怎樣寫英文摘要

Writing Center Handouts

Writing Summaries

? The goal of writing a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book is to offer as

accurately as possible the full sense of the original, but in a more condensed form. A summary restates the author’s main point, purpose, intent, and supporting details i n your own words.

?The process of summarizing enables you to better grasp the original, and the

result shows the reader that you understand it as well. In addition, the knowledge gained allows you to better analyze and critique the original.? First, try to find the main idea in the reading; it’s usually in the first

paragraph. Next, skim through the article, glancing at any headings and graphics. Then, read the conclusion. The intent here is both to give yourself a review of the work and t o effectively engage yourself with it.

? Now go back and read the original text carefully, jotting down notes on or

highlighting the important points. Write the central idea and the author’s reasons (purpose and intent) for holding this viewpoint. Note the supporting elements the author uses to explain or back up her/his main information or claim.

? Make an outline that includes the main idea and the supporting details.

Arrange your information in a logical order, for example, most to least

important or chronological. Your order need not be the same as that in the original, but keep related suppo rting points together. The way you organize the outline may serve as a model for how you divide and write the essay.? Write the summary, making sure to state the author’s name in the first

sentence. Present the main idea, followed by the supporting points. The remainder of your summary should focus on how the author supports, defines, and/or illustrates that main ide a. Remember, unless otherwise stated by your instructor, a summary should contain only the author’s views, so try to be as objective as possible.

? As you revise and edit your summary, compare it to the original and ask

yourself questions such as: Have I rephrased the author’s words without changing their meaning? Have I restated the main idea and the supporting points accurately and in my own words?

? If you are asked to write a critical summary or to include a critique, you may

want to ask yourself questions such as: Does the author succeed? How and

why or why not? What are the strengths, weaknesses? Why? What did the author do well? Not well? Why?

摘要（summary）是一種對原始文獻（或文章）的基本內容進行濃縮的語義連貫的短文。它以迅速掌握原文內容梗概為目的，不加主觀評論和解釋，但必須簡明、確切地表述原文的重要內容。

摘要寫作（summary writing）是一種控制性的作文形式，它能使學生通過閲讀原文，吸收原文的文章結構與語言方面的長處，寫出內容一致、結構近似、語言簡潔的短文。另外，對培養學生善於抓住文章重點的能力也有很大幫助，有利於他們在實際寫作中避免面面俱到，事無鉅細，一一羅列的不良傾向。這種寫作既要準確理解原文，又要能綜合概括；既能培養欣賞能力，又能訓練書面表達能力。因此，用英文寫摘要，對學習英語寫作的學生來説，不失為一種切合實際的方法。下面談談如何寫好英文摘要。

1）細讀原文。首先要仔細閲讀全篇作品，然後對作品進行整體分析，掌握原文總的意思和結構，明確全文的主題（the main theme）和各段的段落大意（the main idea）。

2）弄清要求。搞清楚是寫全文概要，還是寫某一部分的概要，或者就某些問題寫出要點。

3）列出原文要點。分析原文的內容和結構，將內容分項扼要表述並注意在結構上的順序。在此基礎上選出與文章主題密切相關的部分。

4）草擬寫作提綱並寫出初稿。將挑選出的要點作為框架草擬詳細的提綱，以所列的提綱為依據寫出摘要的初稿。在寫作時要特別注意下面幾點：

（1）摘要應包括原文中的主要事實（main facts）；略去不必要的細節（unnecessary details）。

（2）安排好篇幅的比例。摘要應同原文保持協調，即用較多的文字寫重要內容，用較少的文字寫次要內容。

（3）注意段落的連貫和句子的銜接。要用適當的轉折詞語貫通全文，切忌只簡單地寫出一些互不相干的句子。

（4）儘可能用自己的話來寫，但不排斥用原文的某些詞句。

（5）計算詞數，看是否符合規定的詞數要求