SECTION C: SUMMARY (ESPECIALLY TO MY SETS 4(1)A and 5(1)E!!)
The third section in Paper 2 English SPM, section C requires
students to complete a set of reading comprehension questions (RC) and a one
paragraph summary based on a reading passage. RC is not the hardest part of the
paper, because every student would have been doing this since standard 4. The
problem will be the summary. Let me give you some tips on answering summary.
1.
Read
THE QUESTION FIRST.
Scroll down after the RC questions and you
will find the summary question. This should be done BEFORE reading the passage.*
For example,
31 Based on the passage given, write a summary on:
• the suggestions given by Mahes to promote laughter therapy at the office.
• the suggestions given by Mahes to promote laughter therapy at the office.
Credit will be given for use of own
words but care must be taken not to change the original meaning.
Your summary must:
• be in continuous writing form (not
in note form)
• use material from lines 16 to 34
• not be longer than 130 words,
including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows: Mahes
suggests that laughter clubs are set up to make ...
*You
should get the idea of what
the passage is about just by looking at the question. Reading the questions
before reading the passage is good because it gives you focus on your reading
and you will understand the passage a lot faster.
2. Read the
passage
3. Complete the
Reading Comprehension Questions
4. To start summarizing, use the BRIEF technique
B
|
BOX
|
R
|
READ
|
I
|
IDENTIFY
|
E
|
EXTRACT
|
F
|
FINALIZE
|
5. B=BOX
This is VERY SIMPLE. Just draw a box on the paper. Start the
first horizontal line ABOVE the line mentioned in the instruction (In RED) and
another after the last line mentioned. In this case it is line 16 and line 34.
31. Practice 3 Questions 26 – 31 are based on the following
passage.
1
Work-related stress is a common problem among employees. It can result in
feelings of depression, frustration and demotivation. Stress management
therapist, Mahes Karuppiah recommends laughter therapy to deal with this
problem. Mahes says that laughter helps to reduce levels of cortisol, a stress
hormone that weakens the immune system.
5 Studies have found that a good laugh session
can lead to a sense of wellbeing and optimism. It can also reduce blood
pressure, increase circulation and relax the muscles. Mahes, who began using
laughter as therapy four years ago says laughter is the easiest and most
practical way to manage stress. It is also inexpensive as everyone possesses the
natural ability to laugh. “You don‟t have to learn how to do it or buy
equipment to help you laugh; it is in you.
10 If
you look at children, they laugh at the simplest things while adults are
finding it difficult even to smile.” Mahes says employees who are facing
pressure and stress usually cannot cope with their work. This drags down their
productivity and may even compel them to come up with excuses not to come to
work. “If you start work at the age of 25 and retire at 55, you would be
spending 30 years of your life at the office. And you work about nine hours or
more there every day. So, if you are unhealthy and
15 unhappy during this period which is the prime time of your life, you have wasted the bulk of your life with these emotions.” To make the office a fun place, she suggests the establishment of a laughter club at each company. “Get a few people together every morning and have a laughter therapy session for about 15 minutes. All the laughter club members should try to identify and remove negative feelings such as guilt, anger, fear, jealousy and ego,” she says.
20
According to Mahes, there are a few types of laughter therapy. Among them are putting a pen between your teeth to
simulate a smile and the “Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha,” which involves laughing while
clapping your hands. You don’t need to listen to a joke or look at
something funny. You can do it as a form of exercise just like aerobics. It is
said that laughter is like internal jogging. It keeps the mind and body fit. “There should also be a laughter room in every office,” she
says. “You’ve heard of people
25
screaming to release their tension. Why not have a laughter room where instead
of screaming, they can laugh?” Employees can use the room to practise laughter exercises, watch a funny video or sit there and just laugh their
frustrations away. The cost of having this room is small. And in return
it will help boost morale among the workers, reduce absenteeism and increase
productivity. Another suggestion is to have a Public Announcement or P.A. system in the office so
that someone can tell a
30 joke of the day or just begin laughing. Laughter
is contagious. Once you get someone to laugh, soon everyone in the room will be
laughing or smiling as well. Post
funny jokes or cartoons on a bulletin board, as long as they are not
lewd or offensive. Employees can rotate the postings every week. The best joke or cartoon should
be declared the “Humour of the week”. This is the cheapest way to bring
fun into the office.
35
According to a study by David Abrams of California State University in the
United States, people who have fun on the job are more creative and productive,
are better decision-makers and get along better with co-workers. So, start the
day with a laugh and you‟ll find the saying “Laughter is the best medicine” is
really true. (Adapted from The New Straits Times, July 2003)
Example of the box:
6. R=Read the
passage
This is not simply reading. Focus on what you are going to
summarize. Especially the one in the box.
