Pretest A: Summarizing an Academic Article

Length: Approximately 150 words
Due: In class

Assignment:
This assignment is asking you to read the article you have been given and to summarize it in 125-150 words. Because summarizing is an activity that requires excellent comprehension and communication skills, this assignment asks you to show your very best abilities in those areas. Try to show me your work as you go by highlighting or making notes on the text itself and by outlining your summary before you write. Here are the things I would like this summary to include:

• a title that correctly cites the original source using MLA style.
• one short quote, correctly cited in the text.
• 125-150 words restating the central ideas of the original text in your own words.

Note: Don’t panic if you don’t know how to do these things! This class will help you learn them—I just need to know how many of you can do them already. Not knowing will not be held against you!

1. Read the article. Feel free to make notes on, highlight, etc. the text. Do whatever will most help you read for understanding.
2. When you have read the article and worked out an understanding of its contents, come to a conclusion about its central point(s) or thesis. Then examine how the writer argues that point. What evidence does s/he use to convince the reader? Outline this central argument.
3. Now, condense this argument and recast it in your own your own words (250-300 of them).
4. Add your title.
5. Revise and edit, if you have time.
6. Count the words and write the word count below the text.
7. Do the best job you can, but do not worry if some of this is unfamiliar or if the text seems difficult to read. Just do the best you can.

Evaluation:
I will use a grading rubric like those I will use the rest of the semester to give you an idea of the skills you’ll need to work on in the areas of reading and writing this semester. You will not be graded until we repeat this exercise at the end of the semester—and we will have spent significant time this semester developing the skills you need to do this.

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Grading rubric