Summaries/ "What Is Writing?"

Chapter nine of our Kolin book discussed summaries. This concept was quite new to me. So far in my English courses, I have heard the phrase over and over and over, "Do not summarize," so much so that I have an instant disliking to the word. While writing papers about articles, short stories, or novels, we are told to choose one specific topic of the passage to focus on, key word: specific. And then we are told, "Do not summarize. Not even for just a paragraph." At first this was extremely annoying, "How will my audience be able to follow my paper if I don't give them any background?" However, last semester I was given a helpful tip: think of your audience as only those who are interested and have knowledge of your topic. I learned how to write papers like this quite well.

But now we are told to do what?? Summarize! My question from the previous paragraph now applies; your audience will not know what you are talking about unless you give them the basics of your material. The most difficult thing for me when it comes to summarizing is to avoid inserting my own opinion or explanation of the ideas. By summarizing, I feel like I am writing down someone else's thoughts only and nothing is actually coming from my own brain. I suppose it is something a writer must get used to and learn how to do for the professional job market.

The communication triangle was introduced to us in the reading titled "What Is Writing?" The article brought out the point that writing is not just simple steps you need to follow and then KABOOM! You have writing. There are guidelines and rules regarding grammar and mechanics, but writing overall is a process, and there is not just one way to do it. The combination of logos (the subject/appeal to reason), ethos (the writer/appeal to character), and pathos (the reader/appeal to emotion) creates the message your writing will give. There are many more parts to writing that work together to create a written work. So don't be fooled! Not just anyone can do this.