Байланысты: Аракин В.Д. Практический курс английского языка. 2 курс (7-е издание, 2008)
STUDIES OF WRITTEN ENGLISH VI The plot is a very important aspect of written works. But there is something even more important, that is, the main idea or the message.
Message is the main idea that a writer wants to communicate in his work through the characters and their behaviour, the physical and emotional background or sometimes through his own generalizing statements. To make it clear and understandable you have to learn how to write the gist.
Gist is commonly understood as the essence or main point (of an article, paragraph or argument), also as the essential part of a story, novel, or play that helps to understand the main idea.
Summary deals with the plot of complete written works, such as a story, novel or play. Gist deals with the main idea of any thoughtful writing, no matter whether it is a paragraph or a novel. It is expected to be very short and clear.
In order to write the gist of a story ("A Day's Wait", for example) you have to do the following:
1. Read the story carefully, paying attention to the characters, general atmosphere and the author's remarks or statements (е.g. a bright cold day, a pale-faced and shivering boy, the growing strain), the atmosphere of suspense.
2. Jot down the main points and see how they are linked (е.g. the boy is ill but he won't go to bed; he is still worried and keeps staring at the foot of the bed; he can hardly believe that he has no reason to worry about his health).
3. Point out the author's remarks (the boy was looking at the foot of the bed strangely; that's a silly way to talk; he had been waiting to die all day; relaxation was very slow).
4. Go over these points, reconsider them carefully and formulate the main idea, е.g. It is a story telling us how fear and self-pity through ignorance or misleading information may cause worry and suffering or how remarkably patient the child's endurance may be.