EXAMPLE
QUESTION 2: SUMMARISING IN YOUR OWN WORDS
TEXT C provides insight into why young people are interested in comics and superheroes. Summarise
in your own words the impact superheroes have on the youth.
FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC
NOTE:
1. Your summary should include SEVEN points and NOT exceed 90 words.
2. You must write a fluent paragraph.
3. You are NOT required to include a title for the summary.
4. Indicate your word count at the end of your summary.
TEXT C
SUPERHEROES – MORE THAN COMIC CARICATURES
Who is your favourite superhero? The interest in superheroes is increasing … but what makes
superheroes so popular with children and adults alike? Do superheroes make appropriate role models?
Importantly, the relationship between superheroes and societal factors is a direct one, with a strong
impact on individuals.
When we read comics featuring superheroes, particularly as children, we develop our emotions,
reading ability and morals. Just as we idolise celebrities, we idolise superheroes. These comics likely
influence our behaviour, leadership ability and attitudes. It is not unusual to see a child wearing a
Batman or Superman cape, battling imaginary supervillains and saving the world, one tree-house at a
time. Pretend play based on the concept of superheroes helps children learn language and allows the
expression of emotions, both negative and positive.
Children can use superheroes and supervillains to form various perspectives on a situation and test the
consequences of actions. Superhero comics provide the exaggerated opportunity to play out moralistic
and ethical dilemmas for both children and adults. In fact, superheroes likely feed straight into boys'
tendency to control or 'master' the world.
It is quite common for superheroes to be presented with the option of whether to fight or not to fight – to
use their moral compass, so to speak, before making big decisions. Importantly, children are given the
opportunity to observe how their favourite role model problem-solves through ethically sticky situations.
Past research indicates that adolescence is the stage in which social comparisons are most common.
Teenagers use villains as avoidance role models, while imitating superheroes who display pro-social
behaviour, leadership and a variety of positive attitudes. Leadership is transactional – that is, 'leaders
do something for the group and the group in return does something for the leaders', a dynamic best
shown between superheroes and the cities they protect.
Superhero stories also address the superhero's unwillingness to be a bystander. Human social
behaviour is learned from appropriate models – it could be argued that learning to help others occurs
through the models of superheroes. We feed off their images, integrating their characteristics into our
personalities, ethics and morals.
Example answer:
Children develop reading skills, emotional intelligence and principles when they read
about superheroes: their behaviour, leadership skills and outlook are influenced.
Furthermore, youngsters imitating superheroes learn to verbalise a range of feelings.
Children learn from superheroes and supervillains how to weigh up situations before
acting. Moreover, children can role-play in larger-than-life scenarios to discern right from
wrong and gain confidence in taking control of circumstances. They can witness the
manner in which superheroes extricate themselves from daunting circumstances. In
conclusion, superheroes with integrity are good role-models and reinforce altruism. (89
words)
