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1         Synopsis, Executive Summary



                    UNIT                     and Abstract Writing






                           Learning Outcomes



                       Upon completion of this unit, the learner will be able to:


                         ◊    comprehend the purpose and process of summarising.
                         ◊    compose a well-structured research synopsis
                         ◊    learn the structure and elements of an effective executive summary

                         ◊    understand the purpose and structure of an abstract




                           Background



                         Writing is an art that conveys the inner world. Of all its forms, academic
                      writing  is the most rigorous - a vessel crafted  to bear ideas  across the  seas
                      of time. Like a ship captain’s logbook, it records knowledge with precision.
                      Yet, in the age of information, knowledge overflows its banks. How does one
                      summarise  an  expansive  work  in  brief?  Extract  its  essence  like  a  perfumer
                      drawing fragrance from flowers? An ancient parable tells of a well in a remote
                      village. All came to drink, but none could see the water’s source. A wise man
                      stepped down the well and discovered an underground spring hidden below the
                      surface. Though immersed, he could now map its contours. Like the wise man’s
                      story, academic writing enters beneath appearances to chart the architecture of
                      knowledge.

                         Since  ancient  times,  scholars  have  sought  to  condense  and  crystallise
                      knowledge into its essence. The Roman philosopher Seneca urged his readers to
                      “reduce the mind to a small compass,” believing that summarised thought was
                      sharpened thought. In academia today, the art of summarising remains vital. The
                      large volume of academic texts and documents can overwhelm and confuse.
                      Summaries  help  us cut  through  the  tangled  thicket  of arguments  and  ideas.
                      A good summary is a map of the landscape, guiding us toward what matters
                      most. It points out the major routes and the pitfalls to avoid. The methods of
                      summarising  propagate  insights across the  collective mindscape  - signposts
                      directing readers to shores of understanding. Such is the craft of conveying
                      essence by entering beneath the surface. Academic writing filters the sand so
                      grains of insight may shine.




                      96       SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing
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