Questions and Answers
Whenever you summarize, you need to study the author's argument closely to make sure that you do not confuse it with something you already believe.
True
When you write a summary, you will need to tell your readers enough about his or her argument so they can assess its merits on their own, independent of you.
True
In a satiric summary, the writer deliberately gives his or her own spin to someone else's argument in order to reveal a glaring shortcoming in it.
True
A good summary requires balancing what the original author is saying with the writer's own focus.
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When you summarize, you have to be respectful of others but simultaneously structure how you summarize them in light of your own text's central argument.
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Summarizing others' arguments is not central to your arsenal of basic moves because writers who make strong claims do not need to map their claims relative to those of other people.
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Writing is about playing it safe and not making waves. It's a matter of piling up truths and bits of knowledge rather than a dynamic process of doing things to and with other people.
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To write a good summary, you need to see their argument from their perspective.
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When writing a summary, avoid bland formulas like 'she says' or 'they believe.' It often drains the passion out of the ideas you're summarizing.
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If you cannot or will not suspend your own beliefs when you write a summary, you are likely to produce summaries that are so obviously biased that they undermine your credibility with readers.
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Study Notes
Summary Techniques
- Summarizing requires careful examination of the author's argument to avoid conflating it with personal beliefs.
- Readers should be provided enough information about the argument to independently evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
Satiric Summaries
- A satiric summary incorporates the writer's perspective to highlight flaws in the original argument, allowing it to critique itself.
Balancing Perspectives
- A well-crafted summary must balance the essence of the original argument with the summarizer's own analytical focus.
Respectful Summarizing
- While summarizing, maintaining respect for the original author is essential, but the summary should align with the summarizer's central argument.
Importance of Summarizing
- Summarizing others' arguments is crucial for effective writing, as strong claims should be contextualized relative to existing viewpoints.
Dynamic Nature of Writing
- Writing is an active and engaging process, not merely an accumulation of facts. It involves interaction and exploration of ideas.
Perspective Taking
- To summarize effectively, it's important to understand the argument from the author’s viewpoint, enhancing the accuracy of the summary.
Avoiding Formulaic Expressions
- Generic phrases such as "she says" or "they believe" can dilute the vigor of the ideas being summarized; more engaged language is preferred.
Risk of Bias
- Holding onto personal beliefs during summarization can lead to biased interpretations that weaken the writer's credibility with the audience.
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Description
Test your understanding of key concepts from Chapter 2 of 'They Say / I Say'. This quiz focuses on summarizing arguments and the importance of distinguishing the author's perspective from your own beliefs. Assess your grasp of satirical summary techniques as well.
