You may not realize it, but you summarize all the time, every day, probably even five or six times. Maybe earlier today, for example, a new friend casually asked you where you live. It's a sure bet you did not say something like this:
I live in the apartment building next to the furniture store--you know, the blue building with the huge sign in the front that says Worthington Apartments. It's on Samson Avenue, and that is between Main and Grand Streets. It's here in AnyTown and it is a nice place to live.
Instead, you would probably summarize and say something like this:
I live on Samson Avenue, in Worthington Apartments.
Before you click on each of the images below, think about how you would answer the question above the image, if someone asked you. Then click on the image to see how to provide an answer that is a summary.
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If you and some friends went to a party last Friday night, someone may ask you later whether you had a good time.
There may be a new pizza restaurant in town. You and your family went there last night. A friend asks you how the pizza is.
You went to a football game with your friends on Saturday. The next day your mother asks about the game.
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Summarizing what you do in your everyday life is pretty easy and automatic. You think of the main idea and give the most important details. Of course, if you were asked to elaborate a little, you would do that too. But most of the time, your first response would just be a short sentence.
Question
Why don't we give every detail we can think of when asked a question?
