The listener or reader of your instructions need to be warned of any hazards that may come up as your instructions are followed.
Signal Word – Use words like DANGER, CAUTION, WARNING, STOP, or IMPORTANT written in large letters to grab attention; using a color like red, orange, or yellow also helps
Identify the Hazard – tells whoever is following your instructions what to be aware of (electric shock, radiation, toxic gas, etc.)
Result of Ignoring the Warning – what will happen if the warning is ignored; explain the damage the hazard can cause
Avoiding the Hazard – give detailed instructions on how to avoid the hazard using simple, direct language
Summarizing
Summary – shortened versions of speeches, writings, and events
The original source is reduced but the main idea is included and restated in a summary
Major points and important details can be included as long as they are essential to the central idea
A summary can be as brief as 1 sentence or as long as several pages
Subject, Audience, & Purpose
The subject of what is being summarized will affect how long the summary is.
Example: a 90 page report will take more time and more words to summarize than a 1 page article
A summary must be an accurate representation of the original source. Whoever uses the summary should not have to refer to the original source to understand it.
The audience and purpose will determine the length and presentation of a summary.
Characteristics of a Summary
An effective summary should be ALL of the following:
Brief – short and to the point
Well Written – the summary needs to be understandable with the most important points highlighted throughout
Independent – clear, stands alone from the original, contains main idea(s) of the original, should not have to refer to original to understand
Accurate – provide understanding of original, clearly reflect the author’s intent, does not distort the meaning
What to Include in a Summary
From the original: Include what is necessary after reading or listening to the original more than once
For a general audience: a summary for a general audience translates whatever information is being summarized into plain language
For specialists: provide enough information for the needs of the audience, often with recommendations and/or results so that a specialist as enough information to make a decision
