The ‘Don’ts’ of Summarizing
Take a look at the below poorly crafted summary of the film John Wick.
In the film John Wick, Keanu Reeves takes matters into his own hands after his dog is murdered and his car is stolen. It was terrible what happened to him. Luckily, hes actually a retired hit man, and seeks vengeance on the Russian mobsters who caused his grief. Theres also a female assassin who tries to stop him along the way but doesnt succeed. As the poster says, Dont set him off. He ultimately gets his revenge, which makes the film worth it.
Step two:
Write 2-3 paragraphs explaining what aspects of the summary are weak and/or inappropriate for a summary, and what can be done to improve it.
Your document should:
Be 12 pt, Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, and double spaced.
Consist of paragraphs that are at least 3-4 sentences each.
Be saved and submitted as a Word document (either .doc or .docx).
References:
Blumenthal, D., Eyde, S. X., Finegan, T., Scott Frakes, K., Grondin, A. (Producers), . . . Stahelski, C., Leitch (Directors). (2014). John Wick [Motion picture]. USA: Lionsgate.
Santa Monica College. (2017). Writing a Summary. Retrieved from http://www.smc.edu/AcademicPrograms/English/Reading-Center/Pages/Writing-a-Summary.aspx
