Summary Writing Guide for Communication Studies Exam

Summary writing or concise writing is a skill often tested for in many subjects, especially Communication Studies. In this blog you will learn:

• What is the purpose of a summary
• What makes a good summary
• Summary writing tips and tricks

Understanding the Purpose of a Summary

A summary condenses the original text, presenting the main ideas in a concise form. For the Communication Studies exam, this skill is critical for demonstrating comprehension and the ability to distill key information effectively.

Key Components of a Good Summary

Brevity: Summaries should be short, typically 1/3 of the original text.

Clarity: Avoid vague language and clearly present the main points.

Objectivity: Only include information from the source without inserting personal opinions or interpretations.

Accuracy: Ensure that the original meaning of the text is retained.

Steps to Writing an Effective Summary

Step 1: Read and Understand the Text

• Read the passage carefully at least twice.
• Identify the main ideas and supporting details.
• Pay attention to the topic sentences of paragraphs, as they often summarize the key point.

Step 2: Identify Key Information

• Eliminate any unnecessary information like examples, anecdotes, or opinions.
• Focus on the "who, what, where, when, why, and how" of the text.

Step 3: Create a Draft

• Use your own words to rewrite the key ideas.
• Ensure you are preserving the meaning but shortening the content.
• Avoid using direct quotes unless necessary.

Step 4: Revise for Conciseness

• Make sure your summary is brief while covering all essential points.
• Revise for grammatical correctness, coherence, and fluidity.

Step 5: Edit for Accuracy

• Compare your summary to the original text. Ensure all the important ideas are included and no significant points are omitted.

Common Pitfalls in Summary Writing

Too much detail: Including minor points or examples that should be left out.

Paraphrasing too closely: Rewriting the text too closely to the original wording.

Missing the main idea: Focusing on secondary points rather than the primary argument.

Adding personal opinions: The summary should reflect the author’s ideas, not your views.

Practice Tips

Timed Practice: Practice summarizing under exam conditions, where time is limited. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and work to condense a text within that timeframe.

Vary Text Types: Practice with a variety of texts such as articles, essays, and speeches. This helps in becoming adaptable to different writing styles and content structures.

Peer Review: Swap summaries with classmates for feedback. Others may notice details you missed or highlight where you might be too vague or too detailed.

Free Online Resources for Practice

Summary Writing Exercises:

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Provides exercises on summarizing and paraphrasing, along with examples.

  - Summary Writing Guide

Khan Academy: Offers exercises that involve reading comprehension and summarization of texts.

  - Khan Academy Practice

Reading Passages for Summary Practice:

CommonLit: A free collection of texts with questions that help in understanding main ideas, perfect for practicing summaries.

  - CommonLit Free Texts

Newsela: Provides articles at varying reading levels with options to practice writing summaries.

  - Newsela Practice

Summary Writing Worksheets:

Education.com: Offers free worksheets and printables for practicing summary writing skills.

  - Education.com Worksheets

Conclusion

By incorporating these steps and using the free resources, you can improve your summary writing skills and be better prepared for any exam, especially a Communication Studies exam.

You may also want to read:

Main point vs. Purpose

The Creole Continuum

English Creoles are vibrant and diverse languages that have evolved from the fusion of English with various African, indigenous, and other linguistic influences. One fascinating aspect of these Creoles is the concept of the Creole Continuum, which encompasses a range of linguistic varieties, from the most similar to standard English (acrolect) to the most divergent (basilect). Understanding this continuum offers insight into the rich linguistic tapestry of English Creoles and their importance in cultural identity.

The Creole Continuum

At the heart of the Creole Continuum lies the idea that within a single Creole language, there exists a spectrum of linguistic forms, each with its own characteristics and usage. 

Acrolect

At one end of the continuum is the acrolect, which closely resembles standard English in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Speakers of the acrolect may code-switch between their Creole and standard English, depending on the context.

Mesolect

Moving along the continuum, we encounter mesolectal varieties, which exhibit a blend of Creole and standard English features. These forms may include some Creole vocabulary and grammatical structures while maintaining overall intelligibility with speakers of the acrolect.

Basilect

Finally, at the other end of the continuum lies the basilect, characterized by its maximal divergence from standard English. Bassilectal varieties often feature extensive lexical innovation, distinct grammatical patterns, and phonological differences that may challenge comprehension for speakers of the acrolect.

Example of the Creole Continuum

Let's take Jamaican Creole (also known as Jamaican Patois) as an example to illustrate the Creole Continuum. In its acrolectal form, Jamaican Creole may be spoken by individuals in formal settings or those who have had more exposure to standard English education. The acrolectal speaker might say, "Good morning, how you do?" which closely resembles standard English.

As we move towards the mesolect, we might hear a speaker say, "Wa gwaan, yuh good?" This version retains some English vocabulary ("good") but incorporates Creole features such as "wa gwaan" (what's going on) and "yuh" (you).

Finally, in the basilectal form, we might hear someone say, "Wa, gwaan?",  "Wa yuh deh pon?", "Wa, gallang?" or "Wah di pree?" Here, we see further divergence from standard English with phrases like "wha'appen" (what happened) and "yuh good", showcasing the creativity and uniqueness of the basilect.

Significance of the Creole Continuum

Understanding the Creole Continuum is essential for appreciating the linguistic diversity and cultural heritage embedded within English Creoles. It challenges the notion of a monolithic "standard" language and celebrates the richness of linguistic variation within Creole-speaking communities.

