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marked with corrected spelling). As students enter the classroom, they pick up their cards from last
time, and the starred ones are written on the board as class begins.
We spend the first few minutes of class on those sentenceshelpful for returning
absentees. Early in the course I choose sentences to help the class understand accuracy in
summarizing:
Is this what the class WAS about?
Is anything important left out?
Are these details in the right order?
Are they an accurate reflection of relative emphasis?
Later we work with sentence structure and style:
How easy is this to read?
How can we change it to read more smoothly?
Any ineffective repetitions? Any needless words?
I ask the students to compare their sentences wit h the ones on the board, and, if they like, to revise
and resubmit their cards. Since the course is pass/withdraw, neither dismal attempts nor
plagiarized revisions affect a students grade; but students do revise. They say they like the one-
sentence summary formula; they say it helps them in thinking, reading and writing.
I think the formula worksif used on materials students are ready for. Moreover, a set of
summaries of the class Ive just taught is invaluable immediate feedback. I find out right away
whos missing main points, and whos having a hard time saying what he or she thinks. Most
important, I learn how my perception of what-went-on-in-there differs from the classs.
The summaries are especially useful for sessions involving guest speakers. Knowing
whats coming up at the end of the hour speakers are a little more careful about preparation and a
little less apt to digress; students have a chance to practice being more alert and/or tactful than
usual, and I get a chance to practice being more alert and/or tactful than usual, and I get a chance
to practicefrom scratchthe formula I preach. After a guest speaker, I usually find in each set
of cards at least one student summary thats better than mine, entirely or partly. This is one basic
skill strategy thats got something for everybody.
Beginning with a brief explanation of the significance of summary-writing skill, The Great
American One-Sentence Summary presents a 4-part formula for developing that skill, discusses
methods and benefits of using the formula and ends with a summary of the article itself.
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