Descriptive Text PDF

1/ What is a Descriptive Text? A descriptive text is a type of writing that provides detailed descriptions of a person, place, object, event, or experience to help the reader visualize or feel the subject as vividly as possible. The primary goal of a descriptive text is to paint a picture in...

1/ What is a Descriptive Text? A descriptive text is a type of writing that provides detailed descriptions of a person, place, object, event, or experience to help the reader visualize or feel the subject as vividly as possible. The primary goal of a descriptive text is to paint a picture in the reader's mind using sensory details and expressive language. 2/ Key Features of Descriptive Text Focus on Sensory Details: It uses the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Example: “The roses in the garden were a brilliant red, their fragrance rich and intoxicating.” Vivid Imagery: It employs figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, to create vivid imagery. Example: “The sunset draped the sky in fiery orange, like an artist's brushstroke on a vast canvas.” Clear Subject: The text is centered around a specific person, object, scene, or event. Use of Adjectives and Adverbs: Rich descriptive language is used to provide more depth and detail. Organised Structure: Can follow spatial order (describing from left to right, top to bottom) or a logical sequence (e.g., general to specific). 3/ Purpose of Descriptive Text The descriptive text is used to: ✓ To create a vivid experience for the reader. ✓ To evoke emotions or feelings. ✓ To provide detailed information about something. Example of a Descriptive Text “The beach stretched endlessly before us, its golden sands warm under the blazing sun. The rhythmic crash of waves against the shore harmonized with the cries of seagulls circling above. A gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, mingling with the faint aroma of sunscreen from nearby sunbathers.” This passage immerses the reader in the scene by appealing to multiple senses. 4/ Coherence in a Descriptive Text To check the coherence (logical flow) and cohesion (connections between sentences and ideas) of a descriptive text, follow these steps: 1. Understand the Overall Purpose ✓ Ensure the text has a clear purpose and central theme (one main idea). Ask: Does the description stay focused on the topic? Example: if describing a beach, the text should consistently highlight elements related to the beach rather than unrelated topics. 2. Check the Logical Organization ✓ Examine how the text is structured. Does it follow a logical order? (e.g., spatial, chronological, or thematic) Example: spatial order might describe a scene from left to right or top to bottom. ✓ Ensure transitions between ideas are smooth: Does one sentence naturally lead to the next? Example: if the text describes a forest, does it flow from describing the trees to the sounds of wildlife, instead of jumping randomly between unrelated aspects? 3. Evaluate Sentence Flow ✓ Are sentences varied in structure and length to maintain reader interest? Does each sentence build on the previous one, adding depth or detail? Example: “The lake shimmered under the sun. Small ripples danced on the surface, reflecting the golden light.” ✓ Avoid abrupt shifts or unrelated details that disrupt the flow. 4. Check for Unity ✓ Ensure all details in the text contribute to the main idea or theme. ✓ Remove irrelevant or redundant sentences. Example: in a description of a mountain range, avoid including unrelated details about life in the city. 5. Assess Paragraph Transitions 1  ✓ Do paragraphs transition logically? Example: if one paragraph describes the sights of a park and the next discusses its sounds, is there a sentence linking the two ideas? 5/Cohesion in a Descriptive Text 1. Identify the Key Words ✓ Look for words central to the subject of the description. Example: In a descriptive text about a forest, key words might include "trees," "leaves," "branches," and "shadows." 2. Look for Figurative Language ✓ Identify and analyze the use of: Metaphors and Similes: Compare one thing to another to enhance imagery. Example: "The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sky." Personification: Gives human qualities to non-human things. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees." Hyperbole: Exaggerates for emphasis. Example: "The mountains seemed to touch the heavens." 3.. Analyze Word Choice ✓ Focus on adjectives, adverbs, and verbs: How do specific words enhance the description? Example: "Glistening" vs. "shiny" to describe water. ✓ Look for connotations (positive, negative, or neutral) of words. 4. Analyze Use of Transitional Words ✓ Look for linking words that connect ideas smoothly, such as: Chronological Transitions: first, later, meanwhile, after, finally. General Connectors: and, but, because, as a result. ✓ Ensure these words create meaningful links and avoid overuse or redundancy. 5. Look for Pronoun Referencing ✓ Check if pronouns (e.g., it, this, these) refer clearly to the correct nouns. Example: “The forest was quiet except for the sound of rustling leaves. It felt peaceful.” (It should clearly refer to the forest.) 