Summary and analysis paragraphs
Writing Project #2 – Summary/Strong-Response Essay
Draft #2
Draft 2 should include the following paragraphs in this order:
Summary of article
Two paragraphs of rhetorical analysis
To write your summary, use Class Notes and the following Summary Writing Tips.
Summary Writing Tips
Tip #1: Your summary should have a sentence near the beginning that contains two elements:
the source
The highlighted verbs are better for reporting the author’s thesis. Also use the reporting verb list in Canvas Files.
a main idea or the author’s thesis (main claim)
Example:
| Reference to source article | Author | Reporting verb - present tense | Main idea or thesis |
| In the article “Toward a Global Treaty on Plastic Waste,” | Nils Simon and Lili Fuhr | report assert claim argue maintain suggest that hypothesize state |
Tip #2: Your summary should continue with the article’s main points, especially those you think you would like to use in your essay, using:
attributive tags (the author, or author’s family name)
reporting verbs (in present tense)
summary reminder phrases
Examples:
Simon and Fuhr further state that…
The authors also maintain/state/argue that…
The authors cite X who claims Y.
Tip #3: Avoid using “mention” as a reporting verb in your summary because it suggests a
minor point or a point made without detail or support.
Tip #4: Assume your reader has not read the article.
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