El Sumillado Method

El Sumillado

• Definition: A note-taking method where brief summaries of paragraphs are written on the margins of the text.
• Purpose:
  • Improves concentration while reading.
  • Creates outlines and schematic diagrams for better understanding.
  • Collects data for generating summaries.
  • Identifies and highlights main and supporting ideas in a text.
• Steps for Sumillado:
  • Contextual Reading: Quickly understanding the primary topic.
  • Comprehensive Reading: Deeply understanding concepts, processes, and connections.
  • Highlighting Main Ideas: Underlining or highlighting essential ideas.
  • Sumillado Creation: Writing concise notes in the margins using your own words.
  • Verification: Reviewing notes to ensure accuracy and relevance to the original text.
• Elements of a Good Sumillado:
  • Main Idea: Clearly identify the main point of the paragraph, including supporting arguments but excluding introductions, examples, graphics, and personal views.
  • Simple Style: Use clear and concise language, keeping the word count minimal to capture the essence.
  • Autonomy: Provide enough information to understand main points without constantly referencing the source material.
• Characteristics of a Good Sumillado:
  • Clarity: Easy to understand.
  • Brevity: Concise and brief.
  • Objectivity: Impartial; avoids personal interpretations.
  • Coherence: Well-organized; ideas logically support each other.
  • Accuracy: Precisely reflects the original text, avoiding personal additions, changes, or removal of information.
• Includes:
  • Names, dates, statistics.
  • Significant findings.
  • Conclusions.
  • Key ideas.
• Excludes:
  • Extensive applications.
  • Introduction sections.
  • Personal comments or author's conjectures.
  • Long explanations.
• Utility of Sumillado:
  • Improves understanding of the text's content.
  • Facilitates active learning and memorization.
  • Assists in creating study tools like outlines and summaries.
  • Develops analytical and synthesis skills.
  • Efficient use of time, especially for lengthy texts.
  • Applicable to various text types.