cornell Method B. Argumentative/ Theoretical C. Experimental Report
5. A kind of summary that considers the order: purpose, method, results, and
conclusion.
A. Cornell Method B. Argumentative/ Theoretical C. Experimental Report
RECAP
Learners were taught to use their knowledge of text structure to glean the
information he/she needs. Knowledge of text structure is essential for readers and
writers as well. The structure of the text can help to find the answers, to
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summarize and to build meaning. Some of text structures are: cause and effect,
chronological order, compare and contrast, description and problem and solution.
LESSON
Summary is a shortened passage which retains the essential information of
the original text, thus without using value judgments. Summary is a synopsis or
digest of the essence of an entire text.
Various techniques in summarizing:
1. The Cornell Method- Divide the notepaper into two columns. On the left-hand
side, write the main points, in the right-hand column write down important
explanations or details about the main point.
Example:
Dolphin May Get A Prosthetic Tail
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The news from Indian River Lagoon was too familiar: another
dolphin gravely injured because of human action. The baby bottlenose dolphin lost
her tail, but perhaps her life could be saved. The solution for the dolphin — dubbed
Winter — may be a prosthetic tail. A fisherman found her tangled in the buoy line
of a crab trap in Indian River Lagoon near Cape Canaveral. The line tightened
around her tail as she tried to swim away, strangling the blood supply to her tail
flukes. "It looked like paper," Zucker said of Winter's tail. Winter learned how to
swim without her tail, amazing her handlers with a combination of moves that
resemble an alligator's undulations and a shark's side-to-side tail swipes. She will
be a permanent resident at the aquarium, even if she gets a prosthetic tail. Zucker
has formed a team to discuss the prospects of designing a tail for Winter. Fuji, an
elderly dolphin who lives at an aquarium in Okinawa, Japan, had part of his tail
remaining on which to attach a prosthesis. Veterinarians are unsure if a prosthesis
will be beneficial or harmful in the long term. The cost of the prosthetic tail is
unknown. "All I know is Fuji's tail cost $100,000 — and that was in 2004,"
McCulloch said. "We're a mom and pop shop," Zucker said. "It's a labor of love." It's
the cost of the long-term care of Winter — and the other injured animals in her
care — that worry her. Winter is a living reminder for humans to be careful about
what they leave in the water. "The kids get it right away. It's the adults, more
creatures of habit, who take more persuasion," McCulloch said. "You can't outlaw
fishing line, but you can educate a fisherman not to use careless techniques such
as tossing out line."
Main point
•
Dolphin lost tail
•
put in an aquarium
Explanations
Due to human action
got caught in a line of crab trap
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•
•
learned to swim without her tail
prosthetic tail can be a solution
•
real solution
humans
is
to
educate
but cannot swim like other dolphins
-it's costly
-requires a long time to develop
-dolphin cannot leave the pool even
with the tail
-will require long-term care
especially fishermen about fishing
without harming other animals in
water
Summary: The Dolphin That Lost Its Tail
A dolphin -named Winter- lost her tail through human action. She was
caught by a crab trap line and lost her tail while trying to swim away. Scientists
found and fed her. Then she started to swim but like no other dolphins. Her
swimming style could be harmful to her so scientists decided to solve this
problem with a prosthetic tail. This was done by Japanese before but that
dolphin lost only a part of her tail. A prosthetic tail could be a solution but it was
expensive and difficult to create. Also, winter wouldn't swim like other dolphins
that meant she would live in an aquarium for her entire life. A lot of different
people helped to design the tail. However, all these weren't the real solution. the
perfect solution was teaching adults especially fishermen to be more careful.
2. Summarizing an Experimental Report- summarizing texts require adequate
understanding of the experimental methods and discussions. Some articles
usually the report follows the order; purpose, method, results and conclusion.
Example:
Black tea ‘soothes away stress’
The study of black tea - instead of green or herbal varieties - found it helps cut
levels of the stress hormone cortisol circulating in the blood. They found people
who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who drank a tea
substitute. The University College London study is in the journal
Psychopharmacology. In the study, 75 young male regular tea drinkers were split
into two groups and monitored for six weeks. They all gave up their normal tea,
coffee and caffeinated beverages, and then one group was given a fruit-flavoured
caffeinated tea mixture made up of the constituents of an average cup of black tea.
