How to summarize any article in English based on your level
welcome to speak English with Tiffany I
am teacher Tiffany let’s jump right in
alright there are two phases to
summarizing an article in English the
first phase is the reading phase now the
first time you read the article you need
to remember three things you need to
skim the entire article quickly and
totally from beginning to end number two
don’t worry about any unknown words many
times English learners get frustrated or
confused when there’s a word they don’t
know but you don’t have to worry about
this the first time you read an article
and number three find three key points
you want to find out what the articles
actually talking about just by quickly
reading over it from beginning to end
the second reading now you’re going to
read the article a second time this time
there are six things very quickly to
remember first you must find the main
point or main purpose remember in the
first reading you found the three key
points but this one is finding the main
point what’s the focus of the article
number two circle the key terms in the
article now these are not difficult
words these are the most important words
for example if the article is talking
about food circle the words that relate
to food or if the article is talking
about some type of news or some type of
policy that’s coming out in the
government you want a circle words that
are connected to that topic three divide
the article into sections remember
you’re trying to organize the
information even before you start
writing okay so section 1 section 2
section 3 blocks of information that are
similar to each other okay number 4
identify the time period or dates was
this article written last year or this
year or yesterday or today and also what
time period is the article talking about
for example is the article talking about
an event that will happen next year you
need to figure out the time period this
is all during the second time you’re
reading the article number five
recognize the people involved as you’re
reading through the article you want to
find out who is this article relating to
who is it talking about okay and last
number six search for the location in
the article where is this taking place
is it in America is it in Europe is it
in Asia where exactly is the article
talking about okay let’s keep going and
the third reading two things to remember
now for the second reading you did a lot
of extensive highlighting and organizing
for the third reading you want to get
more focused number one you want to
highlight the key sentence of each
section
remember this phase the reading phase is
helping you to organize your thoughts
and organize the information and number
two you’re finding the result or outcome
of the article
so after you’ve highlighted the key
sentences which will help with the
organization now you’re gonna find the
result what is the end result of this
entire article why was it written okay
now we enter the second phase the
writing phase now I’m going to show you
how to summarize based on three
different levels beginner intermediate
and advanced the first is the beginner
level and it’s going to be separated
into three different sections
the main purpose the key points and your
opinion this will be the same across
every level beginner intermediate and
advanced alright so first we have the
main purpose section sentence number one
is where you will state your main
purpose now you’ll see at the bottom
this is the information that you
collected from phase one in the reading
phase you’re going to use this
information as a part of the writing
phase okay so again sentence number one
is the main purpose sentence number two
the details about who and
so the people involved and what happened
and sentence number three details about
when or the time period where or the
location and why okay now the second
section the key points section has five
sentences sentence number four is the
number of key points okay in the article
the number of key points sentence number
five point number one
Cindy’s number six point number two
sentence number seven point number three
and sentence number eight the summary so
you see how all of these things are
organized which is going to make your
summary amazing okay and the last
section your opinion there are two
sentences sentence number nine the
conclusion of the article and sentence
number ten is your opinion now remember
sentence number nine is just referring
to the result of the article and in
number ten you’re just giving your
opinion because it’s a summary of the
article
you read all right let’s keep going now
the intermediate level now this is how
you do the intermediate level summary
now again the three sections are the
same main purpose key points and your
opinion for the intermediate level there
are six sentences in the first section
so you’ll notice it kind of expanded
sentence number one is the main purpose
sentence to who plus a description which
means you’re going to give more
information about the individuals the
article is talking about sentence three
what plus a description again more
information sentence number four when
plus description since it’s five where
plus a description and sentence six y
plus a description now don’t worry
in a few moments I’m going to show you
exactly what patterns you need to make
these sentences perfectly okay now the
key points section is also expanding
there are six sentences for this section
sentence number seven the number of key
points Cyndi’s number eight point number
one plus the description
what you’ll notice is we’re expanding
and giving more details based on our
level
so the beginner level gives less detail
but as you increase the level you give
more information for your summary now
since it’s number nine point two plus
the description since it’s ten point
number three plus the description
sentence eleven the summary sentence
number one and sentence twelve is the
summary sentence number two
so now this time we’re giving two
summary sentences and finally the your
opinion section now in this section we
now have three sentences sentence 13 is
the conclusion sentence number one
sentence 14 is the conclusion sentence
number two so we’re expanding our
information as it regards to the
conclusion in our summary and citizen’s
15 is your opinion so for the
intermediate level summary you’re gonna
