Summarising Sources EAP Worksheets, Games & Activities

EAP Summarising Sources Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises: Identifying, Summarising, Peer Review - Pair Work In this productive summarising worksheet, students choose the best one-sentence summary, improve weak summaries, and write a one-sentence summary of a short academic text. First, students read a short text about writing workshops and choose the best one-sentence summary. Students then tick reasons why that sentence is the best. Next, students choose one of the weak summaries and rewrite it as a better one-sentence summary using the steps shown. After that, students read a text about map-reading courses, underline the main ideas about the problem, what the courses teach and why these skills are useful, and make short notes using those ideas. Following that, students cover the text and write a one-sentence summary in their own words, using their notes and sentence starters from a box. Finally, students swap worksheets with a partner and use a checklist to give feedback to their partner. Students then rewrite their summary using the feedback. show less

EAP Summarising Sources Worksheet - Reading, Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Matching, Categorising, Binary Choice, Paraphrasing, Summary Writing, Peer Feedback In this comprehensive summarising sources worksheet, students practice using neutral attribution and hedging language to paraphrase source extracts and write short objective summaries. First, students match each word or phrase to its neutral alternative. Students then read a text about neutral attribution and hedging language. Next, students read each sentence and mark the word or phrase in bold as either A (Attribution) or H (Hedging). After that, students underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence to match the type of language in brackets. Students then paraphrase each source extract in one sentence, using at least one attribution or hedging phrase. Following that, students identify three main ideas in a short text, and then use them to write a one or two-sentence summary that includes at least one neutral attribution and one hedging phrase, paraphrasing the main ideas in their own words. Finally, students swap worksheets with a partner and complete a checklist about each other's summaries. Students then discuss their feedback, explaining their answers and suggesting improvements where needed. show less

EAP Summarising Sources Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises: Evaluating, Problem-solving, Summary Rewriting, Peer Feedback - Pair Work In this useful summary writing worksheet, students evaluate weak and strong summaries, identify common problems, and rewrite a summary in 60–80 words. First, students review a text about summary writing and then read an original text and three summaries of it. Students then complete columns one, two and three of an evaluation table using the three summaries, answering yes or no for each criterion. Next, students identify the main problem and suggest a solution for each summary. After that, students choose one of the summaries and rewrite it in 60-80 words, using their suggested solution. Finally, students swap worksheets with a partner, complete column four of the evaluation table about their partner's summary, and share their feedback. show less

EAP Summarising Sources Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises: Identifying, Categorising, Summarising, Peer Feedback - Pair Work This useful summarising sources worksheet helps students separate main ideas from supporting details through a four-step process, then apply those main ideas to produce a short, accurate summary. First, students review the four steps and the difference between main ideas and supporting details. Students then read a text about museum fatigue and decide which parts of the text express main ideas and which provide supporting details, completing the table with their answers. After that, students write a three- to five-sentence summary using the main ideas they identified. Finally, students swap worksheets with a partner, read their summary, complete a checklist, and provide feedback to their partner. show less

EAP Summarising Sources Game - Reading and Writing: Summary Writing, Peer Review - Pair Work In this engaging summary-writing game, students write one-sentence, 50-word and 100-word summaries of the same academic text using reporting verbs, summary frames and expansion strategies, then peer review each round using a scoring rubric. First, pairs read an academic text carefully and then review reference boxes about summarising sources. Next, pairs play a game in rounds where they write three summaries of the same text, increasing in length each round. In round one, pairs have three minutes to write a one-sentence summary. When the time is up, each pair swaps worksheets with another pair for marking. Pairs use the scoring rubric to award one point for each criterion that is met and record the score on the worksheet. Each pair then returns the worksheet to the original pair. In round two, pairs have six minutes to write a 50-word summary, aiming for 45-55 words in total. Afterwards, pairs repeat the scoring process, this time awarding two points for each criterion. In round three, pairs have 12 minutes to write a 100-word summary, aiming for 90-110 words. When the time limit has been reached, pairs repeat the scoring process, this time awarding three points for each criterion. The pair with the highest total score at the end of the game wins. show less

EAP Summarising Sources Worksheet - Reading, Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Identifying, Matching, Gap-fill, Multiple Choice, Writing Opening Sentences - Speaking Activity: Guided Discussion, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this comprehensive opening sentences for summaries worksheet, students identify the key elements of an effective opening sentence, practice using common reporting verbs, and write opening sentences for short academic summaries. First, students work with a partner to identify four elements that they think a clear opening sentence of a summary should include. Students then read an example opening sentence and discuss questions about it with their partner. Next, working alone, students read about reporting verbs and match each verb to its function. After that, students complete each opening sentence with a reporting verb. Students then read a set of opening sentences and write which of the four elements is missing from each one. Following that, students read a short paragraph and choose the main point of the text. Next, students write a clear opening sentence about the paragraph. Afterwards, in pairs, students swap worksheets and use an opening sentence checklist to give feedback on their partner's sentence. Finally, students discuss three reflection questions. show less