The other group was given a caffeinated placebo identical in taste, but devoid of the
active tea ingredients. Both groups were subjected to challenging tasks, while their
cortisol, blood pressure, blood platelet and self-rated levels of stress were
measured. The tasks triggered substantial increases in blood pressure, heart rate
and subjective stress ratings in both of the groups. However, 50 minutes after the
task, cortisol levels had dropped by an average of 47% in the tea-drinking group
compared with 27% in the fake tea group. Blood platelet activation - linked to blood
clotting and the risk of heart attacks - was also lower in the tea drinkers. In
addition, this group reported a greater degree of relaxation in the recovery period
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after the task. Professor Steptoe said it was unclear what ingredients in tea were
responsible. "This has important health implications because slow recovery
following acute stress has been associated with a greater risk of chronic illnesses
such as coronary heart disease."
Black tea soothes away stress
Method:
 Subjects: 75 young male regular tea drinkers
 Experimental design: Ss divided into 2 groups monitored for 2 weeks
o Experimental group: given caffeinated tea mixture
o Control group: placebo drink
 Task: both groups given challenging tasks:
Subjected to one of 3 stressful situations and asked to prepare a verbal
response
Results:
• Increased blood pressure, heart rate and subjective stress ratings in both
groups
• 50 mins after the task, cortisol levels dropped by an ave of 47% in teadrinking group
27% in the fake tea group
• Blood platelet activation was lower in tea drinkers
• Tea drinkers: greater degree of relaxation in recovery period
Conclusion and discussion:
• Tea drinkers recover from stress more quickly than those who drink a
fake tea substitute
• Unclear if ingredients in tea responsible
• Tea drinking does not decrease stress levels but brings stress hormone
levels back to normal more quickly è Important bec. slow recovery after
acute stress lead to chronic illnesses e.g., heart disease
Summary: Black tea soothes away stress
In a study done at University College of London it was found that black tea
helps to reduce stress levels after stressful events. In the study 75 young male
regular tea drinkers were divided into 2 groups and were monitored for 2 weeks.
One group of subjects was given a caffeinated tea mixture while the second group
was given only a placebo drink. After that period, both groups were placed in one of
the three stressful situations. The challenging task increased blood pressure, heart
rate and subjective stress ratings in both groups. However, after 50 minutes it was
observed that the tea drinkers recover from stress more quickly than those who
drank a fake tea substitute. Although it is unclear if ingredients in tea are
responsible, this is an important finding because it is known that slow recovery
after a stressful situation leads to chronic illnesses such as heart disease.
3.
Summarizing argumentative or theoretical texts- One needs to follow the
author’s main line of reasoning, spot his arguments, identify the counterarguments
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he puts forward to refute another argument, differentiate between main ideas, and
evidence provided to support or refute arguments.
 Note or highlight the thesis, primary assertions, arguments or findings and
the primary means of support for each point.
 In the first draft of the summary, introduce in the first paragraph the full
title of the material, the author’s full name and the topic of the reading. In
the body of the summary, clearly explain the important content of reading.
 Make sure the summary is:
Comprehensive: have included the author’s major ideas, assertions and
findings.
Accurate: did not misinterpret the author’s ideas through own words or
paraphrasing.
Neutral: did not include own evaluation or comments as being fair and
objective.
Independent: A person who has not read the source text can understand
what have been written as a summary.
Example:
Monkey brain research: The case against
Dr Ray Greek, medical director of Europeans For Medical Advancement, puts the
case against using monkeys in neuroscience research
The planning inspector who conducted the public inquiry concluded that no
national need for brain research on primates had been demonstrated at the
inquiry. There is abundant evidence of harm to humans as a result of experiments
on primates. Many drugs that were safe for primates have gone on to injure and kill
people. For example, amrinone (for heart failure) was tested on numerous nonhuman primates and released with confidence. However, one in five human
patients haemorrhaged as the drug prevented normal blood clotting. An Alzheimer's
vaccine was withdrawn in 2001 when it caused serious brain inflammation in
patients, after proving safe and effective in tests on monkeys. The most dramatic
differences between humans and other primates are in the brain. Our brain is four
times larger than that of a chimpanzee, which is four times larger than that of a
macaque. EVIDENCE Biochemical pathways in the human brain are unique. Gene
expression in our brain is dramatically different from that of the chimpanzee.
Everything we know about these diseases has been learned from autopsies of
patients, population research and studies using human tissues cultured from
biopsies or autopsies. It is in human tissue that we will find the answers to these
diseases. The funding for the primate centre would be better spent on more
scientifically modern and reliable research methods involving DNA microarrays;
bioinformatics; micro dosing with subsequent Pet analysis; human stem cells; large
clinical studies and so on.
