II.

SUBJECT MATTER

A. Topic: Writing a Précis/Abstract/Summary

B. Reference: Barrot J. and Sipacio P. (2016) Communicate Today

English for Academic and Professional Purposes for Senior High School. pp 86-103 C. Teaching Materials:
Curriculum Guide, Book, Overhead Projector, Laptop

III. PROCEDURE

A. Preparation

 A video clip will be shown about a current social issue (crisis in

Marawi City)  With a partner, determine the key ideas presented in the video. Then, write five to six
sentences that will encapsulate these key

ideas. Write your answer on a sheet of paper. B. Teaching or Modeling

What is an Abstract, Précis or Summary?

Texts are classified as either abstract, précis, or summary and

sometimes as synopsis, are all the same. Whatever they may be called, these
texts aim to precisely condense a larger work to present only the key ideas. They tell the audience the
gist of what has been read, listened to or viewed. Note that the way we write an abstract, précis, or
summary depends

on the expectations of a particular discipline or field. For example, publishing companies, libraries and
movie catalogs do not give away the actual

content of the material when they write summaries of materials. Their purpose2is simply to pique the
interest of the target audience. These kinds of abstracts

are called descriptive abstracts. Research papers on the other hand readily

present the key ideas and major findings of the study. This kind of abstract is

known as summative abstract. Between these two types of abstracts, a

summative abstract is more preferred in an academic setting. Since an abstract, précis, or summary aim
to present the key ideas of

the text, the general rule is to condense the information into around 15

percent of the srcinal length of the text. However, this is not a hard and fast

rule. In most cases, a 6,000-word research article for an academic journal

may require only 200 to 250 words for its abstract.

Structure of an Abstract, Précis, or Summary

The structure of abstract, précis, or summary depends on how it will be

used. For instance, the abstract of a research paper usually contains 150-300

words. It does not use any citation, does not include specific result statistics

and is last to be written.

In terms of structure, a research abstract generally follows the given

allocation of words:  Rationale

 Research Problems (around 10%)  Methodology (around 20%)  Major findings (around 40%) 
Conclusion and Implications (around 10%)

Guidelines in Writing an Abstract, Précis, or Summary

1. Read the text at least twice until you fully understand its content. 2. Highlight the key ideas and
phrases. 3. Annotate the text. 4. State the author’s name, the title of the passage and the main idea at
the

beginning sentence. 5. Use words or phrases indicating that you are presenting an abstract, précis, or
summary. Reporting verbs are the most useful for this purpose.3

36. Write the main idea of each paragraph using your own words. In some
cases, you can write one main idea for multiple paragraphs particularly of a

research paper. 7. Never copy in verbatim a single sentence from the srcinal text. 8. Combine the main
ideas to form one paragraph. Use appropriate

transitional devices to improve cohesion. 9. Refrain from adding comments about the text. Stick to the
ideas presented

in the text. 10. Compare your output with the srcinal text to ensure accuracy. C. Guided Practice

Original Text4(screenshot photo of the text)

Summarized Text

According to Barrot (2013), reading is a complex cognitive process of

decoding written symbols. It is complex because it involves interactive and

problem-solving processes. Reading can be developed through constant

practice. It is a two-way communication between readers and texts. It

involves the transmission of messages using optic nerves. It has purpose. It is

the foundation of good writing and speaking. You learn vocabulary through

reading. Reading also includes reading fluency. Fluency means the number
of words that you can read in a certain period of time. The average reading

speech is 200 words per minute. However, there are people who can read

higher that 280 words per minute.

Rubric for an Abstract, Précis, or Summary

VGE

GE

SE

LE

2
N

CONTENT (35%)

Paper accurately reflects the content of the

srcinal text while incorporating only the key

ideas. Key ideas from the srcinal text are reworded

without compromising accuracy or content. Proper incorporates the name of the author

and title of the text at the start of the summary. Specific examples are excluded in the abstract, précis, or
summary

This paper is free from personal comments or

opinions. Proper uses appropriate length. ORGANIZATION (25%)

Paper employs an organizational pattern and

structure appropriate for the genre. Cohesive devices are effectively used.

Ideas are correctly placed which improves the

paper’s organization. Flow of ideas is smooth and easy to read. STYLE (20%)

Paper showcases the writer’s voice

Proper uses a variety of sentence structures

Paper eliminates sexist language

Paper uses language appropriate to context

Paper eliminates wordiness7

GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS (10%)

Grammar is accurate. Spelling, capitalization, and punctuations are

correctly used. Word Choice is appropriate. Sentences are well-structured. Legend: VGE – To a very great
extent

GE – To a great extent

LE – To a little extent

N- Not at all

D. Independent Practice
Write an abstract, précis, or summary. Assume the persona of a

professor who is writing an abstract for a recently completed research paper. A. Find a partner. Complete
the given information to come up with a writing

situation for your abstract, précis, or summary.

Title of text: ________________________________________________________________ Author of

the text: _________________________________________________________ Purpose:
__________________________________________________________________

Target Outputs: ___________________________________________________________ Audience:

________________________________________________________________ Writer’s Persona:
__________________________________________________________

Tone/Formality: ___________________________________________________________ B. Within 15

minutes, read the following text before writing your own abstract, précis, or summary. Keep the
following questions in mind while reading. 1. What is the purpose of the given text?

2. Who is the target reader?

3. Has the writer achieved his/her purpose?8

IV. EVALUATION

Write E if the statement shows an effective strategy in writing an

abstract, précis, or summary and N if not. __________ 1. Kip adds his own explanations to some of the
key ideas he writes
in his summary. __________ 2. Joey copies in verbatim some of the sentences from the srcinal

text. __________ 3. Rachel highlights the key ideas in the srcinal text while reading

it. __________ 4. Monica includes the specific examples that the srcinal text

while reading it. __________ 5. Janice presents her summary in bullet form. __________ 6. Mona reads
her summary and compares it to the srcinal text. __________ 7. Emily reads the srcinal text several times
until she fully

understands it. __________ 8. Gunther writes a research abstract without any major findings in

it. __________ 9. Ross writes in his summary how he feels after reading the text to

be summarized. __________ 10. Candace write the name of the author, year of publication, and title of
the text at the beginning of the summary. V. ASSIGNMENT

Hone your skills in writing an abstract, précis or summary by checking

the website below:  https://yuwritingcenter.wikispaces.com/file/view/Writing+an+abs

tract_exercise.pdf

VI. REFLECTION

What were your misconceptions about the topic prior to taking up the
lesson?

What new or additional learning have you had other taking up this

lesson in terms of skills, content and attitude?10