Summary Assignment

Check the course on Angel for all materials relating to the proper execution of this assignment.

For this assignment, you are asked to summarize one of the following articles: “On Keeping a Notebook” by Joan Didion (p. 75); “University Days” by James Thurber (p. 343); or “College Pressures” by William Zinsser (p. 396).

Even though outside research is not required for this assignment, you are summarizing a source of information; therefore, a “Works Cited”(MLA) page is required for this assignment. On this paper—and this paper only—I’m providing it for you. Copy the appropriate entry from the file on Angel.

Here are the general parts/elements of a summary that should be apparent in your essay:

• Introduction of the text’s title, author, purpose and audience
• Statement of the text’s thesis that controls the essay stated in your own words
• Properly/effectively organized summarization of the text’s main points
• Use of key examples/details/quotes to illuminate main points (when needed)
• Logical organization
• Effective transitions
• Conclusion
• Use of YOUR OWN WORDS
• Use of third-person voice and present tense

Remember, an effective summary does NOT include minor details, repeat points for emphasis, and, most importantly, contain your opinions, feelings, or conclusions on the subject of the article/essay and its effectiveness or ineffectiveness.

Keep in mind that your audience is college-educated adults, but instead of reading the original text for themselves, they are relying on your summary for the information.

Your summary will be evaluated on how accurately you identify and restate the article’s thesis, summarize the main points of the text, incorporate key examples, organize the summary in relation to the ordering and emphasis of the essay, and manage this all round a thesis that you develop and state in your own words.

Due Date and Other Administrative Stuff:

Due: Friday, September 2 by 5:00 p.m., in the dropbox on Angel. No Rough Draft is due for this paper.
This essay will be graded on a 100-point scale of A, B, C, D, and F.
See the syllabus for the revision policy.

Essay Submission Guidelines:

• The finished submitted draft must be two to three (2-3) pages, typed, double-spaced with one-inch (1") margins on all sides.
• You must also submit the Self Assessment Sheet (available on Angel) when you submit your final draft. 
• Please follow MLA essay format and citation guidelines. (See www.dianahacker.com/resdoc for more information on how to do this.)
• Please use 12-point Times New Roman.
• No late work will be accepted.

Final Notes and If You Need Help:

Review the assignment sheet and the content available on Angel.
Please email me with questions or visit the Writing Center.