Monkey brain research
Thesis: no need for brain research on monkeys
Arg 1: research on primates cannot predict side-effects on humans
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Ex: amrinone no harm on primates but bleeding in humans
Ex: Alzheimer’s vaccine no harm on primates but brain
inflammation in humans
Arg 2:
• human and primate brains are completely different
• can’t understand human brain by experimenting on monkeys
Difference:
Ex: human brain 4 times larger>chimp brain
Chimp brain 4 times larger> macaque brain
Ex: biochemical pathways in human brain
Ex” genetic expression
Arg 3:
• real answers in human tissue
• All knowledge about human diseases came from autopsies, pop research
and studies on human tissues
Conclusion: funding better spent on research involving DNA arrays,
bioinformatics, microdosing, human stem cells, large clinical studies not
animal research
Summary: Monkey Brain Research: The Case Against
Dr Ray Greek, medical director of Europeans For Medical Advancement, in
his article titled “Monkey Brain Research: The Case Against” asserts that there is
no need for monkey brain research. Dr Greek states that brain research on
monkeys cannot predict side effects on human beings. Many drugs and vaccines
that had no side effects on primates may cause serious damage in humans, e.g. an
Alzheimer’s vaccine that was seen completely harmless on primates caused brain
inflammation in humans. Another reason why we should not conduct experiments
on primates is that human and primate brains are completely different in size,
biochemical pathways and genetic expression. Finally, knowledge about human
diseases came from autopsies, population research and studies on human tissues.
Greek concludes that funding had better be spent on research involving DNA
arrays, bioinformatics, human stem cells and not on animal research.
Guided Practice
Let’s try a few items! Identify what summarizing technique is suitable to
use from the passages.
Here is the first one:
A family is made strong through some factors. First, is
love where it is the first source of love one received from his life which
teaches someone the meaning of love he carries forever in his heart.
And second, many see that loyalty strengthens a family. One sticks to
family through hard times and celebrate in their happy times.
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It is Cornell Method. The main point is some factors that made a strong
family and the details are love and loyalty. How about this passage?
This is a body of research on families that are enduring, cohesive,
affectionate, and mutually-appreciative, and in which family members
communicate with one another frequently and fruitfully.
Methods include both self-report instruments, such as
questionnaires and check-lists, and observational
procedures in which rating scales are filled out by
trained observers who are present with the family in
their household or a laboratory, or who view and code
from a videotape made of the family interacting. This would be of great use in
understanding what makes families work well and how to help more families
become strong.
It is summarizing an experiment report, because the information has
purpose, method, results and conclusion. Let’s do a more difficult one.
The need to appear in court and choose between the parents is a
psychological and emotional challenge, and, therefore, it is
desirable to bypass this stage of the divorce. Parents need
to put the interest of the child first, because the child will
be confused and stress. Also, the child’s preference needs
to be heard and valued. In a period of young puberty,
children begin to feel and articulate their own identity and
their reasoning ideas. In conclusion, divorce brings harm to the child psyche, so
parents should pay attention to their children during this period.
It’s summarizing argumentative text, because thesis and arguments are
presented.
ACTIVITIES
A. Determine what summarizing technique is suitable to use in each of the
following passages. Write the letter of your answer on the space before the
number.
A. Cornell Method
B. Summarizing Experimental Report
C. Summarizing Argumentative/ Theoretical Text
1. Today, he got a new coat. His new coat has a blue hood and red sleeves.
His coat is very fuzzy so he stayed very warm. The zipper of his coat is green.
On the back, there is a picture of a snowman.
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2. Carefully designed video-training programs show promise in improving
children’s working memory, or the capacity to hold information in mind for
short periods of time. Several recent studies found evidence that workingmemory training may improve children’s math or reading skills or their fluid
intelligence: the ability to reason in novel situations. Kindergartners who
had working-memory training showed improvements in number skills,
according to a 2017 study of 81 children in the Journal of Numerical
Cognition. The training was delivered via a tablet videogame. While viewing a
series of identical characters in various colors, the children were asked to
signal whether each image was upside down or right-side up. Afterward they
were prompted to recall the sequence of colors of the characters and click on
the same-colored characters in order. Playing card and board games like Set,
Blink or Mastermind may have similar effects.
3. It would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital
books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems
than print resources. A study done on tablet vs. book reading found that
people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and
understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the
same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been
shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision,
dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances
than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices
excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such
as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
muscle strain. Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the
only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of
benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location.
While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it
would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens,
despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to
many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many
areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that
they could never be replaced by a simple object.
