Methods of Summarizing

The readings from The Physics Classroom will, for the most part, cover what we have discussed during the day. Therefore, it should be the second time that you are receiving the information. Please don’t think that this is a reason to skim the material, “Oh, I already know this!” Hearing it and knowing it are two different things.

But it will definitely be easier, since you will be at least a little familiar with the ideas presented to you.

All summaries should be posted on your wiki. Your wiki is your notebook. When summarizing in your wiki, you may add pictures, illustrations, animations, etc to support your words. You may even copy and paste reference sections of the text (with appropriate citations), as long as you explain everything IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

Here are a few suggestions with which to summarize:

Method 1: Directed Reading After reading the material, answer the following questions: 1. What (specifically) did you read that you already understood well from our class discussion? Describe at least 2 items fully. 2. What (specifically) did you read that you were a little confused/unclear/shaky about from class, but the reading helped to clarify? Describe the misconception you were having as well as your new understanding. 3. What (specifically) did you read that you still don’t understand? Please word these in the form of a question. 4. What (specifically) did you read that was not gone over during class today?

Method 2: Headline Technique After reading each passage, imagine that you are a journalist. Newspaper headlines have to grab the reader’s attention, and they must capture the essence of the story in one line. In addition, the first paragraph (usually only 2 – 4 sentences) includes all of the major points, with the rest of the article fleshing out those points fully. Your job is to generate the headline and first paragraph only. Do this for each concept presented in the passages that you are assigned to read.

Method 3: P-Q-R-S-T This is simple to remember and an effective way to read a passage. P = Preview to identify the main parts of the reading Q = Develop questions to which you want to find answers. R = Read the material, twice if possible. S = State the central idea or theme. T = Test yourself by answering the questions.

In your wiki, you will record the questions (minimum of 5 for each passage), providing a statement of the central idea or them, and the answers to your questions.

EVALUATE YOUR SUMMARY: • Does it convey information accurately? • Is it too narrow or too broad? Does it convey all of the important elements? Does it convey too much? • Would someone else using this summary gain all he or she needed to know to understand the subject? • Are the ideas in the right sequence? • Did I leave out my opinion and just report an undistorted essence of the original context? • Did I use my own words and style?