A summary presents the major ideas from a text while reducing its length.
When you write a summary, you may find it tempting to combine various parts of the text. However, this isn’t the best strategy. To write an effective summary, you can rearrange the order of the points and remove minor details.
Summary checklist:
- Write in full sentences
- Shorten the original text
- Use your own words and sentence structure
- Maintain the author’s intent
Use these six steps to write a summary.
1. Identify the sections of the text
Find the text’s thesis and main ideas. Breaking down the text into sections helps you to understand the author’s flow and organization.
2. Distinguish between major and minor details
How do the details connect back to the thesis and main ideas? Remember, a summary is a shortened version of the original text. You’ll need to focus on the need-to-know information.
3. Remove minor details and examples
Condense the text, but beware of misrepresenting the author’s ideas. Sometimes omitting details can change the spirit of the text.
4. Pay attention to transition words
Transition words can signal emphasis and guide you through the logic of the text’s argument. Look out for words like “however”, “therefore”, and “thus”.
5. Re-order the ideas as needed
You don’t have to maintain the exact same order as the author. Re-organize your points so that your summary is logical.
6. Reserve your opinions
Your analysis of the text is important, but it does not belong in a summary. Remember, a summary is a condensed form of the author’s ideas and intent. Save your opinions of the text for a discussion.