English First Additional Language Week 10
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Move from lesson study to exam practice in English First Additional Language.
Imagine you’re in a minibus taxi heading from Khayelitsha to Cape Town CBD. The driver asks you to explain a news story about load-shedding, but you only have a minute before your stop. You need to give the key facts, not every detail. This is what summary writing is about: capturing the most important points in your own words. In the NSC Paper 1 exam, summary questions are worth 10 marks and test your ability to condense information. Many learners think copying sentences from the passage is enough. This is a mistake. Examiners want to see your understanding, not your copying skills. Always use your own words and focus on the main ideas, not examples or extra details. In South Africa, where time and resources are often limited, being able to summarise quickly and effectively is a real-world skill that will help you in school, at work, and in everyday life.
Think about when Banyana Banyana wins a match. The main idea is the victory, while supporting details are the score, the players, and the reactions. In a summary, you need to separate these. Start by reading the passage carefully. Underline or highlight sentences that answer: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? For example, if the text says, 'Load-shedding affects businesses in Soweto by reducing their operating hours,' the main idea is the impact on business hours, not the specific names of shops. A common misconception is that every sentence is equally important. Instead, focus on what the author wants you to remember after reading. Practise this skill by asking yourself after each paragraph: 'If I had to tell Sipho in one sentence, what would I say?' This helps you filter out less important details and focus on the core message.
When you tell your friend about a Springboks match, you don’t repeat the commentator word-for-word. You use your own style. Paraphrasing in summary writing works the same way. Read the main idea, then cover the text and say it aloud in your own words. Write that down. For example, 'Load-shedding disrupts daily life in Durban' can become 'People in Durban face challenges because of power cuts.' Avoid simply swapping a few words or using synonyms; change the structure too. Many learners think paraphrasing is just about changing words, but it’s about expressing the same idea differently. Practise this skill to avoid plagiarism and to show true understanding. Remember, examiners are looking for your ability to communicate the message clearly and originally, not for a direct copy of the text.
Step 1: Read the passage about how load-shedding affects learners in Mthatha. Step 2: Underline the main ideas—such as 'students struggle to study at night' and 'schools adjust timetables.' Step 3: Paraphrase each main idea: 'Learners find it hard to prepare for exams due to power cuts' and 'Schools change class times to fit the electricity schedule.' Step 4: Organise these points logically: start with the problem, then the solution. Step 5: Write the summary in your own words, keeping it under 70 words. Final answer: 'Load-shedding in Mthatha makes it difficult for learners to study at night. Schools have responded by changing timetables to match electricity availability, helping students prepare for exams despite power cuts.' Sanity check: The summary covers the main points, is concise, and uses original wording.
Step 1: Read the sentence: 'Many small businesses in Soweto lose income because they cannot operate during load-shedding.' Step 2: Identify the main idea: loss of income due to power cuts. Step 3: Paraphrase: 'Power cuts stop Soweto businesses from earning money.' Step 4: Check that the wording is your own and not copied. Step 5: Include this point in your summary draft. Final answer: 'Businesses in Soweto lose money when electricity is off.' Sanity check: The idea is the same, but the words and structure are different, avoiding plagiarism.
Question: Read a passage about water shortages in Polokwane. What are the main challenges faced by residents? Model: First, I look for sentences about daily life and solutions. I find 'Residents queue for hours at communal taps' and 'The municipality delivers water by truck.' I ask myself which is the main idea and which is a supporting detail. Worked response: 'People in Polokwane wait long hours for water and rely on trucks for supply.' Now you try: Summarise the main challenge for schools during water shortages. Answer: 'Schools struggle to keep toilets clean and provide drinking water.' This approach helps you focus on the most important information and avoid unnecessary details.
Question: The passage says, 'Load-shedding causes learners to fall behind in their studies.' Model: I need to say this differently. I think: 'Learners struggle to keep up with schoolwork because of power cuts.' I check if I have changed both the words and the sentence structure. Worked response: 'Power cuts make it hard for learners to stay on track with their studies.' Now you try: Paraphrase, 'Teachers have to adjust lesson plans due to electricity outages.' Answer: 'Teachers change their lessons when there is no electricity.' Remember, paraphrasing is not just about using synonyms, but about expressing the same idea in a new way.
1. List two main ideas from a passage about minibus taxi safety. 2. Paraphrase: 'Taxi drivers face long hours on the road.' 3. Write a topic sentence for a summary about youth unemployment. Make sure your answers focus only on the most important points and use your own words for paraphrasing.
1. Identify three key points from a text about the Springboks’ World Cup win. 2. Paraphrase: 'Fans celebrated in the streets of Durban after the match.' 3. Organise four main ideas from a passage about recycling in Soweto. Arrange your points logically and check that your paraphrasing is clear and original.
1. Write a 70-word summary of a passage about how load-shedding affects small businesses in Khayelitsha. 2. Paraphrase two sentences from a text about climate change in South Africa. 3. Compare the structure of a summary to that of a full essay, using examples. Remember to keep your summary concise and focused, and explain your comparisons clearly.
Answer: To capture the main ideas in fewer words
Summaries focus on main ideas, not every detail or personal opinions. Copying is not summarising.
Answer: Learners find it hard to concentrate when there is no electricity
This option keeps the meaning and uses new words and structure. Others are incorrect or incomplete.
Answer: Copying sentences directly
Direct copying is plagiarism and does not show understanding. Summaries must be in your own words.
Answer: 10 marks
The summary is typically worth 10 marks in Paper 1. Learners often overestimate or underestimate this.
Answer: Firstly
'Firstly' helps organise main points logically. The others are more for contrasting or explaining reasons.
Answer: Paraphrasing shows you understand the text and avoids plagiarism by using your own words.
Picture a shopping list for a braai in Polokwane: you only write what’s needed—meat, pap, salad—not every possible food. A summary should be just as focused. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main point. Then, list the key ideas in logical order. Use linking words like 'firstly,' 'next,' and 'finally' to connect points. Keep sentences short and clear. In the NSC exam, you must stick to the required word count—usually 70 words. Writing too much or too little can cost marks. Always count your words and edit for clarity. Remember, quality matters more than quantity. One common mistake is to include examples or explanations that are not needed. If you’re unsure, ask yourself: 'Is this detail essential to the main message?' If not, leave it out.
Paraphrasing is essential because it demonstrates that you have processed and understood the original material. It also prevents you from copying, which is considered plagiarism and can result in lost marks or disciplinary action. Examiners want to see your ability to express ideas in a new way, not just repeat what was written.
Answer: A summary is much shorter and only includes main ideas, while an essay has details and explanations.
A summary is brief and focuses only on the essential points, while an essay explores ideas in depth, provides supporting evidence, and includes explanations and examples. This difference is important because summaries are meant to condense, not expand, information.
Answer: Word limits ensure you focus on the most important points and write concisely.
Word limits are used to test your ability to select the most relevant information and express it clearly and briefly. This skill is valuable in exams and in real life, where time and space are often limited. Writing too much can mean you have included unnecessary details.
Answer: Cut out less important details
If your summary is too long, you need to remove minor or supporting details and keep only the main ideas. Submitting a summary that is too long can result in marks being deducted, so editing for length is essential.
Answer: They include personal opinions
Including personal opinions is a common mistake because summaries must be objective and based only on the original text. Adding your own views or interpretations can lead to lost marks, as the examiner is looking for your ability to identify and express the author's main ideas.
Answer: Supporting detail
The main idea would be about taxi drivers’ challenges; long hours is a detail supporting that.