7. I=Identify
This means you must identify the points/ key ideas that are
relevant to what the instructions want. Be careful of what the question wants
especially the PARTS OF SPEECH.
For example-the instruction above is QUESTIONING about
SUGGESTIONS TO PROMOTE LAUGHTER THERAPY IN THE OFFICE. Now SUGGESTIONS should
fall into the NOUN CATEGORY/PART OF SPEECH. So you have to search for
ACTIVITIES.
I WOULD
HIGHLIGHT THE POINTS
8 E=Extract
This basically means when you have identified the ideas, you
have to take the idea out from the text and ON A PIECE OF A DIFFERENT PAPER, write them out again according to
the ORDER THEY ARE FOUND IN THE PASSAGE.
Making this list of ideas/points is CRUCIAL
because we need to weed out the unnecesssary details and to recheck whether the
ideas we identify is relevant or not. Remember, only highlighting on the text IS NOT ENOUGH. You have to REWRITE THE POINTS.
Ok, let’s look at the list
SUGGESTIONS ON
PROMOTING LAUGHTER THERAPY AT THE OFFICE
1.
she
suggests the establishment of a laughter
club at each company. “Get a few people together every morning and
have a laughter therapy session for about 15 minutes. All the laughter club
members should try to identify and remove negative feelings such as guilt, anger,
fear, jealousy and ego,” she says
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT:
ELABORATION ON WHAT IS A LAUGHTER CLUB
2.
According
to Mahes, there are
a few types of laughter
therapy.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT:
MENTIONING THE WRITER IS UNNECESSARY
3.
Among them are putting a pen between your teeth to simulate a smile and
the “Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha,” which involves laughing while clapping your hands.
You don’t need to listen to a joke or look at something funny. You can do it
as a form of exercise just like aerobics. It is said that laughter is like
internal jogging. It keeps the mind and body fit.
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT: ELABORATION OF LAUGHTER THERAPY AND HOW IT WORKS
4.
“There
should also be a laughter room in every
office,” she says. “You’ve heard of people screaming to
release their tension. Why not have a laughter room where instead of screaming,
they can laugh?”
WHAT IS STRUCK OUT:
JUSTIFICATION FOR HAVING A LAUGHTER ROOM
5.
Employees can use the room to practise laughter exercises,
WHAT IS STRUCK
OUT: WHO IS USING THE ROOM BECAUSE IT IS
EXPLAINED IN THE POINTS ABOVE.
6.
watch a funny video or
7.
sit there and just laugh their
frustrations away. The
cost of having this room is small. And in return it will help boost morale
among the workers, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.
WHAT IS STRUCK
OUT: THE COST AND BENEFITS OF THE ROOM
8.
Another
suggestion is to have
a Public Announcement or
P.A. system in the office so that someone can tell a joke of the day or just
begin laughing. Laughter is contagious. Once you get someone to
laugh, soon everyone in the room will be laughing or smiling as well.
WHAT IS STRUCK
OUT: REASON FOR USING THE P.A SYSTEM
9.
Post funny jokes or cartoons on a
bulletin board, as
long as they are not lewd or offensive. Employees can rotate the postings every
week.
WHAT IS STRUCK
OUT: WHAT CAN BE POSTED AND WHO CAN POST
IT.
10.
The best joke or cartoon should be
declared the “Humour of the week”.
This is the cheapest way to bring fun into the office.
WHAT
IS STRUCK OUT: THE COST
.
.
Remember, NO EXAMPLES, ELABORATIONS AND
REPEATED IDEAS IN A SUMMARY
.
9. F=FINALIZE
Use the sentence as an opener
for your summary given to start writing a paragraph of summary. Be sure not to
exceed 120 words.
Mahes suggests that laughter clubs are set up
to make people release
their tension. First, there
are a few types of laughter therapy: Among them are putting a pen between your
teeth to simulate a smile and the “Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha,” which involves laughing while
clapping your hands. Second, create a laughter room in every office. Then use
the room to practise laughter exercises, watch a funny video or sit there and
just laugh their frustrations away. Third, use the Public Announcement or P.A.
system in the office so that someone can tell a joke of the day or just begin
laughing. Finally, post
funny jokes or cartoons on a bulletin board and the best joke or cartoon should
be declared the “Humour of the week”
You must write the number of word
(126
words)
In finalizing, you can write in Sequence connectors like the numbering of points to
make your points clearer. Before submitting, check your sentences and grammar.
There you are. we are done. You can start practising!
Good Luck!
