CRITICISM OF SOCIAL

NETWORKING S U M M A R Y W R I T I N G

C O N T R I B U T E D T O I B A T E F L . C O M B Y M U H A M M A D M A L I K

GENERAL POINTS• A maximum of 6 marks available for content• Content marks will be awarded even if you lift directly from the text.• To be on the safe side students are advised to find a 7th content point

and write it as well.• Even students who are weak in language can score full marks in

content.• A minimum of 90 words and 120 words maximum.• If less than 90 words, marks will be deducted for language.• If more than 120 words, marks will be deducted for language. Anything

after the 120th word will not be read. Furthermore, any content point written after this limit will not be counted. Do not waste words to write a long introduction. A summary does not require an introduction or a conclusion. It is better to start the summary in conjunction with the question.

GENERAL POINTS• Sometimes a summary has only one dimension like the one

we are doing now.• Sometimes a summary has two dimensions.

Dimension 1 Dimension 2

When a summary has two dimensions, 3 content points under each dimension must be written. If a student writes, 4 content points for the first and 2 for the second one, the total marks for content will be equal to 6. Why?

CONTENT POINTS• Read the text carefully and underline all the content points.• If you are doing a one dimension summary label them as C1, C2,

C3…...• If you are doing a two dimension summary label the first dimension

as D1 and the next one has D2. The first point under D1 can be labelled as D1-1, D1-2 so on. The same for D2.

GENERAL POINTSProblems children may face: • 1 can be frightening in an unfamiliar situation • 2 struggle to make new friends / not easy to join friendship groups • 3 missing home • 4 separated from extended family / separated from their families in their own

country • 5 language barrier / learn a new language • 6 unfamiliar customs • 7 may feel lonelyThese are the content points for an example summary. As you can see there are up to 7 for dimension 1. So its safe to say scoring marks for content in an O level summary writing is very straightforward, but precise reading is required.

TWO DIMENSION SUMMARIES.In a two dimensional summary it is best to include 3 contents points from each dimension.

However, sometimes students will notice that for one dimension there are more contents points than the other.

TWO DIMENSION SUMMARIES.

There are 7 content points in the first dimension, but there are only, 4 for the 2nd.

TWO DIMENSION SUMMARIES.• If candidates do not provide at least one correct

advantage and one correct disadvantage a maximum of 3 marks can be awarded for language.• If answers exceed 120 words a maximum of 4 marks can

be awarded for language.• What if the student includes 4 content points from one

dimension and 2 from the other? Will the student be penalised?

FINDING THE CONTENT POINTS

• Take a look at the text.• Follow the method, find and label the content points.

Remember, try to find 7. • This text is not very easy• You have 8 minutes

CONTENT POINTS• 1 - Nobody can predict its impact in the years to come• 2 - Frustrated at the amount of office time that is wasted by their

staff• 3 - People who find it almost impossible to break away from these

sites / They will suffer from a form of social networking addiction• 4 - Social networking will reduce real life relationships• 5 - Physical health will suffer as a result of sitting for long periods in

front of the screen.• 6 - Personal links that close communities together might disappear• 7 - Offering private details to complete strangers• 8 – Don’t know who you are inviting to your life

LANGUAGE• 0 marks: no understanding of the task / no relevant content / meaning

completely obscure due to serious language inaccuracies• 1 marks: copying without discrimination from text / multiple language

inaccuracies• 2 marks: heavy reliance on language from the text with no attempt to

organise and sequence points cohesively / limited language expression making meaning at times unclear

• 3 marks: some reliance on language from the text, but with an attempt to organise and sequence points cohesively / language satisfactory, but with some inaccuracies

• 4 marks: good attempt to use own words and to organise and sequence points cohesively / generally good control of language

• 5 marks: good, concise summary style / very good attempt to use own words and to organise and sequence points cohesively.

LANGUAGE• You will not be awarded more than 2 marks for language unless, you try to use your own words.

TWO METHODS•There are two very simple and effective ways of paraphrasing.–Replace method–Reorder method

THE REPLACE METHOD• In the replace method, we select certain words from the content points and

we replace them with suitable synonyms.• DO NOT REPLACE ANY TECHNICAL WORDS

• ExampleNobody can predict its impact in the years to come

Nobody ( can be replaced with - No one / not a single person)Predict ( can be replaced with - forecast / guess / foretell / foresee etc.)The years to come ( can be replaced with – the future / the years ahead etc.)So now we have

No one can foretell its impact in the future. Does it have the same meaning?