6. Analyze Repetition and Synonym Use ✓ Avoid excessive repetition of the same words or phrases. ✓ Use synonyms or varying sentence structures to maintain cohesion without monotony. Example: Instead of repeating "the sunset," use "the golden sky" or "the evening glow." Example: ✓ Text “The beach was serene, with soft sand stretching endlessly. Above, seagulls glided lazily in the blue sky. The waves crashed gently, their rhythmic sound a calming backdrop. A cool breeze carried the salty tang of the sea, mingling with the faint aroma of sunscreen from nearby sunbathers.” ✓ Coherence Check Logical structure: The description moves from the sand, to the sky, to the sounds, to the smells, creating a cohesive image. Focus: All details contribute to the theme of a serene beach. ✓ Cohesion Check Transitions: "Above," "their rhythmic sound," and "mingling" connect ideas smoothly. Pronouns: "Their" clearly refers to the waves. Synonyms: "Serene," "soft sand," and "calming backdrop" avoid repetitive phrasing. This analysis ensures the text flows logically and remains engaging. Example02 ✓ Sample Text The mountain stood tall, its snowy peak glistening under the bright sunlight. Around its base, lush green trees swayed gently in the cool breeze. A narrow stream meandered through the forest, reflecting the blue of the sky. Birds chirped melodiously, adding life to the serene atmosphere. The snow-capped peak was a sight of pure beauty, dominating the horizon and drawing every gaze upward. Step-by-Step Coherence and Cohesion Analysis: 1. Check Coherence (Logical Flow): 2  ✓ Focus and Purpose(main idea) The description focuses on a mountain and its surrounding scenery. It stays consistent and doesn’t introduce unrelated details. ✓ Logical Order The text begins by describing the mountain’s peak, then moves to the base (trees and stream), and finally returns to the peak. This spatial order ensures logical progression. ✓ Transitions between Sentences Smooth transitions between elements (e.g., "Around its base" shifts focus from the peak to the surroundings). ✓ Overall Unity Every sentence contributes to portraying the mountain and its tranquil environment. 2. Check Cohesion (Connections Between Sentences): ✓ Use of Pronouns and References "its snowy peak" and "its base" clearly refer to the mountain. Pronoun usage is consistent and avoids ambiguity. ✓ Repetition of Key Words: "Mountain" and "peak" are repeated but not excessively. They maintain focus without monotony. ✓ Use of Linking Words and Phrases Words like "around" and "through" help establish spatial relationships. Transitions like "adding life" and "dominating the horizon" contribute to the smooth flow. ✓ Sentence Flow Sentences are varied in structure and length, which keeps the text engaging. For example: "A narrow stream meandered through the forest" (short and descriptive). "The snow-capped peak was a sight of pure beauty, dominating the horizon and drawing every gaze upward" (longer and reflective). Strengths Identified Coherence: The description maintains focus on the mountain and provides a clear, logical sequence. Cohesion: Pronouns, repetition, and transitions connect ideas effectively, making the text flow naturally. Final Evaluation The text demonstrates good coherence and cohesion, with logical organization and clear connections between ideas. Minor adjustments can enhance its descriptive quality further. Describing a Place Everyone has some imaginary place where he or she hides from the real-world troubles and worries. Some go back to that place before they go to sleep just to dream about something pleasant and release their mind from stress. Others visit that place when they meditate – exercise their mind by consciously controlling feelings and emotions. I like meditating as well and find this practice extremely helpful for my emotional well-being. One of the exercises I typically perform is going to my imaginary place where I feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable and where I can get rid of negative emotions and obtrusive thoughts. I would like to describe this place to you in detail. I have enjoyed nature since my childhood, so my imaginary place is the wildlife located far away from cities and people. It has everything I like – high mountains with snow peaks, green hills, meadows, and woods. It resembles the Yosemite national park, Swiss Alps, and English countryside at the same time. My imaginary place has much fresh air that is filled with rich smells of wood and flowers. It is always sunny there, so one does not need to wear jackets and hats. There is no one else except for me and wild animals and birds in this perfect place of peace and calm. When I come to this place, I walk different paths. One day, I like climbing the hill to reach the cliff from which I can see the whole plane at my feet. The air in this place is especially fresh and cool, but it is not cold here since the sun always shines at me from the deep blue sky. I like this place because I can watch the clouds come and go, but they never bother me because they are small and puffy like cream. I like to imagine that these are my thoughts that I can control when I need to or simply watch them passing by when I want to let my mind be completely free. This place is good to visit when I feel stressed and need to escape negative emotions and thoughts that bother me. 3  Another place I like to visit is the riverbank with green grass, flowers, and large wide-branching trees where I can sit and watch the water flowing calmly. This place is for a long, relaxed meditation. Here, I can walk barefoot on the warm grass, lie in it and watch the sky above, or stroll along the river bank. Sometimes, I go to my favorite tree that grows on the meadow nearby. It has many leaves that shuffle when the mild wind touches them, and this sound is extremely relaxing. The tree has a large dark brown body with strong roots on which I love to seat. I like watching the shades on the grass and listen to the birds singing above