B. In a sheet of paper, summarize the text below by choosing one (1)
technique in summarizing academic text (Cornell Method, Summarizing
Experimental Report and Summarizing Argumentative or Theoretical Text).
Why Do They Say That Our English Is Bad? (An Excerpt)
Grace M. Saqueton
English teachers in the Philippines often find themselves in a very frustrating
situation-no matter how hard they try to teach the rules of written English to their
students, the students still commit errors in word order, word choice, subject-verb
agreement, tenses, prepositions, articles, punctuations, and the like. Teachers get
frustrated when they hear or read sentences such as “They decided to got married,”
“What did the students watched?” or “Ana go to the canteen.” It is also alarming
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because the rules that apply to these sentences are supposedly simple rules that
the students should have learned in grade school. Yet, here they are in college, still
committing those same errors.
Teachers and linguists alike have sought and (probably) are still seeking for ways
and strategies to teach English effectively especially in the light of teaching English
as a second language or as a foreign language. Different research studies have been
conducted and different theories have been used to address the situation. One of
the topics that the researchers have explored is the recurring errors in phonology,
morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse of second language learners. They
believe that studying these recurring errors is necessary to address the supposed
grammar problems of the Filipino college students.
Accuracy
Focus
Summary
technique
10
All ideas are
accurate
Contains main idea
and important
details
Used the technique
perfectly
RUBRIC
6
Most ideas are accurate
Contains main idea and
some minor details
Used the technique
with a few errors
2
Some ideas are
opinions
Contains main idea
and only minor
details
Used the technique
with many errors
WRAP-UP
The following are the things I have learned about the lesson:
.
VALUING
Always remember that family is like branches on a tree, we all grow in
different directions, yet our roots remain as one.
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POSTTEST
Identify what part of techniques in summarizing the underlined idea in each
of the following passages/sentences. Write the letter of your answer on the
space before the number.
1. Students should get less homework they do not get enough sleep each night.
There are many students who participate in sports or other activities after
school. 57% of middle students get between 4-5 hours of sleep each night.
The recommended amount is 7-8 hours nightly as suggested in
www.notenoughsleep.com.
A. main point B. argument
C. evidence
2. Many wild animals are extinct nowadays due to human actions.
A. argument
B. main point
C. explanation
3. Senior high school students are divided into two groups for 1 week to
prepare a verbal response. 70% of the respondents were able to give the
correct response and 30% were not.
A. method
B. result
C. conclusion
4. The real solution in order to maintain the unity of a family is to have a
central parental leadership. This binds the family together and creates a
picture of what a family is.
A. main point
B. conclusion
C. explanation
5. School-aged children should read for at least 30-minute each day.
A. thesis
B. main point
C. conclusion
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References
“BBC NEWS: Science/Nature: Monkey Brain Research: The Case Against.” BBC
NEWS | Science/Nature | Monkey brain research: The case against. Accessed
June
28,
2020.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/monkeybrainresearch2.ht
m.
“Black Tea Soothes Away Stress: Student Summary.” In a study done at University
College of London it was found that black tea helps to reduce stress levels after
stressful
even.
Accessed
June
28,
2020.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/blackteasummary.htm.
“Department of Education Image Bank.” Google Drive. Google. Accessed July 2,
2020.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xmFmQBOoXRtwxgvtmm1XdckrFT3pzO?fbclid=IwAR2C4mvxxjyLuAfaRNupPf2ik9ZRL2UOkiQrwIB39zn0aAyGjblx
3DbMNpo.
“Monkey Brain Research: The Case Against: Student Summary.” Thesis: no need
for
brain
research
on
monkeys.
Accessed
June
28,
2020.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/monkeybrainsummary.ht
m.
“Research
on
Successful
Families.”
ASPE,
February
21,
2017.
https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/research-successful-families.
A
SUMMARY.
Accessed
June
28,
2020.
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/studentsum.htm.
Black tea ‘soothes away stress’. Published on October 4,
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/black%20tea.htm
2006.
Dolphin
May
Get
A
Prosthetic
Tai.
Accessed
June
28,
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/dolphinstory.htm.
2020.
Sarikas, Christine. 3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed. Accessed
June 28, 2020. https://blog.prepscholar.com/argumentative-essay-examples.
Shellenbarger, Sue. “The Science Behind Making Your Child Smarter.” The Wall
Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, December 24, 2018.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-behind-making-your-child-smarter11545660001.
SUMMARIZING.
Accessed
June
28,
http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/summarizing/summarizing.htm.
2020.
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