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The Steps of Summary Writing
The purpose of a summary is to give a reader a condensed and objective account of the main ideas and features of a text. Usually, a summary has between one and three paragraphs or 100-300 words, depending on the length and complexity of the original essay and your purpose. Sometimes, a summary is just one or two sentences. Again, it depends on your purpose. A summary of an article is a condensation of ideas and information, so you cannot include every detail. The best way to prepare to write a summary is to mark a photocopied article or essay, underlining key words, numbering main ideas in a series, and making notes for yourself in the margins. Then isolate each importan,, point and its key supporting points and make a list.
1. Find the main idea. Review all the ideas on your list and choose the single idea that best expresses the central issue of the article. The main idea (or thesis statement) often appears either at the end or at the beginning of the article. Use secondary ideas from the article to illustrate the support for the main idea.
2. When you begin writing, set the article aside and work from your list. Use your own words in the summary. If you must, refer to the article to quote only phrases that cannot be better expressed in other words.
3. Organize your summary. In the first sentence state the thesis. You might even begin with the author and the title; for example,
In "Teach Diversity --- with a Smile," journalist Barbara Ehrenreich explains the current conflict between people who would like to replace our Eurocentric bias in education with a multicultural approach and those critics and conservatives who are leading the backlash against multiculturalism and "political correctness."
This first sentence of a summary is in the student's own words, except for the last phrase which she quoted from the original article.
After the first sentence, proceed in a logical manner, presenting material in the same order as in the original. Include author tags occasionally such as "according to Ehrenreich" or "as Ehrenreich argues" to remind the reader that you are summarizing the author's ideas, not giving your own. If you know the identity of your author, make sure you give his/her background.
4. Keep opinions to yourself. Record objectively what you have read. Even though you use your own words, do not introduce any of your own ideas.
5. Make your summary concise. Do not include specific details. Aim for one to three paragraphs, or 100 to 300 words.
6. When you are finished drafting your summary, compare what you have written with the original. If you find you have omitted important ideas, or included minor details, revise your summary. Make sure your sentences flow smoothly.
7. Include bibliographic information. Do not include this information in the actual summary, but put it at the top or bottom of the summary. For example:
Bartleby, Charles. "Chambered Nautilus." Encyclopedia of Shellfish. Ed. Karen Cartright.
Vol. 4. New York: Random House, 1988.
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