my head. I am not alone in this place, as there is also a horse eating grass on the meadow. When I need to clear my head, I ride that horse fast. I love this experience because when I imagine myself to be an experienced rider, I feel confident and free. Last but not least, there is a location in my imaginary place that I visit only on special occasions. I love feeling comfortable and warm, but sometimes, I need to step out of my comfort zone and try something challenging. So, I climb high to the mountains and slow peaks, leaving behind the calm and peace of sunny forests and meadows. This place is both spectacular and dangerous at the same time. It has steep cliffs and sheer drops, so I should be focused and attentive. When I reach the snow peak, there is nothing except the blue sky, blinding sunlight, and snow. Being in such a place allows me to remember that challenges are an integral part of my life and that I should embrace them to develop personally and emotionally. To summarize, my imaginary place reflects the diversity of wildlife and my emotional experience. It is a place where a man can live in harmony with nature and where the setting can be an inseparable part of self. My Childhood Home My childhood home was not just a building; it was a treasure trove of memories. With every room I entered, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The warm wooden floors creaked underfoot, whispering stories of days gone by. The walls, painted in soft pastels, cradled countless drawings and fingerprints from years of playing and creating. The scents of baked cookies and fresh-cut grass lingered in the air, wrapping me in a comforting embrace. Outside, the garden bloomed with life. Bright flowers danced in the gentle breeze, their vibrant colors painting a picture of joy. Birds chirped cheerfully from the branches, filling the air with music. The tall trees stood like guardians, their leaves rustling softly, providing a shady refuge on hot summer days. It was a paradise where I spent countless hours exploring and letting my imagination run wild. The memories of laughter and sunlight still echo in my heart whenever I think of my childhood home. Each corner was a reminder of simpler times, filled with love and warmth. Now, let’s move to a serene forest, a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As I walk into the forest, a quiet calm surrounds me. The tall trees stand proudly, their green leaves creating a thick canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through, casting playful shadows on the ground. The air is cool and fresh, carrying the earthy scent of damp soil and pine needles. I can hear the soft crunch of leaves under my feet, a gentle reminder of my presence in this peaceful place. Birds flit from branch to branch, their cheerful songs adding to the natural symphony. Occasionally, the rustle of a small animal can be heard in the underbrush, reminding me that I am not alone. The scent of blooming wildflowers, mixed with the smell of moss, creates a sweet aroma that fills my senses. The colors around me are vibrant yet calming—deep greens from the foliage, soft browns from the bark, and pops of bright colors from the flowers below. Each hue seems to blend into the other, creating a beautiful tapestry of nature. The weather is mild, with a gentle breeze that carries whispers of the outside world. In this hidden sanctuary, I feel a deep connection to nature. It’s a place where worries fade away and peace settles in. The forest inspires thoughts of adventure and introspection, allowing me to reflect on life’s journey. Here, I find a sense of belonging, as if the trees and trails have welcomed me home. Standing still for a moment, I take a deep breath. The mixture of scents and sounds wraps around me like a warm blanket, comforting and secure. This forest, with its serene beauty, reminds me of the tranquility that can be found in the heart of nature—a perfect escape that soothes the soul and inspires the mind. 4 1/ What is Paraphrasing? Paraphrasing is the process of restating or rewording a text or a passage in your own words while retaining the original meaning. It involves changing the wording, sentence structure, or phrasing to make the information clearer or more concise, but without altering the core idea. To give credit to the source, you must include a citation after the paraphrase. 2/ Steps of Paraphrasing An effective paraphrasing involves several key steps to ensure that you accurately convey the original meaning while using your own words and structures. Here are the main steps for paraphrasing: Read and Understand the Original Text Comprehend the Meaning: Read the text (skimming and scanning) carefully to ensure you fully understand the ideas (the main and the supporting ones) or arguments. Identify the main point or concept. Highlight Key Information: Focus on important facts or concepts that need to be retained in the paraphrase. Break Down the Information Simplify the Text: If the original text is long or complex, break it down into smaller sections or sentences. Identify the Key Points: Focus on the central or main idea and the supporting details that are necessary to convey the original idea. Put the Original Text Aside Avoid Copying: Put the original text out of sight to prevent simply rearranging or copying the words. This encourages you to use your own words. Rewrite in Your Own Words: use your words to convey the exact meaning of the original text. Use Different Vocabulary and Sentence Structure: Replace words and phrases with synonyms and change the sentence structure while keeping