Writing a Spanish Summary That Separates Your View from the Source's View

Writing a Spanish Summary That Separates Your View from the Source's View

In this lesson, you will write an attributed summary of a source. You will identify the source, its main ideas, its position, and its stated limits. Then, if you add your own evaluation, you will mark it explicitly so the reader can distinguish the source's view from yours.

Source text

Informe del director de la biblioteca:

“Durante los últimos tres meses, el número de usuarios por la tarde ha aumentado. Los datos muestran más demanda entre las seis y las ocho, pero todavía no sabemos si ampliar el horario sería la mejor solución. Antes de tomar una decisión, necesitamos comparar el coste de personal, el uso real de las salas y la demanda de los sábados. Mi impresión es que una prueba limitada de horario ampliado podría aportar datos útiles.”

Identify the source

El director de la biblioteca — the library director.

Do not write the claims as anonymous facts if the text presents them as the director's analysis.

Identify the main confirmed point

El director señala que el número de usuarios por la tarde ha aumentado durante los últimos tres meses. — The director points out that the number of afternoon users has increased during the last three months.

Identify the source's limitation

También indica que todavía no se sabe si ampliar el horario sería la mejor solución. — He also indicates that it is still not known whether extending the opening hours would be the best solution.

This uncertainty is part of the source's position and must remain in the summary.

Identify what the source says is needed

Según el informe, antes de decidir habría que comparar el coste de personal, el uso de las salas y la demanda de los sábados. — According to the report, before deciding it would be necessary to compare staffing cost, room use, and Saturday demand.

Identify the source's proposal

El director considera que una prueba limitada podría aportar datos útiles. — The director believes that a limited trial could provide useful data.

Do not rewrite podría aportar — could provide as aportará — will provide.

Source summary without personal comment

El director de la biblioteca informa de un aumento de usuarios por la tarde y destaca que la mayor demanda se concentra entre las seis y las ocho. Sin embargo, no afirma que ampliar el horario sea ya la mejor solución. Según el informe, primero habría que comparar los costes de personal, el uso de las salas y la demanda de los sábados. Como medida provisional, el director propone una prueba limitada de horario ampliado para obtener más datos. — The library director reports an increase in afternoon users and emphasizes that the greatest demand is concentrated between six and eight. However, he does not state that extending the opening hours is already the best solution. According to the report, staffing costs, room use, and Saturday demand would first have to be compared. As a provisional measure, the director proposes a limited trial of extended hours to obtain more data.

Add your own view explicitly

Source view:

El director propone una prueba limitada. — The director proposes a limited trial.

Your view:

En mi opinión, esa prueba sería útil siempre que se definieran criterios claros para evaluarla. — In my opinion, that trial would be useful provided that clear criteria were defined to evaluate it.

The phrase en mi opinión marks the shift from source summary to personal evaluation.

Other ways to mark your own view

• Desde mi punto de vista... — From my point of view...
• A mi juicio... — In my judgment...
• Considero que... — I consider that...
• Mi valoración es que... — My assessment is that...

Do not disguise your opinion as the source's claim

Unsupported attribution:

El director demuestra que ampliar el horario es la mejor opción. — The director proves that extending opening hours is the best option.

This is inaccurate because the source explicitly says the best solution is not yet known.

Preserve reporting-verb strength

Source says:

Mi impresión es que una prueba limitada podría aportar datos útiles. — My impression is that a limited trial could provide useful data.

Faithful:

El director considera que una prueba limitada podría aportar datos útiles. — The director believes that a limited trial could provide useful data.

Too strong:

El director confirma que la prueba resolverá el problema. — The director confirms that the trial will solve the problem.

Keep time reference accurate

If the source states:

Durante los últimos tres meses... — During the last three months...

do not silently change it to durante el último año — during the last year.

Keep pronouns and ownership clear

If you summarize several sources, repeat the source name when su or él could be ambiguous.

Model with source and personal comment

El director de la biblioteca informa de que la demanda de la tarde ha aumentado durante los últimos tres meses. Señala que el mayor uso se produce entre las seis y las ocho, pero reconoce que todavía faltan datos para elegir una solución definitiva. Según su informe, convendría comparar los costes de personal, la ocupación de las salas y la posible demanda de los sábados. Como paso provisional, propone una prueba limitada de horario ampliado. En mi opinión, la propuesta es razonable porque permite recoger información antes de hacer un cambio permanente, aunque sería importante definir de antemano cómo se medirá el resultado. — The library director reports that afternoon demand has increased during the last three months. He points out that the greatest use occurs between six and eight, but acknowledges that data are still missing for choosing a final solution. According to his report, it would be useful to compare staffing costs, room occupancy, and possible Saturday demand. As a provisional step, he proposes a limited trial of extended hours. In my opinion, the proposal is reasonable because it allows information to be collected before making a permanent change, although it would be important to define in advance how the result will be measured.

Summary review checklist

1. Is the source identified clearly?
2. Are the source's main ideas summarized without unnecessary detail?
3. Are limitations and uncertainty preserved?
4. Do reporting verbs match the source's actual stance?
5. Are time references and pronouns accurate?
6. Is your own evaluation introduced explicitly?
7. Have you avoided strengthening or weakening the source's argument?

From Attributed Summary to Reconciling Two Accounts

You can now summarize one source while keeping your own view separate. The next lesson is Reconciling Two Spanish Accounts and Explaining Where They Differ.