Saturday 2 April 2022

Summary Writing

 Class-11& 12 Writing Skills:
 Summary Writing
 
What is a summary?       

    Summarizing is an important studying skill. It is a shortened version of a passage, written in one’s own words. The summary covers the essential information/ points of the original passage.

 A summary is much shorter than the original text, and communicates the main idea of the text and the main supporting points written again “in one's own words”. 

Click the link below to watch a video on Summary Writing

https://youtu.be/scUqZ6D3JtY


  • Steps for writing Summary

   Read the passage carefully → comprehension (to grasp the meaning of the text.) → underline the main ideas/ main points  → rewrite the main points in one paragraph (rough draft) → use your own words as far as possible→ write a final summary with a title

  • Remember while writing a summary:

  1. Find out the central idea of the passage
  2. Write in simple language
  3. Do not give your own opinion.
  4. Use word linkers ( and, or, as well as, but, etc.)
  5. Write in a single paragraph.
  6. Give a suitable title

  • Remember to eliminate the following:

  1. Repetition and unnecessary details.
  2. Figures of speech.
  3. Quotations.
  4. Adjectives and adverbs.
  5. Examples and illustrations.
  6. Direct speech by using reported speech. 

The Art of Condensations संक्षिप्त करणे ) 

1. Eliminate unnecessary information or details-

  e.g. My father brought home a flower pot. It was green in colour. It was bird-shaped. I am very much fascinated by birds. Birds play an important role to maintain environmental balance. My sister dropped the flowerpot and it scattered into pieces.

  My father brought home a bird-shaped green flower pot but my sister dropped the flower pot and it scattered into pieces.

 2. Convert phrases into a single word-

e.g.   1 He is never late and is always on time.

             - He is punctual

2. Dr. Patil is a physician who treats diseases of the female reproductive organs and provides well-woman health care

 - Dr.Patil is Gynecologist

3.  तुझा चेहरा चंद्रासारखा सुंदर, मनमोहक आणि तेजस्वी आहे.

 - तू चंद्रमुखी आहेस

 3. Use synonyms or synonymous phrases

e.g.   1. He had a good command of English.

              -  He knew English well.

 4. Turn complex sentences into simple sentences

e.g.  1. He received a welcome that was as cold as ice

    - He received an icy welcome.

     2.  I brought home ice cream. Its taste was delicious and it was made up of chocolate.

   - I brought home delicious chocolate ice cream.

5. Combine the sentences using word linkers.

e.g.   1. Rajesh is a handsome boy. He is obedient. He always comes on time for class.

      - Rajesh  is handsome, obedient and punctual

 6.  Generalization

e.g.  The people from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, U.P. and other states of India are facing the pandemic disease.

  -The Indians are facing the pandemic disease.

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Click the link below to download the notes on summary writing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aBdqmzyY0vDUeml-Qfw52GyTuFy5IbYj/view?usp=sharing

Example - 01
Read the passage carefully and summarize the passage

    The newspaper is an important gift of modern science. It has become an important part of our life, so much so that in the absence of a newspaper we feel something issuing from our daily routine. It was introduced in the 18th century in England but it was in the 19th century that it assumed great importance for good or for evil.

    Today every country is flooded with newspapers. There are morning papers, afternoon papers and evening papers. They also come in all forms such as dailies and weeklies and almost in all languages.

    The newspaper gives us news on various subjects and informs us of all things that take us in our country and in the world. Truly, the world has turned into a global community because of the all-binding influence of the newspaper.

    A newspaper does not give us only news. It also tells us the latest achievement of man in the field of agriculture, industry, medicine and other various fields. The newspaper gives us views of great thinkers on the social, economical, and political problems of the modern world. Thus, the newspaper spreads knowledge and moulds the thoughts of man. It helps us to form our own opinion too. It is the cheapest means of communication.

    A democratic state cannot do without the newspaper. The newspaper is known as the Fourth Estate. It functions as an important link between the Government and the people. It informs the public about the different policies and decisions of the government. Newspapers criticize the government if it does anything wrong. Newspaper works as a watchdog of democracy. In times of war and natural calamities, they raise funds for the suffering of humanity. Unless we read the newspaper, our day doesn’t start.   

 ANS:

      The newspaper which was introduced in 18th century England is an important gift of modern Science. There are different types of newspapers which give us news on various subjects and inform us of all things that take us in our country and in the world. The influence of newspapers turned this world into a global community. Besides, it tells us the latest achievement of man in various fields and the views of great thinkers. Being the Fourth Estate of the democratic state, the newspaper functions as an important link between the Government and the people. It works as a watchdog of democracy.