the original meaning intact. Simplify or Clarify: Sometimes, paraphrasing involves simplifying the language or rewording phrases to make the meaning clearer. Avoid Plagiarism: Ensure the paraphrase is sufficiently different from the original text. Directly copying phrases can be considered plagiarism. Compare with the Original Check for Accuracy: Ensure that your paraphrase accurately reflects the meaning of the original text. Ensure You Haven’t Changed the Meaning: Verify that no important information or nuance has been lost or altered. Cite the Source Give Proper Credit: Even though the text has been rewritten, the original source must be credited. Include a citation according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). Review and Revise Check for Clarity and Flow: Read through your paraphrase to ensure that it reads naturally and maintains the intended meaning. Edit for Grammar and Style: Correct any grammar or stylistic errors to ensure the paraphrase is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. 3/ Example of Paraphrasing Original Text “Learning to paraphrase effectively can help students improve their writing skills by making their work more clear and concise. It is an essential part of academic writing and helps to avoid plagiarism.” 5 Paraphrase Mastering the skill of paraphrasing allows students to write more clearly and succinctly, which enhances their overall writing ability. It’s a crucial component of academic writing and helps prevent plagiarism (Thomas, 2021) By following these steps, you can create a paraphrase that is both accurate and original while giving credit to the original author. 4/ Needed Changes in Paraphrasing When paraphrasing, the goal is to express the original idea in a new way while preserving the meaning. Here are some strategies to change the text while paraphrasing, along with examples for each: Change the Sentence Structure Strategy: Alter the grammatical structure of the sentence, such as switching from active to passive voice or reordering elements of the sentence. Example Original: "The research team conducted the experiment in 2020." Paraphrase: "The experiment was conducted by the research team in 2020." Explanation: Here, the subject (research team) in the active voice becomes the agent in the passive voice, while still conveying the same information. Use Synonyms Strategy: Replace key terms with synonyms that have the same meaning, but be careful not to change technical terms or proper nouns. Example Original: "The climate crisis is causing significant damage to ecosystems." Paraphrase: "The environmental crisis is causing considerable harm to ecosystems." Explanation: "Climate" is replaced by "environmental," and "significant" is replaced by "considerable," maintaining the meaning but using different words. Change the Word Form (Change Part of Speech) Strategy: Convert a word from one part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.) to another. Example Original: "The company is expanding its operations globally." Paraphrase: "The company is undergoing global expansion." Explanation: "Expanding" (verb) is changed to "expansion" (noun), altering the sentence structure while keeping the original meaning. Change Numbers and Percentages to Different Forms Strategy: Convert specific numbers or percentages into approximations or different formats. Example Original: "Twenty percent of the students passed the exam." Paraphrase: "One out of five students passed the exam." Explanation: "Twenty percent" is converted to "one out of five," keeping the same meaning but changing the form of the number. Use Different Attribution Signals (Change How Information is Attributed) Strategy: Change the way you attribute information (e.g., from "says" to "claims," "explains," etc.). Example Original: According to Dr. Smith, regular exercise can improve mental health. Paraphrase: Dr. Smith explains that engaging in regular physical activity enhances mental well- being. Explanation: In the paraphrased version, "According to" is replaced with "explains," demonstrating a change in attribution signal while keeping the meaning intact. Change the Order of Ideas or Information 6  Strategy: Reorder the sequence of ideas or information in the sentence without changing the meaning. Example Original: "She failed the test because she didn’t study." Paraphrase: "Because she didn’t study, she failed the test." Explanation: The order of the sentence is changed, but the meaning remains the same. Use Different Definition Structures (Explain or Define Concepts in a Different Way) Strategy: Define or explain concepts using different phrases or structures. Example Original: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight to produce food from carbon dioxide and water. Paraphrase: Photosynthesis refers to how green plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy-rich food. Explanation: In the paraphrased version, the concept is explained using alternative phrasing and structure while retaining the original meaning. Combine or Split Sentences Strategy: Combine short sentences into one or break down complex sentences into simpler ones. Example Original: "The teacher was tired. She still finished grading the papers." Paraphrase: "Although the teacher was tired, she finished grading the papers." Explanation: The two sentences are combined using a conjunction ("although"), changing the structure without altering the meaning. Eliminate Redundant Words Strategy: Remove words or phrases that don’t add any essential meaning to the sentence. Example Original: The book that I read last night was an extremely fascinating and captivating novel. Paraphrase: The novel I read last night was fascinating. Explanation: This version eliminates redundancy by keeping only one descriptive term while maintaining the original meaning. Quick Checklist for Paraphrasing ❖ Synonyms: Use synonyms to change the wording, but keep the meaning intact. ❖ Sentence Structure: Alter the sentence structure by switching between active/passive, rearranging elements, or combining/splitting sentences. ❖ Details: Change numerical expressions or percentages into different formats or approximations. ❖ Avoid Changing Key Terms or Proper Nouns: Be careful not to change terms or names that are specific to the original text. ❖ Maintain Original Meaning: The most important part of paraphrasing is to keep the original meaning intact while making the language your own. ❖ Note: when paraphrasing, do not change key words and proper nouns. 7 Bas du formulaire PARAPHRASING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 1 Read the original text below. Highlight the words that you think are specialised words or words that should not be changed when paraphrasing. Underline the words which should be changed. The United States, Germany, Japan and other industrial powers are being transformed from industrial economies to knowledge and information based service economies, whilst manufacturing has been moving to low wage countries. In a knowledge and information based economy, knowledge and information are the key ingredients in creating wealth. (Source: Laudon & Laudon 2002, Management information systems: managing the digital firm, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.) ACTIVITY 2 Read the two paraphrases of the original text below. Select the statement that describes the most appropriate paraphrase. Paraphrase 1 The United States, Germany, Japan and other economies are being dramatically changed from industrial economies to knowledge and information based service economies as manufacturing shifts to countries where the wages are low cost. In a knowledge and information based economies, knowledge and information are the focus in economic growth (Laudon & Laudon 2002). Paraphrase 2 There has been a dramatic change in economies such as the United States, Japan and Germany from industrial to service economies involved in knowledge and information. As manufacturing shifts to countries where wages are low, economic growth and information economies must focus on knowledge and information production (Laudon & Laudon 2002). (a) Paraphrase 1 is acceptable because it closely follows the sentence structure of the original. (b) Both paraphrases are acceptable because some of the keywords have been changed. (c) Paraphrase 2 is not acceptable because the sentence structure has been changed. (d) Paraphrase 2 is acceptable because both the sentence structure and the keywords have been changed. (e) Paraphrase 2 is unacceptable because the subject of the first sentence is different from the original, i.e. ‘dramatic change’ rather than ‘the United States, Germany and Japan’. ACTIVITY 3 Find the words in Paraphrase 2 that replace the key words in the original text highlighted in blue below. Paraphrase 2 The United States, Germany, Japan and other industrial powers are being transformed from industrial economies to knowledge and information based service economies, whilst manufacturing has been moving to 8 low wage countries. In a knowledge and information based economy, knowledge and information are the key ingredients in creating wealth. other industrial powers = _______________________ transformed = _______________________ whilst = _______________________ has been moving = _______________________ low wage countries = _______________________ key ingredients = _______________________ ACTIVITY 4 Build a paraphrase. Read the original text below and build a paraphrase from the selection of phrases provided on the next page. Information systems make it possible for business to adopt flatter, more decentralised structures and more flexible arrangements for employees and management. Organisations are trying to become more competitive and efficient by transforming themselves intro digital firms where nearly all core business process and relationships with customers, suppliers and employees are digitally managed (Laudon & Laudon 2002). How would you begin your paraphrase? Business can develop … (a) more decentralised structures, (b) flatter, less centralised structures (c) centralised arrangements Write Your Paraphrase Here ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Now ask your partner/group to peer review your paraphrase. You can also compare your paraphrase with a sample version overleaf. ANSWERS 1/ What is Summarising? 9  Summarising a text is the process of condensing the original content into a shorter version that captures the main points, key ideas, or essential information while omitting unnecessary details, examples, or repetition. The goal of a summary is to provide a clear and concise overview of the text without altering its meaning. 2/ Key Features of Summarising Conciseness: Only the most important points are included. Clarity: The summary should be easy to understand, even for someone unfamiliar with the original text. Objectivity: A summary should reflect the original content without personal opinions or interpretations. Paraphrasing: The ideas are rewritten in your own words rather than copying directly from the text. Example Original Text "Global warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, causing temperatures to rise. Human activities such as deforestation, industrial processes, and the burning of fossil fuels significantly contribute to the rise in these gases." Summary “Global warming results from greenhouse gases trapping heat, a problem worsened by human activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels.” This summary captures the main idea in a much shorter form. 3/ Steps to Summarise Text Here are the key steps to summarize a text effectively: 1. Understand the Purpose Determine why you are summarising the text. Are you summarizing for a report, an essay, or to explain it to someone else? This will guide your focus. 2. Read the Text Thoroughly Read the original text carefully to understand its main ideas and overall structure. If necessary, read it multiple times to grasp all essential details. 3. Identify Key Points Highlight or underline the main ideas, arguments, or findings. Ignore minor details, examples, or repetitive information that don't contribute to the main point. 4. Note Key Terms and Ideas Write down the central themes, important facts, and any critical terms that are essential to understanding the text. 5. Organise the Information Group related ideas together and identify a logical order for presenting the main points. 6. Paraphrase the Content Rewrite the main ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Avoid copying sentences verbatim unless it's a direct quote (used sparingly). 7. Create a Concise Version Combine your notes into a coherent paragraph or series of points that represent the text's essence. Keep your summary brief and to the point. 8. Check for Accuracy 10  Compare your summary with the original text to ensure you have captured all the main points accurately without adding new ideas or opinions. 9. Revise and Edit Eliminate any unnecessary words or sentences. Make sure the summary is clear, concise, and easy to understand. 10. Include Attribution (if necessary) If you're summarizing someone else's work, clearly attribute it (e.g., "According to the article..."). ❖ Examples of a Summarization Process ✓ Example01 Original Text “Regular exercise has numerous health benefits. It improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and boosts mental well-being by releasing endorphins. Additionally, it helps manage weight and reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension." ✓ Steps of Summarising 1. Highlight key points: Health benefits, improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, boosts mental well-being, manages weight, and reduces chronic disease risks. 2. Paraphrase and condense: "Exercise enhances physical and mental health, prevents chronic diseases, and aids weight management." ✓ Example02 Original Text “Social media platforms have revolutionized the way people communicate and share information. They allow users to connect instantly with friends, family, and even strangers across the globe. Moreover, these platforms serve as tools for businesses to market products, engage with customers, and analyze consumer behavior. However, social media has also raised concerns, such as the spread of misinformation, privacy issues, and its impact on mental health, particularly among young users." Step 1: Read and Understand Carefully read the text to grasp its overall meaning. Step 2: Identify Key Points Social media has changed how people communicate and share information. It connects people globally and serves as a marketing tool for businesses. Concerns include misinformation, privacy issues, and effects on mental health. Step 3: Eliminate Minor Details Remove less significant details, such as examples or elaboration, while retaining the core ideas. Step 4: Paraphrase Rewrite the main points in your own words: Social media enables global communication and business marketing. It raises concerns about misinformation, privacy, and mental health. Step 5: Combine and Condense Combine the paraphrased points into a cohesive, concise summary: "Social media facilitates global communication and business marketing but raises concerns about misinformation, privacy, and mental health." 11  Final Summary "Social media has transformed global communication and business marketing but poses challenges like misinformation, privacy issues, and mental health impacts." This summary preserves the essential meaning of the original text in a concise manner. 4/ How Long is a Summary? The length of a summary depends on its purpose and the length of the original text, but in general: For Short Texts (e.g., a paragraph): A summary should typically be 1–2 sentences long, capturing the main idea. For Medium Texts (e.g., an article or essay): The summary may be a single paragraph, around 10–15% of the original text's length. For Long Texts (e.g., a book or report): A summary can range from a few paragraphs to a page, condensing the main themes, arguments, and conclusions. ❖ General Guidelines Keep it concise: Include only the most important points. Focus on purpose: If you're writing for a specific audience, adjust the level of detail accordingly. Avoid exact proportions: The length isn’t fixed; prioritize clarity and relevance over strict word count. For example, a 500-word article might be summarized in 50–75 words, while a 10-page report might need a one-page summary. 5/ A Summary without Plagiarism To summarise a source without committing plagiarism, you must present the main ideas in your own words and give proper credit to the original source. Here’s how to do it effectively: 1. Understand the Text Thoroughly Read the source multiple times to fully grasp the meaning, main ideas, and key points. Avoid starting the summary while you're still unclear about the content. 2. Use Your Own Words Rewrite the information in your own language and sentence structure. Do not copy sentences or phrases from the original text unless quoting, and use quotes sparingly. 3. Focus on the Main Ideas Extract only the key points, arguments, or findings. Avoid including minor details, examples, or specific phrasing from the source. 4. Avoid Paraphrasing Too Closely Changing only a few words or rearranging sentences from the original source is still plagiarism. Reconstruct the ideas from scratch. 12 5. Provide Proper Attribution Always credit the source, even when summarizing in your own words. For example: o "According to Smith (2021), social media has transformed global communication." 6. Combine Ideas and Reorganize them Synthesize the key points instead of following the same structure as the original. This makes your summary distinct and less reliant on the source's format. 7. Avoid Adding Personal Opinions Summaries should reflect the original author's perspective, not your interpretation or critique. Example: Original Text “Regular exercise has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, support weight management, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes. Additionally, it has mental health benefits, such as reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.” Plagiarized Summary (Too Close) "Exercise improves heart health, helps manage weight, and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes. It also reduces depression and anxiety symptoms." Non-Plagiarized Summary: "Exercise offers physical benefits, such as better heart health and reduced disease risks, along with mental health improvements like alleviating depression and anxiety.". Note: by rephrasing and acknowledging the original source if needed, you can avoid plagiarism effectively Exercise 01: Analyse Introduction Paragraphs As you draft your introduction, review the information in the chapter "The Writing Process" about writing introduction paragraphs. You should start generally but not too generally. If you start too generally, you may 13 fail to clearly describe the problem. Read the introduction and the revised introduction below and compare them. Why is the revised introduction more effective? Introduction There are many new experiences for international students in the United States, and some of them cause a lot of anxiety. Arranging finances, housing, and legal papers in another language are some examples. However, those experiences are not typically ongoing; once the arrangements are made, they are usually stable for at least a semester. Other stressful experiences are repeated on a daily basis, like having a conversation with a native speaker of English. Many international students avoid these conversations, but that is a serious problem for them. Knowledge and preparation can help international students participate actively in conversations rather than avoiding them. Revised introduction Conversations happen everywhere: work, school, church, stores, dates, and even the gym. Conversations are such a common part of daily life that people often don’t think about how difficult they can be, or the anxiety they can cause, if all of these conversations are happening in another language. Many international students avoid participating in conversations, especially with native speakers of English. This avoidance is a serious problem for international students who study English because participating in conversations is crucial for developing their language skills. Avoiding conversations can also cause international students to struggle making friends and make them feel more isolated. While it is natural to feel nervous about participating in conversations, international students need to find ways to be more confident in their ability to participate in a conversation. International students can choose from various solutions to stop avoiding conversations and feel more confident. Evaluate summaries Exercise02: Evaluate the summaries. Which summary is most effective for each original paragraph? 1. Original: The equipment is the first major difference between American football and soccer. In American football, the players need to wear protective clothing because it can be a dangerous game to play. The players need to wear helmets to protect their head, mouth guards for their teeth, and large pads for their shoulders and back. The players use a brown ball that is pointed on the ends. On the other hand, soccer players do not need to wear helmets and lots of protective pads. The players just have pads to protect their shins, and the goalie wears gloves. The ball they use in soccer is round. The ball is usually a bright color like white. Soccer and American football definitely require different equipment to play them. Summary #1: American football and soccer have different clothing, which is the biggest difference between the two sports when people play them. Summary #2: The equipment is different. Summary #3: American football and soccer are different due to the equipment required to play each one, namely the protective clothing (helmets and pads) and the ball that is used to play. 2. Original: Exercise is important because it improves your mental health. First, exercise is the healthiest way to deal with stress. When we have too much stress, our mental and emotional health is affected negatively. Exercise can reduce this impact. Exercise can also influence the balance of chemicals we have inside our bodies. Exercise releases endorphins into our bodies and that can help us feel better or not be depressed. These emotional benefits are very helpful. Exercise also helps us think more clearly because it brings more oxygen to the brain. If you watch how you feel when you exercise, you will notice that your mood and mental clarity improve. Summary #1: Exercise improves your mental health. Summary #2: Due to mental health benefits like reducing stress, balancing chemicals, releasing endorphins, and helping us think more clearly, exercise is essential. 