THE REORDER REPHRASE METHOD• In this method we reorder or rephrase the sentence.

Many bosses and managers are frustrated at the amount of office time that is wasted by their staff.

• It’s safe to replace one or two words here as well.• Frustrated – Annoyed• Amount – Quantity• Staff – Workforce / Employees• We could reorder and rephrase as

– Managers feel that employees waste a great deal of office time and are annoyed due to this.

– Does it have the same meaning?

LINKING WORDS• There are two types of linking words.

– Joining similar points– Joining contrasting points.

– It is always a good idea to jot down the linking words that you aim to use before you begin to write down the summary.

Joining Similar Points Joining contrasting points

Furthermore, Besides, Moreover, In addition,

However, In contrast, On the contrary, Nevertheless,

LINKING WORDSUse linking words such as:

Firstly, First of all, Secondly, Apart from that, which means that, not only….but also, as a result, consequently, FinallyUse colons and semi-colons where necessary :;

STUDENT TASK • Now write the summary on your own.• For some content points use the replace method.• For others use the reorder / rephrase method.• It is advised to use a variety in your summary.• You have 15 minutes. Once you finish your summary,

give it to the student next to you. • Check the content and award marks. Check for the

language and award marks.

MODEL SUMMARYExperts say there are many downsides of social networking. Firstly, no one can foretell its impact in the future. Managers feel that employees waste a great deal of office time and are annoyed due to these sites. Furthermore, individuals discover that it is virtually unbearable to stay away from such sites. Experts agree that real-life relationships have diminished after social networking sites gained popularity. As a result, personal relations that bring societies together have started to disappear. In addition, many people’s physical well-being have also been affected due to prolonged periods in front of their devices. Finally, many people have offered their confidential details to strangers and had to face the consequences. (111 words)

SAMPLE STUDENT RESPONSES• The following sample student responses have been written by real students studying IGCSE English as a second language. • We thank the student’s school for granting us permission

to reproduce them. • It contains many learning points for other students.• They have been typed exactly as the student has written it.

SAMPLE STUDENT 1 All the errors in spelling and

punctuation will bring down the language marks substantially. A little over 70

words – too short for an extended

summaryWrote 5 content points, one of them makes no sense. So 4 out of 6 for the content.Too many language errors scores 1 out of 5 for language

Total 5 out of 11

nowadays millions of people are using social networking. we are in the middle of a social revolution that is moving so rapidly that noone can predict its impact in the futear, and completty office times are wested by employees and when we look to our socaity now real life relationships are braking and parsonal links that close communities together might disapear and you are taking unknown people and you dont know who you are inviting to your life.

SAMPLE STUDENT 2Errors intrude

Not sure which detail. This content point will not be credited as the intended meaning has been lost.Wrong word used here. Meaning has been lost, so this point will not be credited.The word limit has been observed. Tried to write 7 content points, but 2 points failed to earn credit. So scores 5 out 6 for content. Even though there are errors, student has made an attempt to use own words.Scores 2 out of 5 for language.Total 7 out of 11.

Million of users have signed up to social websites. First of all No one can annoy its impact in the future. Employees who works in office are wasting their quantity of time by using. social networking. Moreover, social networking will decrease real life friendships. Also, if you are spending too much time infront of the device, this will effect your health. Sometimes you may not know who who are bringing to your life. And you may be giving the details to an unknown person. Finally, personal informations that close to the society together might be gone away.

SAMPLE STUDENT 3 Content : Student has written 7 contents points which is very good. This means that even if the 7th one is wrong, student can still score full marks for content.6 out of 6 for content

Introduction has digressions

Furthermore is one word – minor errorComputer not computers

Student has replaced some of the words. But it is advisable to use your own words. The student didn't reorder or rephrase any. However meaning is safe. But there are digressions in the last part.

2 out of 5 for languageScores 8 out of 11

There are many critics of social networking sites. Firstly, no one can predict its impact in future. Managers are frustrated at the quantity of time wasted by their employees. Some people even find it difficult to stay away from these sites, which results in decreasing real life relationships. Further more, as a result of spending hours infront of the computers, many of the people are facing physical health problems. Moreover, the personal links that close societies together might disappear. Finally, offering personal information to strangers might also be a welcome to some.one who you don’t know.