PROGRAM PECUTAN SPM SUMMARY WRITING FOR SPM

SMK PUSING
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SUMMARY WRITING (SPM).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TIPS

CROSS OUT unneeded lines.

READ the text.
IDENTIFY & UNDERLINE/HIGHLIGHT the keywords/points.
REPHRASE sentences/key points. Merge sentences intelligently.
STICK to the word limit.
FOR SUMMARY WRITING (SPM).

1. USE COMPOUND and COMPLEX sentences using conjunctions (look at #2)

2. USE conjunctions in your sentences (if suitable). Example:
FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
SWEAR = Since, Whichever, Even if, Although, Rather than.
3. Avoid writing dialogues (usually there are no key points in it).
4. Avoid writing adjectives (usually the nouns are what matters)
5. Avoid repetition of ideas. So, shorten your sentences. Example:
THE BAG
WAS FULL OF OLD CLOTHES,
SMALL BOXES, USED
PAPERS, AND SCRAPS OF
MATERIALS AND SHOES.

THE BAG WAS FULL OF

RUBBISH.

6. Avoid writing numbers (same case with #3,4,5)

7. BE AWARE of the POV (point of view) being asked use appropriate pronouns
a. (I) OR
b. (him/he/she/her) OR
c. (the narrator/the writer)
8. CHOOSE the most suitable sentence connectors to link your sentences (if
suitable). Example:
FUNCTION
To show connection
between ACTION and
CONSEQUENCE
To introduce new
information
To show contrasting
ideas

SENTENCE
CONNECTORS
As a result, therefore,
thus, consequently
Besides, moreover, in
addition, furthermore
Nevertheless, however,
on the other hand.

EXAMPLE IN SENTENCES
I was very hungry just now.
Therefore, I went to have
lunch early.
She does not want to attend
the party. Moreover, she
does not have a Halloween
costume.
She went out early this
morning. However, she was
still late because of the traffic
jam.

Prepared by Teacher Nazrimi and the English Language Department of SMK Pusing
(Do ask myself or any other teachers about tips and/or any clarifications about summary writing! Good
luck, SPM candidates!)

PROGRAM PECUTAN SPM SUMMARY WRITING FOR SPM

SMK PUSING
THATS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUMMARY WRITING! LETS TRY
SOMETHING OUT SHALL WE?
1. USE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE WORDS BELOW
tulip, orchid, daisy
yen, euro, ringgit
snake, lizard,
crocodile
pepper, cinnamon,
clove
fork, knife, spoon

shoes, slippers,
boots
Geography,
Chemistry
lorry, car, bus
cupboard, table,
chair
aunt, uncle, cousin,

2. USE ONE WORD TO SUBSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING PHRASES

Put off till a later date
People watching a
game
Unable to read and
write
Cheering and clapping
Make a choice

Getting better and

better
Father and mother
Once a year
Call out loudly
Without making any
noise

3. SHORTEN THE SENTENCES BELOW.

Something happened at the last minute which
caused me to stay back in the office for a long
time
She looked in the dining room, living area, kitchen,
store room, bedrooms, attic and bathroom but she
was still unsuccessful in locating the watch.
Standing alone in the deserted field, I felt a chill
run down my spine. Yet, I bravely told myself that
there was nothing to fear. I really wished that I
was not by myself in this creepy place.
My mother went to the supermarket to buy sugar,
milk, rice and eggs. While she was there, she also
bought a bottle of shampoo, a tube of toothpaste
and a few bars of soap.
4. USE ONE SENTENCE TO SUMMARISE THESE PARAGRAPHS.
The classroom was dirty. There were papers on the
floor. The dustbin was overflowing with rubbish.
The walls were dirty, the tables and chairs were in
disarray.
Prepared by Teacher Nazrimi and the English Language Department of SMK Pusing
(Do ask myself or any other teachers about tips and/or any clarifications about summary writing! Good
luck, SPM candidates!)

PROGRAM PECUTAN SPM SUMMARY WRITING FOR SPM

SMK PUSING
Siti went to the florists shop. She picked out some
pink roses. She also picked some red and yellow
roses. She then picked a basket of carnations.
Lastly she picked a few stalks of lilies.
The teacher will begin the lesson with a slide
presentation on the human anatomy. After the
presentation, she will answer any questions that
the students may have on the topic.
When you reach the hotel, go to the registration
desk. Inform the receptionist that you wish to
obtain your room number and key card. Fill in the
registration form by providing your personal
particulars. The porter will guide you to your room.

