Activity for Reading and Writing

SUMMARIES

A summary compresses essential information from a longer publication. Employees are sometimes asked to write summaries that condense technical reports, periodical articles, or books so that their staffs or superiors may grasp the main ideas quickly. Students are often asked to write summaries of articles, chapters, or books to sharpen their writing skills and to confirm their knowledge of reading assignments. A summary includes primary ideas, conclusions, and recommendations. It usually omits examples, illustrations, and references. Organized for readability, a summary often includes headings and bulleted or enumerated lists. It may include the reactions of the reader.

  

SUMMARY REPORT

TO:   Dr.  Rosario Battung FROM:    BC 2-5 DATE:       September 13, 2008 SUBJECT:    Analysis of the Novel   A Walk to Remember Greetings! In connection with your requirement in EN 110 (English Communication Skills P-1), here is the analysis of the novel A Walk to Remember. The Story Jamie Sullivan was the daughter of towns Baptist minister. Jamie was serious and conservative, she was far from cool as she could possibly be, and didn’t care. Jamie was not afraid of letting people know that her faith was most important part of her life, even if it would cost her some friends. Landon Carter was an aimless, reckless guy breezed through school on looks. He had no future, no plans, and no faith in himself. One day, Landon and Jamie participated in the Drama Club’s spring play. It happened to throw him close contact with Jamie. Landon found himself falling in love with this outwardly plain girl who had possessed passion for life. He never imagined it possible and it wasn’t easy. For her own reasons, Jamie did everything she could to run away from romance until it became impossible to deny. Jamie had cancer and she had no idea of how long she would live. The patience, the care, and the love of Landon…until the death of Jamie never changed. Characters.  Jamie Sullivan is the opposite from cool. She is serious, religious, conservative, and outwardly plain girl who possesses passion. She’s the daughter of a preacher, carries her Bible almost everywhere she goes, and volunteers to do stuff like tutoring kids every weekend. Landon Carter is an aimless, moody reckless guy who breezed through his school on looks and bravado. He had no plans, no future, and no faith in himself. He is also a bad boy who only needs the love of a good woman to realize his potential. Reverend Sullivan is Jamie’s father. He is hard but fair. A stern father, a town preacher who guards a tragic family secret. Cynthia Sullivan is Landon’s mother. She is a complex character herself, very conservative in some ways but still somewhat a hippie and a bohemian underneath. For all honest effort and love, she’s never really sure that she’s been raising Landon right, especially without a father figure. Dean is Landon’s friend. Belinda is Landon’s  former girlfriend. Setting.  The story happened in the coastal little town of Beaufort, North Carolina where the wind smells of pine and salt, where Landon Carter remembers his senior year at Beaufort High School and Jamie Sullivan, the girl who changed his life. Plot. Their principal caught a guy who used to make trouble. He asked help from Jamie who taught him about their play. Landon fell in love with Jamie. Jamie told him that she had leukemia. Jamie died and Landon totally changed. Strengths and Weaknesses The strength of the story lies on characters. The reader, young or old, can easily adapt in the story. They can easily relate in the story especially the teenage boys and girls. The story had two weaknesses. First the author did not tell how Jamie died of her illness. Second, It did not tell us what happened to the friends and his mother as well as Jamie’s father.