Question

Choose a text from a newspaper or a magazine and read it.
First determine the number of words and then write your own summaries.
Comment on each other’s summary regarding the characteristics of a good summary.

Answer 1

**Text (Hypothetical):**
Headline: "New Study Reveals Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health"
[Content of the article discusses recent research on the positive impact of regular exercise on mental health.]

**Summary 1:**
The article talks about how exercise is good for mental health.

**Summary 2:**
A recent study highlights the positive effects of regular exercise on mental health, emphasizing the importance of physical activity for emotional well-being.

**Comment:**

Summary 1 is extremely brief and lacks specific details. It doesn't provide any information about the study, its findings, or the importance of the topic.

Summary 2 is more comprehensive. It mentions the study, the positive effects of exercise, and emphasizes the importance of physical activity for emotional well-being. It offers a more informative and engaging summary.

Characteristics of a good summary:

1. **Conciseness:** A good summary should be concise and to the point, capturing the main idea of the original text without unnecessary details.

2. **Informativeness:** It should provide enough information for the reader to understand the key points of the original text.

3. **Clarity:** A good summary should be clear and well-structured, making it easy for the reader to follow.

4. **Engagement:** It should engage the reader's interest and curiosity, encouraging them to read the full text if they find the summary compelling.

In this example, Summary 2 is a better summary as it is more informative, clear, and engaging compared to the overly brief and vague Summary 1.