14  Summary #3: Exercise improves your mental health. First, exercise is the healthiest way to deal with stress. Exercise can also influence our chemical balance. Exercise also helps us think more clearly because it brings more oxygen to the brain. Summary #4: Exercise is important because your mental health is more important than your physical health and exercise is effective at improving your mental health. Exercise 3: Identify major ideas Exercise03: Identify the details or examples that are not major ideas. Be prepared to explain your choices. Dinner groups are a great solution for people who hate to cook for themselves. A dinner group is a group of friends that decides to eat dinner together every night. The job of being the cook rotates every day that the group meets for dinner. Most college dinner groups meet Monday through Thursday, to allow group members time on the weekends to go on dates and visit friends. If there are four people, everyone cooks dinner one day each week from Monday to Thursday. If you are only in charge of cooking one meal each week, you can simply go to someone’s house on the other days each week and not need to spend time cooking. Dinner groups allow busy students to eat healthy meals every night, but only cook once a week. This is an excellent way to eat healthier and maybe even make a new friend. Exercise 4: Evaluate and revise a summary Exercise04: Evaluate and Revise a Summary Read the original paragraph and the summary. Original: Getting married in the United States often involves many different types of parties. Some couples have an engagement party, which is for family and friends to express congratulations to the couple after they get engaged. The bride typically is invited to a bridal shower, which is a party for all of her friends (usually only female friends) to celebrate the upcoming wedding with her. After the wedding ceremony, there is usually a wedding reception, which is another large party. The wedding reception includes many traditional activities, like cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet. All of these different parties are part of many American weddings. Summary: Getting married in the United States has many different events, such as engagement parties for some people where friends and family congratulate the couple and a wedding reception which is a party where there are many traditional things like throwing the bouquet to find the next bride and cutting the cake for the bride and the groom; then the couple is very tired! Evaluate the summary based on the following criteria: explains the most important parts of the original. is written in your own words. keeps the original meaning. does not merely “cut” and “copy” from the original. is shorter than the original.5: Write a summary. Exercise05: Choose a paragraph to summarize. Write your summary on a piece of paper. #1: Serving Others Serving others can help make people happier in any situation. When people are feeling stressed or unhappy, it is often because they are focused on their problems and worries. Focusing on our own problems and worries makes us feel more stressed about them. When we focus on helping other people with their problems, we feel 15 happier because we are not focused on ourselves. Helping others also helps in the other areas of building happiness: it strengthens our relationships with others and it helps us feel more gratitude. When we serve others, we can become good friends with the people we help because they see how much we care about them. We feel more gratitude because we see the problems other people face and we realize that we are not the only ones who struggle with certain problems. Serving others is an essential key to living a happier life. #2: Online Classes Online classes, on the other hand, do not offer face-to-face interaction and they are more limited in their instruction methods, yet they offer greater flexibility for scheduling. The interaction between teachers and students in an online class is typically time-delayed, meaning that students send an email and wait for a response. Interaction with classmates is less personal than it would be in a traditional class because when student-to-student interaction is required, it is typically limited to email or an online discussion board. The method of instruction in online classes is typically limited to videos and reading articles that can be sent to students electronically. Many of the hands-on experiences that students get in a traditional class are virtually impossible to have in an online class. Rather than being able to touch and feel rocks in the geology class, students will be limited to videos or pictures of rocks. The scheduling is very flexible. Students typically enroll in online classes because they need the ability to take classes at night, early in the morning, or even during their lunch break at work. The pace of online classes is typically determined by the students, so their personal and work schedules do not need to be completely changed. While the interaction and instruction may be limitations of an online class, the scheduling is very flexible. 16