SUMMARIZING &
PARAPHRASING
Lecture 2 AmTr
Writing the Summary
When writing the summary there are three main requirements:
1.The summary should cover the original as a whole.
2.The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.
3.The summary should be a condensed version of the material, presented in your
own words.
4.Do not include anything that does not appear in the original.
5.Do not include your own opinions, comments or evaluation.
6.Be sure to identify your source.
Exercise 1
While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper
engineering so far, it's unlikely that architects and engineers have
abandoned the quest for the world's tallest building. The question is: Just
how high can a building go? Structural engineer William LeMessurier has
designed a skyscraper nearly one-half mile high, twice as tall as the Sears
Tower. Architect Robert Sobel claims that existing technology could produce
a 500-story building. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching for the Sky." Dial (May
1990): 15.
Exercise 2
In "An Anthropologist on Mars," Sacks lists some of the known facts about autism. We
know, for example, that the condition occurs in roughly one out of every thousand children.
We also know that the characteristics of autism do not vary from one culture to the next.
And we know that the condition is difficult to diagnose until the child has entered the
second or third year of life. As Sacks points out, often a child who goes on to develop
autism will show no sign of the condition at the age of one. Sacks observes, however, that
researchers have had a hard time agreeing on the causes of autism. He sketches the
diametrically opposed positions of Asperger and Kanner.
On the one hand, Asperger saw the condition as representing a constitutional defect in the
child's ability to make meaningful emotional contact with the external world. On the other
hand, Kanner regarded autism as a consequence of harmful childrearing practices. For
many years confusion about this condition reigned. One unfortunate consequence of this
confusion, Sacks suggests, was the burden of guilt imposed on so many parents for their
child's condition.
Exercise 3
Global Implications of Patent Law Variation by Koji Suzuki
A patent is an exclusive right to use an invention for a certain period of time,
which is given to an inventor as compensation for disclosure of an invention.
Although it would be beneficial for the world economy to have uniform patent
laws, each country has its own laws designed to protect domestic inventions and
safeguard technology. Despite widespread variation, patent laws generally fall
under one of two principles: the first-to-file and first-to invent. The first-to-file
principle awards a patent to the person or institution that applies for a patent
first, while the first-to invent principle grants the patent to the person or
institution that was first to invent – and can prove it. Most countries have
adopted the first-to-file system. However, the United States maintains a first-to-
invent system, despite obvious shortcomings. A result of countries employing
different laws, it becomes a problem surrounding variation in patent laws.
Exercise 3 (continued)
Patent ownership is not recognized globally. On the contrary, ownership may
change depending on the country. It is not uncommon for an invention to
have two patent owners – one in the United States and one in the rest of the
world. This unclear ownership often has economic consequences. If a
company is interested in using a patented invention, it may be unable to
receive permission from both patent owners, which in turn may prevent
manufacture of a particular product. Even if permission is received from
both owners, pay royalties to both may be quite costly. In this case, if the
invention is useful enough, a company may proceed and pass on the added
cost to consumers.
Exercise 3 (continued)
International economic tension has also been increasing as a result of
differing policies. Many foreign individuals and companies believe that they
are at a serious disadvantage in the United States with regard to patent
ownership because of the logistical difficulties in establishing first-to invent
status. Further, failure of the United States to recognize patent ownership in
other countries is in violation of the Paris Conventions on Industrial
Properties, which requires all member nations to treat all patents equally.
The conflict surrounding patents has prompted the World Intellectual
Properties Organization (WIPO) to lobby for universality in patent laws.
WIPO maintains that the first necessary step involves compelling the United
States to reexamine its patent principle, taking into account the reality of a
global economy. This push may indeed result in more global economic
cooperation.