have 15 total sentences broken up into
three sections
very organized okay and last the
advanced level and remember stay tuned
in a few moments I’m gonna explain very
clearly all of the patterns you need to
write these summaries okay advanced the
advanced level again three different
sections
the main purpose the key points and your
opinion for the main purpose in the
advanced level you have seven sentences
okay
CIND is number one your opinion before
reading the article now as you can see
in the advanced level you need to give
more of your opinion about the
information being discussed so the first
sentence is about your thoughts or your
ideas the second sentence is the main
purpose of the article Cyndi’s number
three number four number five number six
and number seven are the same as from
the intermediate level now their
patterns will be different but the
information is the same so let’s keep
going
the key points section also expands when
we go to the advanced
the level this time there are nine
sentences that we need to write for the
advanced level summary okay and the
first sentence in this section is the
same as the intermediate level the
number of key points sent is number nine
point number one plus a description now
you’ll notice sentence number ten is a
little bit different it says detail or
key sentence so what’s happening is
we’re expanding the information on each
of the points in the advanced level for
the key points section okay you’ll
notice you’ll see that in sentence 12
and sentence 14 now sentence 15 and 16
are also a little different because you
have two summary sentences now okay and
now the final section is your opinion
now like the intermediate level there
are three sentences but what you’ll
notice is that sentence number 19 says
your opinion after so this is your
opinion based on what you read from the
article and you kind of can compare it
to the opinion you had before you had
the article and now the opinion you have
after reading the article okay
now let’s jump right into actually how
to write these summaries okay so let’s
say that we read an article about the
benefits of eating healthy now the first
section that we need to write for our
summary is the main purpose on the Left
we have the three different levels
beginner intermediate and advanced so
we’re gonna see how to write the main
purpose section based on your level so
let’s look at the beginner the first
sentence for the beginner is the main
purpose the main purpose so the first
sentence says this article showed the
benefits of eating healthy now the
pattern that you want to use is this
article so no matter what the article is
that you read your first sentence will
use the pattern this article okay let’s
move on to the next
the next sentence is going to talk about
the who and the what it says it talked
about all adults and explained how they
can eat healthy so in this sentence the
second sentence the pattern is it talked
about dot dot dot and explained remember
sentence number two for the beginner
level includes details about who and
what okay and the third sentence for the
beginner level is details about when
where and why okay let’s read it it was
written because last year in the United
States many adults were sick so in this
sentence the pattern we will use is it
was written because dot dot dot in all
right remember so for this sentence we
have when where and why so for the
beginner level in order to write the
main purpose you need three sentences we
have how many patterns three patterns
okay let’s keep going now for the
intermediate level now for the
intermediate level you need six
sentences now the first sentence is
going to be also about the main purpose
but the pattern is a bit different so
let’s read it this article was written
in order to show the benefits of eating
healthy so you can see that in this
sentence the pattern is this article was
written in order to this is a little bit
different than the beginner level
because the intermediate level requires
a more complex English sentence okay
let’s go on the second sentence is who
plus description okay let’s read it
focused mainly on all adults who live
and work in America so for this one the
pattern is it focused mainly on and then
dot dot dot who remember the description
so you want to give more information
okay let’s keep going on to the third
sentence the third sentence deals with
what Plus description let’s read the
article made a point to show how they
can eat healthy especially on a daily
basis now in this sentence let’s see the
pattern is the article made a point to
show okay now in general this expression
or this pattern just means emphasized or
thought that it was important so for
example I can say he made a point to
show me his new shirt meaning he put an
effort into doing something so the key
here made a point to okay and the second
part is especially especially okay so
once again the article made a point to
show dot dot dot especially remember
because it’s a description alright let’s
move on to number four sentence number
four deals with the when plus the
description so let’s read it was written
on December 20th of last year which was
close to Christmas so for this one the
pattern is it was written dot dot dot
which okay it was written dot dot dot
which all right let’s move on to number
five sentence number five deals with
where plus the description okay let’s
read it the exact place that the article
talked about was the United States which
is quite populated now for this sentence
we have a longer pattern the exact place
that the article talked about
was so it’s a very long pattern but it’s
very good to use this pattern when you
are writing a summary of an article and
it needs to be done at an intermediate
level okay and the second part is which
okay all right let’s move on the sixth
sentence for the intermediate level
summary is y plus description
let’s read it this was because so many
American adults were sick last year so
for this sentence the pattern is this
was because alright so for the
intermediate level we have a total of
six patterns that we need to use when we
are summarizing an article okay let’s
keep going to the advanced level the
first sentence for the advanced level is
your opinion before reading the article
so let’s read the first sentence prior
to reading this article I only focused
on exercising for my health so for the
