Writing a Summary

Compare the first and the final drafts of the summary («The Odd Couple»). Write down your own version of the summary using the article «The Odd Couple». First draft

Charlotte and John Fedders were a rich and successful Catholic couple with five sons. The husband was an ambitious high-flyer, very concerned with his image, who landed a top job. His wife, a housewife, possessed a sophisticated veneer yet was in fact submissive and had a low self-image. John frequently attacked her, even when she was pregnant. Charlotte didn't fight against John's violence, but was content to be silent, at least until her son was attacked. While John was a

higl-spender and got the family into debt, Charlotte and the children were kept very short of money. The story illustrates the contrast between a couple's private life and public image.

(111 words)

Final draft

Charlotte and John Fedders were a rich and successful Catholic couple with five sons. The husband was an ambitious high-flyer, very concerned with his image, who landed a top job. His wife, a housewife, was submissive and had a low self-image in spite of a sophisticated veneer. She didn't fight against John's violence but was content to be silent, at least until her son was attacked. While John was a high-spender and got the family into debt, Charlotte and the children were kept very short of money. The story illustrates the contrast between a couple's private life and public image.

(99 words)

Can you put the following items of instructions on how to write a summary in the correct order?

- Write out the correct and final version.

- Put the points in the correct order.

- Check the number of words.

- Read through the text at least twice.

- Check your amended draft for length, content and grammatical accuracy.

- Write down the information in note form.

- Shorten or extend your text.

- Write out the information as the first draft.

- Isolate the information required for the summary.

- Check if your points are the ones required by the question.