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Example - 02

Read the passage carefully and summarize the passage

Communication is a part of our everyday life. We greet one another, smile or frown, depending on our moods. Animals, too, communicate, much to our surprise. Just like us, interaction among animals can be both verbal or non-verbal. Singing is one way in which animals can interact with one another. Male blackbirds often use their melodious songs to catch the attention of the females. These songs are usually rich in notes variation, encoding various kinds of messages. Songs are also used to warn and keep off other blackbirds from their territory, usually a place where they dwell and reproduce.

Large mammals in the oceans sing too, according to adventurous sailors. Enormous whales groan and grunt while smaller dolphins and porpoises produce pings, whistles, and clicks. These sounds are surprisingly received by other mates as far as several hundred kilometers away.

ANS:                       

Communication in the animal world

 Communication is common to both humans and animals and is used to convey different moods and messages through verbal and non-verbal modes. Male blackbirds are known to sing to attract females as well as to keep other blackbirds off their territory. Similarly, sea mammals sing to attract mates as far as hundreds of kilometers away.





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Wednesday 30 March 2022

4.3 An Enemy of the People

4.3 An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen

  An Enemy of the People is a realistic play by renowned playwright Henrik Ibsen. The play, like all other his plays originally written in Norwegian. The play An Enemy of the People explores the municipal politics of a Norwegian town and exposes the hypocrisy of the Progressives and the Democrats.

Introduction: An Enemy of the People

Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen 

Henrik Ibsen ( 20 March 1828- 23 May 1906)

              Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright, theatre director and poet. Ibsen is often referred to as 'the father of realism and one of the most influential playwrights of his time. In 1869, he began to write prose plays. In 1877, he began what became a series of five plays in which he examines the moral faults of modern society. In order of appearance, the plays were The Pillars of Society, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, and The Wild Duck
    Like all of Ibsen's plays, An Enemy of the People was originally written in Norwegian.
 

Characters in 'An Enemy of the People'

Write a character sketch of  Dr. Thomas Stockmann.  

         Dr. Stockman is the protagonist of the play ' An Enemy of the People'. He is the Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths and the brother of Mayor Peter Stockmann. He is an ideal person who loves his family. He respects social values and fights against social injustice. He raises his voice against social evils and selfish and corrupt people.

Other Characters in the Play 'An Enemy of the People'

  •  Peter Stockmann - The Doctor's elder brother and Mayor of the Town and Chief                                          Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee.
  •  Mrs. Stockmann: Wife of Dr. Thomas Stockmann
  •  Petra : Daughter of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a teacher.
  • Ejlif and Morten- Dr. Thomas Stockmann's sons, aged 13 and 10, respectively.
  • Hovstad-Editor of the "People's Messenger."
  • Billing - Sub-editor of the "People's Messenger."
  • Captain HorsterAn old friend of Dr. Stockmann.
  •  Aslaksen -A printer. 

Plot of the  'An Enemy of the People'

The protagonist of the play Dr. Stockmann, a medical officer of the municipal baths, finds out that the bath water is contaminated. He is proven right after clinical tests. Therefore he wants to publish an article and expose the corruption. However, Peter Stockmann, his brother and the mayor of the town and the Chairman of the Bath committee, warns him of terrible consequences for him and his family if he publishes the article. Hovstad, the editor of People's Messenger, and Aslaksen, the printer, are hand in glove with Peter and decide not to publish the article. So Dr. Stockmann decides to hold a town meeting which turns disastrous, in which town people shout," He is an enemy of the people." His home is pelted with stones, windows are smashed, he becomes the target of people's ire. His contract as the medical officer is terminated, his daughter Petra is removed from her job as a teacher, his landlord wants to evict him and his family from their home. But he stands firm in the face of difficulties and ignores Peter's advice to leave the town for a few months. His wife is afraid that people might drive him out of the town. But Dr. Stockmann replies that he intends to stay and make the people understand "that consideration of expediency turn morality and justice upside down." What is convenient is not always morally right. He ends by proclaiming, "'The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone."
 
Synopsis  of the Act-III of  'An Enemy of the People'

Dr. Stockmann has discovered that the new baths built in his town are infected with a deadly disease and instructs the town to repair or close the baths. The Mayor, who is Dr. Stockmann's brother, does not believe the report and refuses to close the baths because it will cause the financial ruin of the town. Dr. Stockmann tries to take his case to the people, but the mayor intercedes and explains to the people how much it will cost to repair the baths. He explains that the Doctor is always filled with wild, fanciful ideas. In a public meeting, he has his brother declared an enemy of the people. The doctor decides to leave the town, but at the last minute comes to the realization that he must stay and fight for the things he believes to be right.

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Brainstorming Activities will be added soon.

Ref:  English Yuvakbharati Std-XI



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