Summary vs. Analysis

When we summarize material we are merely describing its context. This is often done to show the reader, often an instructor, that we fully understand the material reviewed. When summarizing, the story line and plot may be exposed completely. This leaves little detail unexposed to the reader of our summary. This type of summary should be reserved for academic use, such as writing a paper about an item. The student might write a complete summary of their material to be used as notes or study material. Some may argue that summary is a bad thing, but if used properly, and if the audience is kept in mind, then summary can be a very beneficial tool to use. We know when we are summarizing when we are stating the obvious, or when we are describing the what’s, where’s and who’s of a story. Summary will also move through the material in a chronological order. We must be very careful about using to much summary when writing essays, thesis’ and even reviews, because these types of writings want to show their audience that the writer not only understands the context of the material but has also analyzed what the material means.
When analyzing a subject we are breaking the material reviewed into its’ parts, so that we can understand what the individual parts mean when combined together. It is recommended that we begin to analyze things we view, read, or hear while we are reviewing them. This allows us to take notes and think about significant ideas we may have, or themes that we find in the material. When we analyze these we break them down and study their meanings. So when we analyze a poem, book, movie or maybe a play, we break down an idea to explain why we found the material interesting or even boring.
One of my fail safe novelists that I tend to turn to when I know I need a good, entertaining read and dont want to bother with randomly choosing a book is Dean Koontz. He is a popular American novelist whose works could be described as suspense thrillers. One of the recurring trademarks that I have noted in his writings is his description of street lighting being “sodium-vapor lights”.( Some of the titles where he refers to these lights are “ Midnight” ( 1989) , “ The Bad Place” ( 1989) and “From the Corner of His Eye” ( 2000). I have often wondered what the significance was of his use of these yellowish hued lights. In order to see Koontz' meaning in these lights I must first explain the lights themselves, then the importance of his use should be obvious. Sodium Vapor Lights have a gas discharge tube that contain sodium, a small amount of neon and argon. They use low amounts of energy that cast a dull, yellowish light. Objects under these lights are often devoid of color contrast and lack any imagery detail. Materials such as, cars, buildings and people don’t always appear to be dimensional. They leave areas next to, but not in their light path, in heavy, sullen shadow. With this description it is easier for the reader to see that one of Koontz’ ominous characters would appear even darker and mysterious than they would under a bright, white fluorescent bulb light. So it is my belief that Dean Koontz uses this description to build and portray a chaotic or dangerous scene as dark and looming even though the setting may be in a modern southern California suburb.

Image Soure; http://www.gtyurkon.com/MySaabPhotos/index.html