Dept of Linguistics                                            

                          Linguistics 698A     index.htm Section 1

Writing Academic English

ASSIGNMENT:   SUMMARY

    The purpose of this assignment is for you to practice writing a summary with attention to organization and to the paraphrasing of points made in a paper published in your field.

    For this assignment, use a section of one of the papers you chose as models.  The suggested length of the section to be summarized is one professionally printed page in a small font, and the suggested length of
your summary is a maximum of two pages in font size 12, double-spaced.

    Focus on the following goals:

• accurate, balanced coverage of the selected section
• neutrality in reporting someone else's ideas
• organization: controlling idea, type of development
• use of your own words in the third person; paraphrasing with internal citation

In class  we will discuss paraphrasing so that you can avoid unintentional plagiarism.  Be aware
that you must cite your sources internally as well as externally.  When you cite a page number, simply write (p.___).

    At the top of the paper, identify

        the pages which you are summarizing
        the intended audience (expertise of specialists, wide vs. narrow audience)
        the complete citation for the model paper--author, title, journal, date, as follows:

            Jones, Leslie, "Trends in Network Modelling,"  Complex Processes, Vol. 52 (July, 1999).

In addition, the opening paragraph must have the author's name in it.   Use the author's name at least two more times, when you cite his/her unique contribution(s).

First draft due _______________in my slot in the hallway outside English for Foreign Students

Second draft   _______________in my slot in the hallway outside English for Foreign Students

Please pick up the first draft promptly  so that you can review it before class and ask me about anything
which is unclear.