1 As a vet working in a zoo, I have frequently found myself challenged by the exotic animals under my care. More
delicate and harder to treat than domestic animals, many of them die in captivity because few people understand
their unique medical needs.
2 A few years ago, at the zoo where I work, we had a female polar bear called Crystal 5 who had become pregnant
several times. On each occasion, the babies had died soon after being born because she did not seem to know
how to care for them. When she became pregnant again, my colleague, Ray, decided that the best plan would be
to separate her from her cubs immediately after birth.
3 All we had to do then was wait eleven months to see if the plan would work. Finally, 10 the long-awaited call
came from Ray. Crystal had given birth to twins. Ray had heard the cubs, used a tranquiliser to put Crystal to
sleep, and had been able to cub-nap the twins. Full of excitement, I raced to the zoo clinic.
4 When I arrived, Ray was waiting for me at the door. His face showed clear disappointment.
5 Im afraid its too late, he said. His assistant, Matt, stood silently by. Two plump little bodies lay motionless
on the table. My heart sank knowing that once again we were going to lose Crystals cubs.
6 What happened? I asked as I opened the mouth of one of the cubs and looked inside
at the pallid gums.
7 I thought that I heard a faint squeak from the cubs, Ray explained. Crystal had cleared all the straw away
from one corner. And shed pushed her cubs onto the bare concrete. Theyd probably been born this morning.
Shed neglected them again. Left unattended, the cubs had slipped into hypothermia they were cold, damp
and still.
8 Clearly, we did not have much time. Quick!l said. Get a bucket of hot water. Aware 25 that the situation was
critical, I lowered both cubs in halfway. Nothing happened. Undaunted, I decided to immerse them completely
this time, except for their little snouts. I tried to massage their chests while they were underwater but realised I
could
not do both at the same time.
Prepared by Teacher Nazrimi and the English Language Department of SMK Pusing
(Do ask myself or any other teachers about tips and/or any clarifications about summary writing! Good
luck, SPM candidates!)

PROGRAM PECUTAN SPM SUMMARY WRITING FOR SPM

SMK PUSING
9 Ray, you do one while I do the other, I said as I passed a dripping wet cub over to him. Remember to pump
rhythmically but dont dig your fingers in too hard. They were such tiny, fragile creatures that we had to take
great care with them.
10 Minutes went by. Suddenly, Ray yelled, Mines moving!
11 We looked inside its mouth. It was definitely pinker. Sensing that there might be hope
after all, I instructed Matt to add more hot water while we continued pumping. There
was a faint muscular tension growing in the furry creature in my hands and then I felt
my cub moving slightly. Stethoscope, I shouted. Placing the instrument against the chest of one cub, I heard
the faint, soft heart sound. Dab-dab, dab-dab. Turning to the other, I heard the same sound. Theyre alive! I
said quickly. Carry on with
what we were doing.
12 There was no doubt anymore. Both cubs were wriggling their bodies underwater.
Determined to save them at all costs, we pulled both cubs out of the water and held them by their back legs, at
arms length. We spun them round and round, hoping that the force would clear any mucus blocking their
windpipes. The cubs were showing
more signs of life now, but there was still not a sound coming out of their throats. 45
13 Well have to try mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, I said.
14 Again, Ray took one cub while I took the other, and we blew gently into their mouths.
The tiny chests expanded but there was no other response. We continued the resuscitation until their little
mouths opened slightly wider and two stubby tongues tentatively probed the outside world. Finally, both took
strong, deep breaths. This was 50 the sign we were looking for. We cheered as the squirming cubs struggled to
roll over.
15 Everything had gone much better than we had hoped, but they would need to learn quickly how to suckle milk
from feeding bottles. We took hold of two little bottles and held our breath as we offered them to the cubs. There
was a moments silence.
Then the twins latched on hungrily and began to draw in the milk. The contented looks 55
on the cubs faces told us all that we needed to know.

Write a summary on the steps taken by the team to make the twin cubs breathe.
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)
Prepared by Teacher Nazrimi and the English Language Department of SMK Pusing
(Do ask myself or any other teachers about tips and/or any clarifications about summary writing! Good
luck, SPM candidates!)

PROGRAM PECUTAN SPM SUMMARY WRITING FOR SPM

SMK PUSING
use materials from line 25 to line 47
not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows:

To get the cubs breathing again, the writer decided to

Prepared by Teacher Nazrimi and the English Language Department of SMK Pusing
(Do ask myself or any other teachers about tips and/or any clarifications about summary writing! Good
luck, SPM candidates!)