Analytical Summaries

1. Produce a Summary. No instruction required. Do what you think should be done.

First Draft:

At the beginning, two different types of E. coli are identified. Most E. coli bacteria is helpful for the body, but another version called E. coli 0157:H7 is actually harmful for humans. Most of the time, people who get this version of E. coli either have no symptoms or have mild signs, but there are some that get anemia and have strokes. Five percent of children who get (HUS) from E. coli 0157:H7 die from it, while many others just have permanent disabilities. There is a case where one six-year-old child dies from it. Before his death, he had extremely painful abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. He couldn’t breathe on his own and his brain was liquefied. Even healthy adults can be susceptible to E. coli 0157:H7, and antibiotics have proven to be ineffective against fighting the bacteria. E. coli 0157:H7 can live in both high and low temperatures and can live for days or even weeks. E. coli 0157:H7 is caught by drinking contaminated water, eating undercooked ground beef, and person-to-person transmission. The reason the bacteria is now so easily spread is because of new changes in how cattle are raised, slaughtered, processed, and consumed.

2.    Revise your summary to produce one that is analytically strong. 

Do this by consistently integrating the speaker’s name followed by strong verbs, including strong, connotative verbs in other areas of the summary as well, applying appropriate—non-vacuous—adjectives and adverbs that truly demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Also, try to include chronological discourse markers and at least one appositive or non-essential phrase or clause within your summary.

Edited Draft:

Schlosser begins arguing for more regulations in the meat packing industry by describing the potential positive and negative effects of E. coli. Most E. coli bacteria is helpful for basic human functions, but a mutated version, called E. coli 0157:H7, is actually harmful for humans when consumed. Schlosser then follows this by revealing that often people who contract this version of E. coli are either asymptomatic or have relatively mild signs; however, there are an unlucky few who suffer from conditions such as anemia, the destruction of vital organs, and strokes. Schlosser exemplifies this when highlighting that about five percent of children who contract hemolytic uremic syndrome from E. coli 0157:H7 die from it, and those who survive may suffer from permanent disabilities. Schlosser then shifts from describing the broad effects of this bacteria to narrating a tragic case of one six-year-old child who died from it. Before his death, he contracted viciously painful abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. He couldn’t breathe on his own and his brain was liquefied. Schlosser then unnervingly exposes that even perfectly healthy adults can be susceptible to E. coli 0157:H7, and that antibiotics have proven to be ineffective against fighting the bacteria. E. coli 0157:H7 can withstand both high and low temperatures and can survive in numerous environments for days or even weeks. Continuing, Schlosser highlights that transmission of E. coli 0157:H7 can occur by drinking contaminated water, consuming undercooked ground beef, and engaging in person-to-person contact. Finally, Schlosser blames the newfound negligence in the meatpacking industry for the increased outbreaks of food poisoning in the United States.

3. Revise your already strong summary by integrating—and properly citing—appropriate textual evidence that seamlessly flows with your own words.

Final Draft:

Schlosser begins arguing for more regulations in the meat packing industry by describing the potential the potential positive and negative effects of E. coli. Most E. coli bacteria is helpful for basic human functions, but a mutated version called E. coli 0157:H7 is actually harmful for humans when consumed, as it “can release […] powerful toxin[s]” that attack “the lining of the intestine” (Schlosser 199). Schlosser then follows this by revealing that often people who contract this version of E. coli are either asymptomatic or have relatively mild signs and symptoms; however, there are an unlucky few who suffer from conditions such as anemia, “the destruction of vital organs” and strokes (Schlosser). Schlosser exemplifies this when highlighting that about five percent of children who contract hemolytic uremic syndrome from E. coli 0157:H7 die from it, and those who survive may suffer from “permanent disabilities, such as blindness or brain damage” (Schlosser 200). Schlosser then shifts from describing the broad effects of this bacteria to narrating a tragic case of one six year old child who died from it. Before his death, he contracted viciously painful abdominal cramps and diarrhea that “filled a hospital toilet with blood” (Schlosser 200). He couldn’t breathe on his own and his brain was liquefied, resulting in “his [horrifying] death” (Schlosser 200). Schlosser then unnervingly exposes that even perfectly healthy adults can be susceptible to E. coli 0157:H7, and that antibiotics have proven to be ineffective against fighting the bacteria. E. coli 0157:H7 “is an extraordinarily hearty microbe”, and can withstand both high and low temperatures in numerous environments for days or even weeks (Schlosser 200). Continuing, Schlosser highlights that transmission of E. coli 0157:H7 can occur by drinking contaminated water, consuming undercooked ground beef, and engaging in person-to-person contact. It’s also noted that an individual doesn’t even need to consume “a fairly large dose” to be infected (Schlosser 201). Finally, Schlosser blames the newfound negligence in the meatpacking industry for the increased outbreaks of food poisoning in the United States.

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Authorial Statement and Organizational Stems

Beginning of Text

·      (Speaker/Author) begins by/with…

Body of Text

·      (Speaker/Author) follows this by/with…

·      Following this, (Speaker/Author) (action verb)…

·      Moving on, (Speaker/Author) (action verb) (Speaker/Author) transitions to…

·      In order to transition, (Speaker/Author) (action verb)…

·      (Speaker/Author) then shifts to…

·      (Speaker/Author) moves to compare…

·      (Speaker/Author) then contrasts…

·      (Speaker/Author) exemplifies…

·      Continuing, (Speaker/Author) (verb)…

Conclusion of text

·      (Speaker/Author) concludes by/with…

·      Finally, (Speaker/Author) (verb/reminds)…

Analytical Addition (at the end of every authorial move)

·      …in order to…