Use the summary/ analysis handout and complete a double entry journal {summarize and analyze}.

Karen Pitt

Summary / Analysis Exercise

Summary

Analysis / Interpretation / Synthesis

An objective summary

  1. is one-third the length of the original essay

  2. foregrounds the main idea(s) (the thesis statement)

  1. includes key words and phrases

  2. mentions the supporting points the writer uses

  1. is in your own words, thereby avoiding plagiarism

  2. follows the author’s pattern of organization

  3. uses the information in the original essay

  4. avoids coloring the information with personal opinion

  5. lists the source or the original essay—the title and the author’s name

Note: an objective summary conveys information, not opinion

Guidelines for analysis, interpretation, and synthesis

  • What is the purpose of the reading?

  • What issues/themes are being raised in the reading?

  • What questions do you have about the issues/themes being highlighted?

  • What questions could you ignore?

  • How do you interpret the meaning and significance of the issues / themes being raised in the text? What do you infer about the actions of the character (s)?

  • What do you conclude about the text?

  • What does the conclusion at to or say about the text?

  • How does this text relate to other texts?

Note: you may explore any one of the questions above, so that you may flush out your analysis for depth and insight. A one sentence response does not allow deep analysis.