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HISTORY
DEPARTMENT |
Synopsis Examples
by
Todd F. Carney
Southern Oregon University(Copyright 1996, 2005 Todd F. Carney. This material may be used for instructional purposes without permission, but all commercial rights are reserved.)
Writing a concise and informative synopsis is not easy. All superfluous words must be ruthlessly eliminated, yet the finished piece must convey all the important points contained in the original. The value of a compact and concise synopsis or summary can be enourmous to busy executives and administrators. Consequently, good synopsis writers are highly valued and well paid in rpofessional, business, or public service employment. Becoming an accomplished synopsis writer is one step toward a good paying job and a satisfying career.
Each of the following examples synopsize William Goetzman's article, "The Mountain Man as Jacksonian Man." Read this article before reading the examples.
Example of a vague synopsis:The mountain man was not as uneducated, rough and neandertholic as portrayed. He, like anyone else, was interested in making money; he saw the west as a wonderful opportunity and a good investment. An entrepreneur he was, starting fur trading companies, ranches, and even opera houses. The mountain man saw the west as a potentially important part of the nation. His efforts proved to others that the west could be settled and prosperous, paving the way for future settling. Recognizing that this territory could be ruled by none other than the United States, the mountain man volunteered his services to the ridding of the "Origin Territory" of British and Indians.
Example of a good synopsis:In his essay, William Goetzman makes several important observations about Jacksonian Mountain Man. Mountain men were frequently stereotyped as either romantic Robin Hood- type figure, or as bear-like outcast. Except for a few exceptions, the mountain men of the Jacksonian era were neither. More accurately the Mountain Man was a business man. He worked diligently as a trapper for his company to earn cash fast. The mountain man then used this money to get himself started in another occupation. In Goetzman's study of 446 trappers, one third left the fur trade for one or more occupations, over one third died in the fur trade, and fewer than 2% remained trappers.
Example of an excellent and specific synopsis:The Reading that was assigned to us this week was titled THE MOUNTAIN MAN AS JACKSONIAN MAN. In this article, Goetzman challenges our popular image of the mountain man. Instead of looking at him as a romantic wanderer or some antisocial man, he sees him as an extension of a "Jacksonian Man." A "Jacksonian Man" is defined as a expectant capitalist. The Mountain Man is a man who has great faith in the capitalist system and the idea of egalitarianism. He is willing to risk everything, including his life, to achieve a place for himself in conventional society. In fact, few trappers would decline the responsibility of entrepreneurial leadership if it was offered to them. This is illustrated to us in the study of 446 Mountain Men. Out of all the men only five stayed on as trappers. The list of alternative careers pursued by the trappers were revealing. Twenty one became ranchers, seventeen became traders, fifteen farmers, and seven politicians.
Even though the last example is excellent and specific, a careful writer could still improve it by removing unnecessary words and phrases:
In his article, "The Mountain Man as Jacksonian Man," William Goetzman challenges our popular image of the mountain man. Instead of an antisocial yet romantic wanderer, the author sees him as a "Jacksonian Man,"—an "expectant capitalist" with great faith in both capitalism and its egalitarian promise. He is willing to risk everything, including his life, to achieve a place for himself in conventional society. Few trappers declined the responsibility of entrepreneurial leadership if offered. In Goetzman's study of 446 Mountain Men, only five remained trappers. The list of alternative careers the others pursued was revealing. Twenty one became ranchers, seventeen became traders, fifteen farmers, and seven politicians.
What was 161 words has been reduced to 108, with no loss of meaning or detail. One third of the words have been removed, making the piece clearer and cleaner.
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