Summarising
To create / write a good summary, you should read the article or text a number of times to develop a clear understanding of:
the author's ideas and intentions
the meaning and details
the force with which the ideas are expressed.
Writing a summary
Use the following steps to write a summary.
Step 1
Write notes in point form using keywords; this will make it easier to express the ideas in your own words.
Step 2
Write the summary directly from your notes without re-reading the passage.
Step 3
Refer back to the original to ensure that your summary is a true reflection of the writer's ideas.
Tips
Topic sentences provide a quick outline of the main idea(s) presented in a paragraph.
When summarising a chapter or article, the introduction and conclusion should provide a good overview of the content.
Ref: https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_writingSkills/writing_tuts/summarising_LL/summary.html
Below is an example of this process from the first set of reading in your text:
Step 1: Read the information and take notes
Natural radiation
Beta particle
Electroscopes
Charge
ions in air
decrease with height as coming from crust
1909 top of Eiffel tower, increase in charge
Cosmic radiation
Summary
Natural radiation first discovered in form of beta particles
Electroscopes show presence and intensity of charge when exposed over time
Terrestrial radiation is from the Earth, in the crust and low level
Cosmic radiation from the sky, universe. Atmosphere stops part of it as well as the magnetic field.