Which Of The Following Belongs In An Objective Summary

Which of the Following Belongs in an Objective Summary? A Deep Dive into Summarization Techniques

Creating a truly objective summary is a crucial skill, whether you're writing an academic paper, preparing a business report, or simply condensing a lengthy article for a friend. An objective summary presents the main points of a text without adding your own opinions, interpretations, or biases. It focuses solely on what the original author explicitly states. But discerning what constitutes an objective summary element can be tricky. Let's delve into the key characteristics and explore what does – and doesn't – belong in an effective, objective summary.

Understanding the Core Principles of Objective Summarization

Before we dissect which elements belong, it's critical to understand the fundamental principles guiding objective summarization. An objective summary is:

• Factual: It sticks to the verifiable facts presented in the original text. Avoid speculation or drawing conclusions not explicitly stated by the author.
• Concise: It presents the most important information efficiently, omitting unnecessary details or examples. Brevity is key.
• Neutral: It avoids subjective language, emotional appeals, and personal opinions. The author's voice should be absent.
• Accurate: It faithfully represents the original text's meaning and intent, avoiding distortions or misinterpretations.
• Comprehensive: While concise, it captures the main ideas and supporting details necessary to understand the core argument or message.

What Belongs in an Objective Summary: A Checklist

When deciding what to include, use this checklist:

• The Main Idea/Thesis Statement: This is the central argument or point the author is trying to convey. It forms the backbone of your summary.

• Key Supporting Points: These are the major arguments or evidence used to support the main idea. Identify the most significant points, not every single detail.

• Significant Examples or Data: If the original text uses specific examples or data to illustrate its points, include these if they are crucial for understanding the main argument. Avoid extraneous examples.

• Author's Tone (Objectively Described): While you shouldn't express your own opinion on the tone, you can objectively describe the author's approach. For example, "The author presents a cautiously optimistic view..." or "The author adopts a highly critical stance towards..."

• Chronological Sequence (If Applicable): If the original text follows a chronological order of events or arguments, maintain that structure in your summary to ensure clarity and accuracy.

What DOESN'T Belong in an Objective Summary: Pitfalls to Avoid

Knowing what not to include is just as important as knowing what to include. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Your Own Opinions or Interpretations: This is the cardinal sin of objective summarization. Refrain from adding your own perspectives, judgments, or analyses. Stick to what the original author explicitly states.

• Speculation or Conclusions Not Supported by the Text: Don't guess at what the author might have meant; only include information explicitly stated or directly implied.

• Unnecessary Details or Examples: While some supporting details are necessary, avoid including minor points or examples that don't significantly contribute to understanding the main argument.

• Direct Quotes (Unless Absolutely Necessary): While using a quote might be appropriate in rare instances to highlight a particularly impactful statement, generally, paraphrase the information in your own words to maintain objectivity and ensure conciseness.

• Emotional Language or Loaded Words: Use neutral, unbiased language. Avoid words that carry strong emotional connotations or that could be interpreted subjectively.

• Bias or Personal Experiences: Your personal background, beliefs, or experiences have no place in an objective summary. Maintain a detached and impartial perspective.

• Irrelevant Information: Focus only on the information directly relevant to the main points and supporting arguments. Omit anything extraneous or tangential.

• Summary of Summaries: If you're summarizing a secondary source that already summarizes another work, be sure to return to the original text for accuracy. Relying solely on a pre-existing summary can introduce bias or inaccuracies.

Examples: Distinguishing Objective from Subjective Statements

Let's illustrate with examples. Consider this original statement: "The new climate change policy is a disastrous failure, ignoring vital scientific evidence and setting us back decades in our fight against global warming."

Objective Summary (What to include): "The author criticizes the new climate change policy, arguing it disregards scientific evidence."

Subjective Summary (What to avoid): "The new climate change policy is a complete mess and will ruin the planet." (This adds the summarizer's opinion.)

Let's look at another example. Original statement: "Although the economic indicators are positive, many citizens remain skeptical about the government's claims of recovery due to persistently high unemployment rates in several sectors."

Objective Summary (What to include): "Despite positive economic indicators, public skepticism persists due to high unemployment in some sectors."

Subjective Summary (What to avoid): "The government is lying about the economic recovery; unemployment is still incredibly high!" (This expresses a strong, unsupported opinion.)

Practical Application: Steps to Write an Effective Objective Summary

Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your summaries remain objective:

1. Read Carefully and Thoroughly: Understand the text fully before attempting to summarize it. Identify the main idea, supporting arguments, and key evidence.

2. Identify the Main Idea: What is the central point the author is trying to convey? This forms the foundation of your summary.

3. Highlight Key Supporting Points: Note the essential arguments or evidence used to support the main idea. Focus on the most significant points.

4. Paraphrase, Don't Plagiarize: Express the information in your own words to avoid plagiarism and maintain objectivity. Direct quotes should be minimal and only used when absolutely necessary.

5. Eliminate Unnecessary Details: Be concise. Focus on the most crucial information; omit minor details or examples that don't significantly contribute to understanding the main argument.

6. Maintain a Neutral Tone: Use unbiased language. Avoid subjective words or phrases that express your own opinions or judgments.

7. Review and Revise: Once you've completed your summary, review it carefully to ensure it is accurate, concise, and objective.

Advanced Techniques for Objective Summarization

For more complex texts, you might consider:

• Identifying the Rhetorical Strategies: Understanding how the author uses language and structure to persuade the reader can help you objectively summarize the approach.

• Using a Summary Outline: Create a brief outline of the main points before writing your summary to ensure a logical and organized structure.

• Peer Review: Ask someone else to review your summary to provide feedback on objectivity and clarity.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Objective Summarization

Mastering the art of objective summarization is an invaluable skill. By following these guidelines, focusing on factual accuracy, and maintaining a neutral tone, you can effectively communicate the essence of any text without introducing your own biases. Remember, the goal is to represent the original author's ideas faithfully and concisely, allowing the reader to understand the core message without any distortion. By diligently applying these principles, you can create summaries that are clear, concise, accurate, and truly objective.