Page 58 - ACADEMIC REDING

2. Summarizing

Summarizing helps readers organize important information and clarify what

they have read. Good readers summarize what they read by looking for the
writer’s topic or central idea. Then, the readers identify them in their own words.

A chart may help readers summarize what they have read.

Central Idea or Topic

Main Idea

Author's Central Message

Reread the book review on page 3 entitled ‘Taking Soaps Seriously: The
World of Guiding Light’, and read the summary of that book review below.
Parts Contents

Central Idea or Topic Radio soaps
Main Idea Cultural critics in the U.S. have investigated
radio soaps since the 1930s. Among them is
Michael Intintoli who specifically studied
about the production of such soaps.
Author’s Main Point The strength of this study is that it has a lot
for beginners to learn. On the other hand,
he chooses the wrong soap to investigate.
Further, it is written like an unreviewed
dissertation.

To be able to write the summary on the right row of the table above, readers
need to be able to locate the main idea of the book review, particularly on the

introductory and content summary section. Meanwhile, in regards to author’s main
point, the readers need to find the positive and evaluation of the book.

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