Furthermore, the Creole Continuum serves as a tool for identity expression, allowing speakers to navigate their linguistic repertoires based on social context, audience, and personal preferences. Whether speaking the acrolect at work, the mesolect with friends, or the basilect at home, individuals can fluidly adapt their language to suit different communicative needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Creole Continuum offers a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic nature of English Creoles and the diverse linguistic landscapes they encompass. By exploring the continuum, we gain insights into the complex interplay between language, culture, and identity, highlighting the resilience and creativity of Creole-speaking communities worldwide. Embracing the Creole Continuum encourages us to celebrate linguistic diversity and recognize the value of every linguistic expression along the spectrum.

What is Slang?

There are varied definitions for slang. Slang can be described as relative and elusive, being hard to define as it encompasses the popular, the fashionable, the ease of reference and the obscene.

According to the dictionary of Language & Linguistics, slang is ‘a variety of speech characterized by the newly coined and rapidly changing vocabulary used by the young, social and professional groups for ‘in-group’ communication and thus tending to prevent understanding by most of the speech community. 

Slang is a very vibrant and ingenious vehicle of communication which reveals what is of importance and interest to a community. However, the most important aspect of slang is that it is language used below the level of stylistically neutral language. 

Here are five other characteristics of slang:

1. Typical of Informal Situations. It is the domain where its use is most expected and accepted and when used in formal situations signal change in relationships. 

2. It is Creative. The point of inventing slang words is to be startling, amusing, shocking, a creation that ensures that the new item stands out against the other, more ordinary lexical items. 

Current Jamaican Slang (2022)

3. Characterized by a short life span in a language if used too frequently, overtime they lose their impact and have to be replaced by fresh new words. (However some slang words do become everyday common words over time.)

4. Can be exclusive, acting as a wall between native speakers and outsiders. By choosing the right words one is able to signal which group they belong to. 

5. Is used by different groups at different stylistic levels. Some social groups use more slang than others.

Slang words and phrases are often ‘invented’ in keeping with new ideas and customs. They may also represent current trends and attitudes better than the more conservative items of the vocabulary. 

Take Aways

1. Slang is a set of expressions characteristic of informal speech.

2. Slang changes rapidly 

3. Slang often serves as a means of solidarity within a community and as a barrier or fence to outsiders.

 

Elements of a Communications Plan

 

What is a Communications Plan?

A Communications Plan is a document that details how key messages will be transmitted to a target audience. 

Why is a Communications Plan Important? 

A good Communications Plan is a reference or road map for different team members or stakeholders involved in transmitting key messages to a target audience. It makes sure everyone is on the same page (pun intended). 

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN - TEMPLATE

PURPOSE STATEMENT 

• Brief, thoughtful statement that communicates your mandate from the organization

Based on three questions

•  Why does your department exist?

•  What, in broad terms, does it do?

•  What does it contribute?

SITUATION ANALYSIS

• Identify problem/challenge/opportunity your organization is facing

• Briefly outline the research and statistics that led to the determination of the PR problem or opportunity

• Note whether this plan is a one-time effort, a long-term effort), or a response to a crisis or negative public opinion

 

ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

• Clear statement of intent to solve a significant problem or achieve a significant result

• Goals describe future desired results toward which present efforts are directed

• State the major accomplishment sought

• Tells what will happen when key results are achieved

COMMUNICATION OBJECTIVES

• Specific, measurable action steps through which the goal is accomplished

• Should be set for each audience identified

• Begin with “to” followed by a verb

• Specify the outcome

• Set a target date when outcome will be achieved

• Objectives should not be the ‘means’ but the ‘end’

Company/Brand’s Communication Principles

o Consistent, coordinated and high quality: must present a consistent face to its audiences across all communication channels. Communication must be clear, concise, targeted, relevant and using channels/tools/formats appropriate to Brand’s diverse and busy audiences.

o Reflective of Brand culture: Communication must reflect Brand’s culture and values.

o Multiple methods of dissemination/communication: Where possible, information will be shared using multiple communication channels/tools/formats to accommodate Brand’s diverse audiences and their individual preferences.

o Two‐way communication: Communication will facilitate conversation and engagement.

o Sustainability: Communication initiatives must be realistic and sustainable, reflecting Brand’s financial and human resource realities.

o Measurement and Evaluation: Where possible, communication initiatives will be evaluated to ensure effectiveness and to facilitate adjustments as required.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Iteration 1

• Identify by name

• List in priority of importance to achieving goals

• Key insights

•  demographics

•  Psychographics

KEY MESSAGES

• To inform the public in an easily understood and professional manner about emerging issues or about the business of your organization

• Appeal to their hearts as well as their minds

• Keep it simple

• Use the active voice for more power

• Personalize

STRATEGY STATEMENTS

• Describes how, in concept, an objective is to be achieved (what you want to do)

• Offers a rationale for the actions and program components that are planned – why you think each is important to do

• Links activity to target audience

• Defines contribution to the organization

TACTICS

1. Activities specifically created and selected to reach specific and measurable objectives

2. Actual ways in which strategies are executed

3. Look at each tactic from the standpoint of what it will do to achieve the objective

4. Involves using the tools of communication to reach audiences with key messages

COSTS

• Be specific

•  Detail costs for each initiative included in your strategies

•  Costs should include:

•  hard costs (internal and external)

•  staff time

•  alternatives

EVALUATION

• Used to know if you met your objectives

• List methods you will use, once your plan has been implemented, to obtain feedback

• Indicate how you will measure effectiveness

• Indicate how will you know if your plan is ‘on track’

 

Awareness (Reach)

Interest

Desire

Action

Expected Results

 

TIMELINES / PROJECT PLAN

 

 

REPORT / TRACKING

This section is to keep track of the different marketing URLs we plan to use in the tactics.

To be completed when the web content is approved and posted.

 

APPENDIX 

In this section you can include any relevant documentation. For example Communications Channels or Request for Service templates etc.