Relaying Key Information from a Short Spanish Article to Someone Else

In this lesson, you will select the main idea and the facts another person actually needs from a short article. You will mention the source, put the information in a useful order, paraphrase when possible, and keep your own opinion separate from the article.

Read the short article

Check the meaning

— A new bike-sharing service will start operating on June 15 in the city center.

— According to the city council, there will be 250 bicycles at 30 stations.

— The service will operate every day from six in the morning until midnight.

— During the first month, users will be able to register without paying the sign-up fee.

— The city council states that the goal is to offer an alternative for short journeys.

Identify the main idea

The city is launching a bike-sharing service on June 15.

Select facts for a person who wants to use it

Useful facts:

— it starts June 15
— there are 250 bikes at 30 stations
— it operates from six in the morning until midnight
— during the first month the sign-up fee is not paid

Mention the source

— According to the city council, the service will have 250 bicycles.

This keeps the attribution visible.

Paraphrase instead of repeating every sentence

Article:

— The service will operate every day from six in the morning until midnight.

Paraphrase:

— It will be possible to use it every day from six until midnight.

Do not add a cause that is not stated

The article says the goal is to offer an alternative for short journeys.

Do not add:

— The city is doing it because there is too much pollution.

unless the article explicitly states that reason.

Keep your opinion separate

Article summary:

— The city council says the goal is to offer an alternative for short journeys.

Your opinion:

— It seems useful to me for going to work.

Relay the information to a friend

— I read that the new bike-sharing service starts June 15. According to the city council, there will be 250 bicycles at 30 stations, and it will be possible to use it every day from six in the morning until midnight. In addition, during the first month the sign-up fee will not have to be paid.

Adapt the summary to the listener

If your friend only asks when it starts and how late it runs, you do not need to include every detail about the number of stations.

A practical relay method

Identify the article's main idea.
Choose the facts the listener actually needs.
Mention the source of attributed claims.
Put facts in a clear order.
Paraphrase using vocabulary you control.
Do not add a cause, result, or conclusion that the article does not state.
Keep your personal opinion separate from the source summary.

From Relaying Information to Choosing a Local Action

You can now pass on the key points of a short article faithfully and efficiently. The next lesson is a speaking task where you compare local environmental actions, choose one, and explain its practical benefits and requirements.