For kimwoods

What

In a selective summary, you do not summarize the entire source. Instead, you summarize what the author says about only one of the topics or a related group of topics from the article. For example, if one were writing a paper about the cognitive impacts of sleep deprivation, one could summarize (only) the relevant information that Khazan provides on p. 3 and pp. 4-5 of “When You Can’t Afford Sleep.” This sort of summarizing closely resembles one of the ways sources are used in research writing.

Thus, this assignment provides a chance to develop a particularly useful academic skill. In addition, it provides an opportunity to develop further your reading and paraphrasing skills.

Assignment

For summary #2, the text is Erika Hayasaki, “This Doctor Knows Exactly How You Feel.” You are to summarize only the information concerning what mirror-touch synesthesia is (including the characteristics of it), and the discussion of its cause or causes (including any ongoing research and evidence), and the ways people who have it live with it.

As with any summary, the first sentence must include the initial attribution as well as the main idea or topic, and the rules for attribution apply throughout the summary. What is different is that immediately after the first sentence, your summary will need to indicate the narrower scope—that is, it will need to indicate that only information about mirror-touch synesthesia, including its characteristics, and the possible causes of mirror-touch synesthesia is being summarized. As can be readily seen, the article includes information that is not directly relevant to the topic of this summary. The length of the summary depends on you and your judgment on which information is relevant and necessary to the summary topic (but see also the requirements below).

Attribution

As in Summary One, because much of this article involves Hayasaki reporting what others say or found, it is necessary to keep clear who is saying any particular idea or information—that is, when Hayasaki herself is saying something, and when she is reporting what someone else says:

Hayasaki says that Michael Banissy and Jamie Ward, two British psychologists, are currently conducting research on mirror-touch synesthesia.

The rules for attribution of the author also apply here: the first time you include someone’s name, it should be the complete name and include information about who the person is; thereafter, use only the family name (e.g., Banissy and Ward; or Salinas). The example above, therefore, would be the first time Banissy and Ward’s names were used in the summary.

Remember! Be sure to include the author’s name wherever necessary (i.e., attribution). Do not plagiarize. Do not get assistance from anyone else—this is grounds for failure.

Requirements

1. Typed, double-spaced

2. 1-inch margins, top and bottom, left and right

3. 12-point Times New Roman font

4. If it is longer than one page, the pages must be stapled.

5. Length: There is no required length, but if you’ve reached a third page of text (in other

words, more than approximately 750 words), it is probably too long.

Note 1: When you hand it in, all of the above requirements must be met (including the format of the first sentence), or I will not accept it, and it will be marked late, with a deduction of 5 points.

Note 2: There will be no formally scheduled conferences for this summary. You will be allowed one revision of the summary after it has been read and graded. Any individual meetings with me to discuss the summary must be initiated and arranged by you.