Formal Academic Summary Directions
WR 122 Handout -  Fall 2010 - Prof. Cora Agatucci 

1. Assignment Topic Choices: Write your Formal Academic Summary on one of the following argument essays in our textbook:

• Amber Young, "Capital Punishment: Society's Self-Defense" (in Crusius and Channell pp. 55-58)

• Julie Ross, "Why Residential Construction Needs to Get a Conscience" (in Crusius and Channell pp. 142-151)

• Justin Spidel, "Who Should Have the Right to Marry?" (in Crusius and Channell pp. 243-246)

• Elizabeth Baxley, "Be a Parent, Not a Friend" (in Crusius and Channell pp. 281-284)

• Angi Grellhesl, "Mediating the Speech Code Controversy" (in Crusius and Channell pp. 319-321)

2.  Assignment Length: No longer than 1 word-processed and double spaced page using standard margins, readable fonts & point sizes--e.g. Times New Roman 12 point or Arial 10 point or 11 point, or Calibri 12 point.  NOTE:  Grade penalty will be exacted IF Formal Academic Summary Final Draft (including MLA Style Header and double-spaced MLA-style bibliographical entry) exceeds length limit of one (1) double-spaced page.

3.  Assignment Genre and Manuscript Form Requirements: Review the model provided by Cora's handout Example Formal Academic Summary, including these features:

• Label your assignment with an MLA-Style Header (may be single spaced or double spaced) in the upper left-hand corner of your document - Example:

  Juanita Student
  WR 122, Prof. C. Agatucci
  Formal Academic Summary: Final Draft
  30 September 2010
   

• Next provide an MLA-style bibliographical entry, which must be double spaced and correctly formatted, for the source summarized. 
  EXAMPLE: Here's one MLA style bibliographical entry for Young's essay (but see also MLA-style Bibliographical Entries for Formal Academic Summary Topic Choices provided the end of this handout):
   

  Young, Amber.  "Capital Punishment: Society's Self Defense." The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  55-58.  Print.

• Then provide your summary paragraph of the source, following these requirements:

  --your summary must be double spaced and formatted as one single paragraph.

  --the first sentence/s of your summary paragraph should:

  • formally reintroduce the author’s full name and the argument essay’s full title,
  • present the topic focus and identify thesis of the argument essay being summarized.

  --your summary paragraph should integrate occasional author tags and use appropriate active verbs, but should NOT refer to an author by first name only in formal academic writing (instead refer to author by last name, full name, title + last name, appropriate synonym or clear pronoun reference):

  • Some Examples of author tags using active verbs:

  According to Baxley, Baxley argues, Baxley claims, Baxley points out . . .
  In Grellhesl's opinion, Grellhesl affirms, Grellhesl appeals to, Grellhesl calls for . . . 
  In Ross's opinion, Ross contends, Ross emphasizes, Ross explains, Ross supports . . .
  According to Spidel, Spidel believes, Spidel counters, Spidel questions . . .
  Young compares, Young contrasts, Young demands, Young warns . . .
  The author affirms, the author denies, he maintains, she states . . .

4. Assignment Content & Coherence Requirements: 

• 4a. Be selective. Your summary should represent the argument's thesis and well-selected major supporting points clearly, concisely, and accurately.
  --Do NOT include minor points, details, and specific examples.
  --Remember the double-spaced 1-page length limit!  The author's thesis/case claim should be presented in the first sentence/s of your summary. Remaining space should then be devoted to representing major supporting points of the text that you consider most important to the author's essay thesis.
   
• 4b. Do NOT quote extensively from the selected text; instead, use your own words to summarize and paraphrase the author's thesis and main points, as well as to demonstrate and communicate your reading comprehension of the text. 
   
• 4c. Be accurate when you summarize the text and paraphrase its ideas, being careful NOT to misrepresent the author’s main points, purpose, emphases.
  
  Please (re-)read the assignment argument essay topic choices and choose the text you feel you understand the best. , t.  , you under be sure text to be sure you understand its thesis and main points well (or ask questions if you don't) before you prepare your Formal Academic Summary.
   
• 4d. Be objective: Do NOT give your own opinions on the author's ideas, and do NOT analyze or evaluate the writing quality or ideas of the essay.  Stick to representing the essay's thesis and main supporting points, as accurately and objectively as you can, in your Formal Academic Summary.
   
• 4e. Be concise and clear:  Do NOT be wordy or repeat points unnecessarily or quote extensively, BUT do NOT sacrifice clarity for conciseness in the process.
• Be organized & coherent.  Do NOT slavishly follow the author’s order of presentation in the argument being summarized if it deviates from the requirements of this assignment (e.g. your summary is supposed to present the author's thesis/case claim in the first sentence/s and then represent the major supporting points within the length limit).  Do use appropriate transitions to indicate relationships among author’s main points represented in your Formal Academic Summary. 5.

5. Assignment Clarity & Correctness of Written Expression will also be considered in grading, so please proofread and edit carefully your final draft submitted for grading.

MLA-style Bibliographical Entries for Formal Academic Summary Topic Choices:

For Baxley:

Baxley, Elizabeth.  "Be a Parent, Not a Friend."  The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  281-284.  Print.

For Grellhesl:

Grellhesl, Angi.  "Mediating the Speech Code Controversy."  The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  319-321.  Print.

For Ross:

Ross, Julie.  "Why Residential Construction Needs to Get a Conscience."  The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  142-151.  Print.

For Spidel:

Spidel, Justin.  "Who Should Have the Right to Marry?"  The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  243-246.  Print.

For Young:

Young, Amber.  "Capital Punishment: Society's Self Defense." The Aims of Argument: A Brief Guide. 6th [Compact] ed.  Ed. Timothy W. Crusius and Carolyn E. Channell.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  55-58.  Print.

See also Formal Academic Summary Evaluation Checklist

FALL 2010 WR 122  Syllabus | Course Plan | WR 122 Course Home Page

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Last Updated: 23 September 2010

© 2010, Cora Agatucci, Professor of English
Humanities Department, Central Oregon Community College
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