advanced level you need to use the
pattern prior to reading this article
that’s the pattern you need to use for
the first sentence okay so the second
sentence deals with the main purpose it
says however as I read through the
article I realized that the main purpose
of the article was to show the benefits
of eating healthy now since this is the
advanced level summary we need to use a
longer pattern the pattern is however as
I read through the article I realized
that the main purpose of the article was
to dot dot dot exactly one more time
however as I read through the article I
realized that the main purpose of the
article was to dot dot dot okay let’s
keep going
the third sentence deals with who plus
the
it says it focused mainly on all adults
who live and work in America so the
pattern is it focused mainly on dot dot
dot who dot dot dot okay let’s keep
going
sentence number four sentence number
four deals with the what plus the
description it says the article made a
point to show how they can eat healthy
especially on a daily basis so for this
sentence we have the pattern the article
made a point to show and then especially
now made a point to show that just means
it emphasized it showed that this part
is important ok made a point to show
alright next sentence number five the
when plus the description ok let’s keep
going
it was written on December 20th of last
year which was close to Christmas now
again this is the same as the
intermediate level it was written dot
dot dot which dot dot dot
ok this is the same as the intermediate
level ok next we’re plus description for
sentence number six it says the exact
place that the article talked about was
the United States which is quite
populated once again this is the same
pattern we use for the intermediate
level and this is okay because actually
an excellent pattern to use okay so the
exact place that the article talked
about was dot dot and which and the
final sentence for the advanced level
for this section is y plus description
and it says this was because so many
American adults were sick last year once
again this was because dot dot dot
okay so for the advanced level we have a
total of seven patterns that we will use
for the main purpose section okay let’s
keep going on to the next section
alright the next section the key points
section so next in the key points
section we’ll start with the beginner
level okay the first sentence for this
section is the number of key points one
more time the number of key points okay
so the sentence reads there were three
key points in the article so the pattern
for this sentence is actually the entire
sentence for the beginner level you want
to make sure you use this sentence
exactly how it’s written there were
three key points in the article okay
let’s keep going on to the next sentence
sentence number five says point number
one okay it says first eating healthy
gives more energy so the pattern in this
sentence is just first dot dot after you
write first you will write down what the
first point is from the article okay
let’s keep going
sentence number six says point number
two okay it says second eating healthy
helps people think better so the pattern
here is second okay very easy second dot
dot dot let’s keep going next for
sentence number seven it says point
number three
so it says finally eating healthy helps
prevent diseases so for this sentence
the pattern or the word is just finally
since there are only three points in
this sentence we can just use the word
finally and last for the final sentence
in the key point section we have the
summary okay it says these were the
points in the article once again this
entire sentence is the pattern for the
beginner level these were the main
points in the article okay so for the
second section of the beginner level the
key points section there are a total of
five patterns that you will use to write
a summary of an article at the beginner
level okay let’s keep going
this time we’re going to go on to the
intermediate level okay
so the first sentence in this section is
the number of key points
it says the article included many
important points but there were three
key points all right so for this section
the pattern is the entire sentence once
again the article included many
important points but there were three
key points okay let’s keep going
the next sentence in this section is
point number 1 plus description okay it
says the first key point was eating
healthy gives more energy that can be
used throughout the day so for this
sentence the pattern is the first key
point was so instead of the beginner
level which was just first now for the
intermediate level the pattern is the
first key point was okay let’s move on
to the next sentence point number 2 plus
description okay it says the second key
point was eating healthy helps people
think better by enhancing their ability
to concentrate while working and the
pattern here is the second key point was
okay very easy very simple this pattern
for the intermediate level let’s
continue the next sentence is point
number 3 plus description it says
finally the third
keypoint was eating healthy helps
prevent diseases by providing the body
with the nutrients that it needs and in
this sentence the pattern is finally the
third key point was dot dot dot okay
let’s continue the next one is the
summary sentence number one okay it says
these were the three major points stated
in the article
okay now this one as well needs to be
the entire sentence you write it
verbatim or exactly as it is here these
were the three major points stated in
the article let’s go to the next and the
final sentence in this section summary
sentence number two it says in general
the article used these points to
encourage adults to think about their
health more so the pattern in this
sentence is in general the article used
these points to dot dot dot okay all
right so in this section we have a total
of six patterns have to write this
really small okay we have a total of six
patterns through the e right there six
patterns for the intermediate level
let’s keep going to the advanced to
level where it gets a little bit longer
for this section okay so the first
sentence in the advanced level summary
is the number of key points it says the
article included a number of important
points but there are three points that
stood out to me okay so for this one we
have the article included a number of
