Read the
text below and complete the following task. [PMR 2011]
The
newspaper is an extremely useful learning tool to students today. Besides being
easily available and affordable, it offers them numerous benefits.
A survey carried out on the benefits of the newspaper clearly shows that
students who read the newspapers have better awareness of the world around
them. This is because they are better informed of the current issues happening
around the world. Hence, they become more
knowledgeable.
As
language proficiency seems to be a problem amongst students these days, reading
the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. As such, they are
able to put into practice what they have
learnt.
Meanwhile,
once outside the classroom, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous
source of education and information. For example, it can be used to obtain
reference material or ideas for their school assignments.
The
newspaper today also motivates students to learn because it contains
educational supplements that help them with their lessons. Besides, they also
encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading.
It is without doubt that the newspaper is beneficial to students. As such, we
should encourage them to read the newspaper every day.
Write a
summary on how the newspaper can be a useful tool to students.
Your
summary must:
not be
more than 60 words, including the 10 given words below
be
in continuous writing (not note form)
be
written in one paragraph
Use your
own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your
summary as follows:
The
newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to……
Steps to answer a summary question:
Step 1:
Read the
text once to get an idea on what the text is all about.
Step 2:
Read the
question. Identify the keywords.
Write a summary on HOW the newspaper can be
a useful tool to students.
Step 3:
Identify
the content points. Read again the text. Read each sentence in the text one by
one. Ask whether the sentence answers the question “HOW thenewspaper can be
a useful tool to students”?
Sentence from the text
|
Does the sentence answers the question “HOW thenewspaper can be
auseful tool to students”?
|
What is the content point?
(highlight or underlinethe
content point)
* yellow – main points
* blue – supporting points
|
The newspaper is an extremely useful learning tool to
students today.
|
No
|
None
|
Besides being easily available and affordable, it
offers them numerous benefits.
|
No
|
None
|
A survey carried out on the benefits of the newspaper
clearly shows that students who read the newspapers have better awareness of
the world around them.
|
Yes
|
have better awareness of the world around them.
|
This is because they
are better informed of the current issues happening around the world.
|
Yes.
When you see the word “because”, the
sentence normally contains the supporting point for the previous sentence.
|
better informed of the current issues happening around
the world.
|
Hence, they become more knowledgeable.
|
Yes.
|
become more knowledgeable.
|
As language proficiency seems to be a problem amongst
students these days, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their
language skills.
|
Yes.
|
improve their language skills.
|
As such, they are able to put into practice what they
have learnt.
|
Yes.
When you see the phrase “as
such”, the sentence normally contains the supporting point for the
previous sentence.
|
able to put into practice what they have
learnt.
|
Meanwhile, once outside the classroom, students can
use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information.
|
Yes.
|
continuous source of education and information.
|
For example, it can be used to obtain reference
material or ideas for their school assignments.
|
No.
Pay attention to the words like forexample,
like, such as. These words indicate examples.Don’t
write examples in a summary.
|
None
|
The newspaper today also motivates students to learn
because it contains educational supplements that help them with their
lessons.
|
Yes.
|
motivates students to learn
The phrase after the word “because” is the supporting
point:
contains educational supplements that help them with
their lessons
|
Besides, they also encourage students to develop their
thinking skills through extensive reading.
|
Yes.
|
to develop their thinking skills through extensive
reading.
|
It is without doubt that the newspaper is beneficial
to students.
|
No.
|
None.
|
As such, we should encourage them to read the
newspaper every day.
|
No.
|
None.
|
*C
indicates content:
C1 - have better awareness of the world around them /
better informed of the current issues happening around the world
C2 - become more knowledgeable
C3 - improve their language skills / able to put into
practice what they have learnt
C4 - continuous source of education and information
C5 - motivates students to learn
C6 -
encourage students to develop their thinking skills through extensive reading
Important:
If you
are able to identify both main and supporting points, write either one in the
summary.
It is
not encouraged to write the supporting points. Sometimes, a supporting point is
NOT accepted as the content point!
Step 4:
Write
the summary. Write five (5) content points only. Begin your summary with the
ten (10) words given. Copy the points EXACTLY from the
text to avoid sentence errors and changing the meaning of the original text. Use
sequence connectors like next, then, moreover, furthermore, lastly, etc.
The
newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the
world around them. (C1) They become more knowledgeable.(C2) Moreover,
reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. (C3) Furthermore,
students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and
information. (C4) Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students to
learn. (C5)
Step 5:
Count
the number of words and write it at the bottom right of the summary. Make sure
your summary is NOT MORE than 60
words.
The
newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have better awareness of the
world around them. They become more knowledgeable. Moreover, reading the
newspaper also helps them improve their language skills. Furthermore, students
can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of education and information.
Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students to learn.
(57
words)
Step 6:
Read your answer again. Make sure there are no spelling
errors.
Marks
for the above summary:
The newspaper is a useful tool that helps students to have
better awareness of the world around them. They become more knowledgeable.
Moreover, reading the newspaper also helps them improve their language skills.
Furthermore, students can use the newspaper to be a continuous source of
education and information. Finally, the newspaper today also motivates students
to learn.