Just before I share with you my number 1 training technique for writing a top overview, I want to quickly explain what an overview is, and why it's so important.
So, what is an overview?
An overview is a summary of the most important features of the information given to you in the question (graph, chart, pie chart, table, map, or process). This summary shouldn't contain any specific details. It should just present the most important information without any details. To learn more about overviews, read this article.
Band
|
Task Achievement
|
4
|
attempts to address the task but does not cover all key
features/bullet points; the format may be inappropriate
may
confuse key features/bullet points with detail; parts may be unclear,
irrelevant, repetitive or inaccurate
|
5
|
generally addresses the task; the format may be inappropriate
in places
recounts detail mechanically with no clear overview; there may be no data to
support the description
presents, but inadequately covers, key features/bullet points;
there may be a tendency to focus on detail
|
6
|
addresses the requirements of the task
(Academic) presents an overview with information appropriately selected
presents and adequately highlights key features/bullet points
but details may be irrelevant, inappropriate
|
7
|
covers the requirements of the task
(Academic) presents a clear overview of main trends, differences or stages
clearly presents and highlights key features/bullet points but could
be more fully extended
|
8
|
covers all requirements of the task sufficiently
presents,
highlights and illustrates key features/bullet points clearly and
appropriately
|
What makes a top overview?
A top overview summarises all the key information given in a limited number of words. This overview should be able to give the reader a rough idea of what the information is without seeing it.
What is the challenge?
The challenge is to write an introduction and overview in less than 60 words in total that will be used as directions to reconstruct the information in the task as accurately as possible.
How can we carry out this exercise?
You can do this alone, with a partner, or in a group of 3.
With a partner
1) Take a task 1 that your partner doesn't know about or preferably hasn't seen.
2) Give yourselves 10 minutes to write an introduction and overview. This overview will function as a description for your partner.
3) After 10 minutes take turns reading your introduction and overview to your partner. It's your partner's job to reconstruct all the data as accurately as possible without seeing the question. Repeat the introduction and overview as many times as needed to reconstruct the task. Set a 5 minute time limit. You are only allowed to read information from the intro and overview. You can't add any more information.
4) After you have both finished, compare what your partner has written or drawn with the question in the book or on the paper, and see which important features were missing for your partner to be able to make a more accurate draft of the question.
5) Make adjustments to the introducion and overview to make the process of reconstructing the question an easier task.
A group of 3
You could both ask a 3rd person to listen to the updated introductions and overviews, and get them to attempt to reconstruct the question to see if the improvements made a difference. Preferably, the 3rd person doesn't witness the previous exercises.
Alone
If you are alone, you can do the same process. Give yourself 5 minutes to reconstruct the task based on the introduction and overview while covering the question. Make adjustments after you have finished by comparing what you have written with the question.
Practice makes perfect
Keep on practising this exercise until you can summarise the information in the question in the most efficient way, and most importantly, have fun while doing so :)
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