important points but there were three
points that stood out to me now this is
a very long sentence as well but this
pattern is amazing for the advanced
level so again I’ll read it to you and
you can memorize it the article included
of important points but there were three
key points that stood out to me stood
out to me just means something that
really caught my attention or something
that really made me think okay stood out
to me okay let’s keep going to the next
sentence it says point number 1 plus
description okay it says the first key
point was eating healthy gives more
energy that can be used throughout the
day now again this pattern is the same
as the intermediate level okay so let’s
just keep going the next sentence is
detail or key sentence
okay detail or key sentence all right it
says one specific sentence in the
articles stated that the more fruits and
vegetables we eat the more alive we feel
now the pattern is one specific sentence
in the articles stated that dot dot dot
now what you’re gonna do after this is
literally write a sentence that came
from the article okay that it was about
the first key point okay let’s keep
going next
point number two Plus description it
says the second key point was eating
healthy helps people think better by
enhancing their ability to concentrate
while working now again this is the same
as the intermediate level the second key
point was dot dot dot so let’s just keep
going the next sentence deals with the
detail or key sentence okay it says this
point was reiterated in the part of the
article that said sugar clouds the mind
but healthy food revitalizes it I just
want to explain this word very quickly
sugar clouds the mind that just means
sugar makes it difficult to focus when
it’s cloudy you can’t see something
clear in the sky okay and revitalizes
just means to give more energy so the
pattern in this sentence is this point
was reiterated in the part of the art
cold that said dot dot dot okay let’s
keep going
the next sentence says point number
three plus the description okay it says
finally the third key point was eating
healthy helps prevent diseases by
providing the body with the nutrients
that it needs so again it’s the same as
an intermediate level finally the third
key point was dot dot dot okay so let’s
keep moving on since we know this is the
same as an intermediate level and we
have the detail or key sentence it says
the article said that many people suffer
from disease because of poor diets so
for this one it’s the article said dot
dot dot okay and again you’re gonna put
something there that’s from the article
okay let’s keep going now we’re gonna
get into the summary sentence number one
it says these were the three major
points stated in the article okay so the
pattern is these were the three major
points stated in the article this is
exactly the same as the intermediate
level so again we’ll just keep going and
the final sentence summary sentence
number two says in general the article
used these points to encourage adults to
think about their health more this is
also the same pattern that we used when
we looked at the intermediate level okay
so again in general the article used
these points to dot dot dot so for the
advanced level we have a total of nine
different patterns nine patterns okay
beginner level we have five intermediate
level we have six and the advanced level
we have nine and finally the last
section okay now the final section for
your summary is going to be your opinion
now let’s start with the beginner level
so in the beginner
we have two sentences for this section
the first sentence is the conclusion
let’s read it
at the end of the article it said that
eating healthy is important for all
adults so in this sentence the pattern
is at the end of the article it said dot
dot dot okay at the end of the article
it said dot dot all right and the next
sentence the final sentence is your
opinion it says in my opinion this was a
good article so you’re going to write
your opinion and the pattern is in my
opinion dot dot dot so you’re gonna give
your opinion on the article and this
would complete your beginner’s level
summary of an article okay now for the
intermediate level for the intermediate
level there are three sentences now the
first sentence is the conclusion
sentence number one okay it says the
last portion of the article said that
eating healthy is important for all
adults now the pattern in this sentence
is the last portion of the article said
dot dot dot let’s redo that little
squiggly here we go
the last portion of the article said
that dot dot now that’s better okay
let’s keep going the next sentence is
the conclusion sentence number two okay
it says it emphasized once again that
the food a person eats will affect their
entire life the pattern is it emphasized
once again dot dot dot okay now this is
showing that you’re saying once again an
important point from a previous section
in the article summary that you’ve done
okay and the last sentence is your
opinion and it says after reading this
article I also began to realize the
importance of eating healthy so the
pattern is after
reading this article dot-dot-dot you
give what your opinion is and that
completes the intermediate level summary
of an article and finally if we go to
the bottom and we have our advanced
level the first sentence is the
conclusions in this number one and what
will you notice it’s exactly the same as
the intermediate level but let’s read it
the last portion of the article said
that eating healthy is important for all
adults let’s highlight it the last
portion of the article said dot dot dot
the next sentence says conclusion
sentence number two it emphasized once
again that the food a person eats will
affect their entire life
and let’s highlight it it emphasized
once again the same as an intermediate
level and finally your opinion after now
this is a little bit different it says
after completing this article I also
began to realize the importance of
eating healthy so in this pattern we
changed reading to completing this
article and just so we remember for the
beginner level we have two patterns and
for the intermediate and the advanced
level we have three patterns for the
your opinion section now you can
summarize any article in English based
on your level remember to Like share and
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