Sherri Tracinski earned her degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1993 and her Masters degree in Architectural History from the University of Virginia in 1999. She is a practicing architect and writes and lectures on the history and theory of architecture. Jean Moroney A condensation is a list of the main points of an article, plus a statement of its theme. To condense, students analyze passages into their component parts, identify the logical relationships between the parts, and see how the parts integrate into a whole. Once students identify the main points, they practice expressing them exactly and economically.
Homework is assigned so that students can automatize the skills taught.
Condensing a piece of writing has many values. Condensation helps in understanding the piece, and in remembering it better. Condensation is also a helpful tool in editing, in philosophical detection, and in other kinds of analysis. Practice in condensation provides important logical and psycho-epistemological training. They will learn how to formulate each point exactly and how to cut out non-essentials.