Discover Summarizing and Synthesizing 

[WLO: 3] [CLOs: 2, 3]

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, watch the

Summarizing (Links to an external site.)

video.

 This week, the reading notebook focuses on summarizing practice. 

 The template is provided and please use

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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL

Week 5 Reading Notebook
Summarizing, & Synthesizing Activity

This activity has two parts. The first part will give you practice summarizing your reading. The
second part will give you practice in forming an opinion based on what you read (synthesizing).

Summarizing
Read the following passage and provide your own summary after each passage.

Your summary (box will expand as you type):

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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL

Your summary (box will expand as you type):

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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL

Your summary (box will expand as you type):

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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL

Synthesizing
For the previous three passages, you summarized what you read. Now, for the following
passages, you will synthesize by filling in the blanks with your own words.

Exercise 1: Fuel Alternatives

Many gas stations now blend their fuels with ethanol, a product derived from corn. Ethanol is
promoted as an environmentally-friendly alternative because it is not as harmful to the
environment as fossil fuels. However, the production of ethanol requires a tremendous amount
of corn, which has contributed to food shortages and rising food costs. Additionally, since a
tremendous amount of fossil fuel is required to grow, harvest, and ship corn, the
environmental benefits of ethanol are dubious.

This passage challenges conventional reasoning by arguing:

After considering the points raised in this passage, I now believe:

Exercise 2: Celiac Disease and Gluten Allergies

Celiac disease and gluten-related allergies and sensitivities are on the rise throughout the
world. It’s now believed that the cause of gluten-related health problems has to do with
modern industrial farming and baking techniques. Excessive hybridization has vastly increased
the gluten yield in wheat, which is the cause of allergic responses. Furthermore, the recent use
of chemical pesticides as a pre-harvest desiccant to increase crop yield has been found to
contaminate kernels and transfer pesticides into the gut, which disrupt gut bacteria and lead to
digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. Finally, the use of instant dry yeast to speed
up industrial baking has altered the chemical composition of traditional wheat products like
pasta and bread, making them harder to digest. As a result, the traditional wheat products we
once enjoyed are not what they used to be.

According to this passage, wheat and wheat products have been altered by:

In response, I think:

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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL

Exercise 3: Early Academics Debate

Passage 1

It used to be that the first few years of elementary school were all about crafts, story time, and
courtyard play. However, tests demonstrate that children in the United States are falling
behind their peers in other countries in the academic areas of math, science, reading, and
writing. Schools need to implement a more rigorous academic program at an earlier age. A
focus on academics that emphasizes standards, frequent testing, and plenty of homework will
help bridge the international academic gap.

Passage 2

The introduction of academic standards, testing, and homework at an early age contradicts
research that shows children are not developmentally prepared for academic work until at least
7 or 8, and the emphasis on academics before then can actually harm a child’s personal and
educational development. The Scandinavian countries, which consistently rank high in
educational achievement, have developed a public education model that embraces this
research. As a result, children in Scandinavia spend much more time playing and socializing
than listening and quietly working. Academics are not given significant attention until the
latter years of elementary school.

The second passage refutes the claim made in the first passage by arguing:

The conclusion I draw from this debate is: