Different terminology is sometimes used by instructors when they are referring to the summary. Often, this terminology reflects the discipline in which you are writing. You may encounter some terms which are forms of summaries so you should be familiar with the various terms used and be able to interchange terminology as appropriate.
NOTE: These brief definitions may help you in understanding the terminology your instructor uses, but you still need to clarify with your instructor how detailed you need to be in your summary.
A summary is a condensed piece of writing of someone else’s writing. It should be accurate and complete along with its brevity. It is not a paraphrase of a piece of writing because it is not saying in simpler words exactly what the original says. It is giving the main information of the original text. It is not giving opinion or evaluation.
There should be few details, examples, or illustrations. Unnecessary words should be eliminated.
A précis (pray-see) is a condensation or brief summary of a piece of writing. It should be accurate and complete along with its brevity. It should be no more than 1/3 of the original.
An annotation is a very brief summary of a source you plan to use in your research study. It gives just enough information for you to know the source’s focus and viewpoint and how well the source is supported or authenticated.
An abstract is a summary that presents an overview of an article or a report. Many journals publish abstracts of all the articles in an issue. The sciences often use abstracts to summarize the problem being studied, the participants in the study, the research methods, results, and conclusions. The abstract, like the summary, should be clear and concise.
A synopsis is a summary of the plot of a novel or short story. Although it may be longer than the précis or abstract, the synopsis is still clearly concise and does not provide description and detail, including character development. The synopsis is a common expository form used in the humanities.
A prospectus is not a summary in it truest sense; however, it is a narrative or overview (summary) of your project. The prospectus includes what you expect to cover in your paper, your research method and manner, your timeline, and your resources (sources).
Scholar: Each scholar (student) reads and then compiles a full abstract response that includes the following components:
Title or article
Topic/s correlations: Identify the possible correlation of this document to the appropriate Topics for this Period (unit)
Essential Question: Identify one of the Essential Questions for one of the Topics aligned to this article.
Contextualization: Voices of Freedom documents provide this as an introduction to the document. Professional articles may provide this information within the first few paragraphs. Other readings may not provide this information, so you will need to provide the bigger picture - contextualization.
Abstract: detailed summary of the entire document. Avoid oversimplifying or embedding your own opinion. A reader of your abstract should have a strong understanding of the article without having
Colleague: Reads the abstract post from selected student then completes a response that addresses all of the response topics.
Acknowledge (abstract, posting) contribution by colleague. [aka thank them for posting, their contribution, etc.]
Key takeaways: Identify the key takeaways from the abstract and something that you may have learned.
Make connections to the relevancy of the topic, extended analysis (HIPP) and/or to other eras (as appropriate).
Key Concept/s correlations: Identify the possible correlation of this document to the appropriate key concepts. This is NOT the same task that the individual providing the abstract completed. They provided the TOPIC correlation, you are providing the KEY CONCEPT correlation.
Title: Bartolomé de las Casas on Spanish Treatment of the Indians
Context: Bartolomé de las Casas, a Catholic priest and later known as the Protector of the Indians, once participated in the exploitation of Indian labor on Hispaniola and Cuba; however, he freed his Indian slaves, gave up his encomienda, and began preaching against the injustices of Spanish rule by 1514. His efforts influenced change and Spain promulgated the New Laws ordering that Indians no longer be enslaved. Consequently, European rivals seized the opportunity to justify their own ambitions using his writings as the basis for the Black Legend—the image of Spain as a cruel empire—and their desire to rescue Indians from Spanish rule.
Topic Alignment: Topics 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7
Essential Question: 1.6: Explain how and why European and Native American perspectives of others developed and changed in the period.
Abstract: This selection of excerpts from Las Casas’ writings entitled History of the Indies focuses on describing the mistreatment of the Indians by the Spanish. Indians were forced to work a 7 days-a-week, eight-month shift mining for gold and completing minor tasks such as building and repair work with barely 10% surviving to start the journey home. Many Spaniards had no scruples providing Indians a meager diet of cassava bread with a walnut size portion of meat and did not believe them when they fell ill calling them lazy dogs and beating them. Although it was noted that Indians received a minuscule wage, Indians cared only to fill their stomachs and to escape their desperate lives. Las Casas makes a comparison that Indians were totally deprived of their freedom being forced into harsh servitude and captivity while beasts enjoyed more freedom when they could graze in the fields. Very few made it home and those who made the journey home, they often found it deserted. Expansion of this “plague” spread to San Juan, Jamaica, Cuba, and the continent since 90% on Hispaniola had perished. Las Casas takes note that this was the freedom, good treatment, and Christianity that the Indians received from Spain.
If you are asked to post your Abstract to our Google Classroom and then respond to your colleagues, please complete the following three steps:
>> Appreciate your colleague for taking a risk and sharing a contribution with everyone.
>> Identify and explain at least one major takeaway from the abstract and the topic. Be specific about something that you learned.
>> Identify the key concept/s (not the Topic since that was done with the abstract) to which the article can be aligned.
Thank you for contributing an abstract for Las Casas' work regarding the Spanish relationship with the Native Americans.
Some of the key takeaways from your abstract are the details reinforcing the forced subjugation and harsh consequences the Native Americans endured at the hands of the Spanish. The Spanish were far from being humanitarians by restricting the Native Americans of food, purposely exposing them to disease, and beating them. The final statement clearly expresses the disconnect between the primary objectives missionaries pursued and what transpired in reality.
There are clear lines for comparison (treatment, decimated populations, dehumanization) between the treatment of the Native Americans and enslaved Africans. Additionally, there are significant differences in regards to the objectives and consequences of interaction with the Native Americans among the European (Spanish, French, Dutch, English) colonizers. Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish historian, missionary, and social reformer, attempted to expose the oppression of indigenous peoples by Europeans in the Americas and to call for the abolition of slavery there.
Specifically, this information is useful in responding to Key Concepts: KC 1.2.1.a-b; KC 1.2.2.a-b, d; KC 1.2.3,a-c.