Summary Linkers

WRITING A SUMMARY

Summary writing cannot be done without thought and reworking. A successful summary shows a thorough understanding of the piece that is summarized, as well as exhibiting sound language skills such as accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar.

The following steps will help you in writing summaries.

1. Read through the text to be summarized at least twice.

2. Isolate the information required for the summary.

3. Check that the points you have decided on are the ones required by the question.

4. Put the points in the correct order. (There may be a natural sequence, e.g. in a narrative, or you may have to decide on an order to emphasize the points you consider most important.)

5. Check the number of words.

6. If the text is too long, you must shorten it, by removing less important information, by combining sentences to reduce the number of words, or by using one word instead of a lengthy phrase. If the text is too short, you must lengthen it, by expanding some of the information already given or adding to it, and by elaborating some of the phrases.

7. Check your amended draft for length, content and grammatical accuracy.

8. Write out the correct and final version.

9. When writing your summary, avoid using exact words from the text. Always try to paraphrase the information, using synonymous phrases and different structures.

10. Don’t be tempted to include your own opinion in the summary, even though you may disagree or agree strongly with what is being said.

Make your summary easy to comprehend by using the following sequence words and linking devices:

You should start your summary with:

The article/text under the headline … published in … deals with/is devoted to/is about

You can use the following linking phrases in the body of the summary:

Attention is drawn to the fact that…

In the opinion of the author it is…

The author points out…

The author goes on to say…

The article discusses…

The author of the article takes a critical view of…

The author makes it clear that…

The author expresses the view that…

In the author’s opinion/view…

You can use the following phrases to finish your summary:

In conclusion the author suggests that…

The author comes to the conclusion that…

The author draws the following conclusion that…

The basic approach of the author is…

The following linkers will also help you to structure (signpost) your ideas when writing summaries, reproductions, essays etc.

Linking Words=Connectives

Function	Language
Adding information= ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ИНФОРМАЦИЯ	In addition (to) Besides=кроме того Also=также Moreover=более того Furthermore=более того Above all Not only,…but also What is more Another aspect/issue/problem is
Describing similarities= СХОДСТВО	Similarly=подобным образом (в начале предл.), точно также Likewise=подобным образом Equally=подобным образом In the same way=точно также (в начале предл.) There is a close/striking parallel/analogy/resemblance/similarity between
Contrasting (describing differences)= ПРОТИВОПОСТАВЛЕНИЕ	But On the other hand=с другой стороны While=в то время как Whereas=в то время как By/in contrast (в начале предл.)=в отличие от In contrast to/with=в отличие от Unlike=в отличие от This contrasts with As opposed to As against This differs from There is a sharp/striking contrast between
Concession= УСТУПКА	However=однако Although=хотя Nevertheless=Nonetheless=тем не менее
Introducing examples= ПРИМЕРЫ	For example For instance A good/typical example/illustration of this is
Expressing effect= РЕЗУЛЬТАТ	Therefore=вследствие этого, поэтому, следовательно, таким образом Consequently=в результате, таким образом, поэтому, вследствие этого That is why=вот почему Thus=таким образом So=итак, следовательно, поэтому Hence=следовательно, вследствие As a result As a consequence So that (в середине предложения)=с тем чтобы This results in smth.=результатом этого является This leads to smth.=это приводит к
Expressing cause= ПРИЧИНА	Because (of) As=так как Due to=из-за The cause of this is The reason for this is On the grounds of=по причине This arises/results/emerges/derives from
Introducing the main topic= ГЛАВНАЯ ИДЕЯ	The article/book/chapter/paper/report concentrates on/deals with/ is devoted to/focuses on/addresses/examines/explores/reviews/looks at/analyses The main subject /theme/topic is The emphasis is on
Mentioning minor related topics and ideas= ЧТО КАСАЕТСЯ	As for/to With regard to With respect to As far as smth. is concerned
Introducing the first item in a list	First/Firstly First of all
Introducing the second and following items	Second/Secondly Third/Thirdly/ Fourth/Fourthly Then Next
Introducing the last item= НАКОНЕЦ, В КОНЦЕ КОНЦОВ	Finally Lastly
Reporting in your words what someone has said or written= СЛОВА АВТОРА	The author/writer says/writes/argues=утверждает/claims/stresses/concludes In the writer’s opinion/view According to the writer The author goes on to say that
Summarizing= КРАТКОЕ ИЗЛОЖЕНИЕ СКАЗАННОГО=ПОДВОДЯ ИТОГ, СУММИРУЯ, РУЗЮМИРУЯ	In summary To summarize To sum up Summing up In brief=короче, вкратце In short=короче, вкратце In a nutshell=в двух словах
Drawing conclusions= В ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ	In conclusion To conclude
Expressing personal opinions= ЛИЧНОЕ МНЕНИЕ	In my opinion In my view To my mind From my point of view As far as I am concerned I think/believe It seems to me that
Time phrases used to sequence events=OЧЕРЕДНОСТЬ СОБЫТИЙ	At first=In the beginning (=сначала=по началу=первое время) First (=сначала=первым делом) In the end of=At last (=в конце концов) But At the beginning/end of smth. (=в начале/конце чего-либо) Then Next After that/Afterwards Before By While When As soon as Until/Till

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