How To Write A Summary
Ranked #1,605 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #70,278 overall
An important skill for writing and for learning
A summary is a brief, concise description of a piece of writing, such as an essay or article.
Frequently, you will need to write summaries for many types of academic and business writing. Usually, this type of summary is used to place your current project within the context of the work that others are doing.
Summarizing is also an important part of learning or studying material. If you can adequately summarize the ideas incorporated in an article, chapter, or book then you must certainly be able to understand it well enough to use it appropriately in the future.
Frequently, you will need to write summaries for many types of academic and business writing. Usually, this type of summary is used to place your current project within the context of the work that others are doing.
Summarizing is also an important part of learning or studying material. If you can adequately summarize the ideas incorporated in an article, chapter, or book then you must certainly be able to understand it well enough to use it appropriately in the future.
Contents at a Glance
An overview
The summary should open with an introduction that situates the source and its main point.
Your assignment is to summarize the assigned article in your own words, stating its main thesis as well as touching on all its main points. Your summary can be no longer than two paragraphs and must be written in present tense. The first sentence should set up the context of the article including full author, title, date, source, and purpose. The assignment should use proper MLA paper format and include a Works Cited entry (on the same page is fine) for the article.
Your assignment is to summarize the assigned article in your own words, stating its main thesis as well as touching on all its main points. Your summary can be no longer than two paragraphs and must be written in present tense. The first sentence should set up the context of the article including full author, title, date, source, and purpose. The assignment should use proper MLA paper format and include a Works Cited entry (on the same page is fine) for the article.
Step 1:
Read through the article in its entirety. Then jot down what you think the author's larger point is.
Step 2:
Give the article a second read and now make notes as you go. You might choose to highlight key sentences or jot down a few words for each paragraph. Either method will work. For this reading focus on important points. Ignore explanations and examples. Focus on the point those explanations and examples are supporting.
Step 3:
Once you have something written then the real work begins. What is the main idea of the article? This idea must be front and center in your summary. A summary is straightforward, short, and to-the-point without a flowery introduction and without much detail. Hit the main point and reference the key supports for that point and then wrap it up. A summary is not complex, detailed or long. Most of your work will focus on editing, revision, and tightening up your language rather than writing when it comes to creating a summary.
Final Thoughts
Some recommendations I make to my students include:- Making the summary no longer than two paragraphs, written in third person, present tense.
- The first sentence should set up the context of the article including full author, title, date, source, and purpose.
- Do not include opinion, evaluation or agreement/disagreement
- No direct quotes
- Use variety of verbs and attribution (do not overuse says, writes, etc.)
- Do not repeat ideas even if the author does so
- Eliminate less important information such as supportive or illustrative points
- Strive to avoid choppy sentences by combining ideas into one longer sentence
Reader Feedback
-
-
elynmac
May 29, 2012 @ 8:07 pm | delete
- Thank you for these great short lenses on topics that are important in learning to write well. They are great.
-
-
-
WildFacesGallery
Feb 3, 2011 @ 12:36 pm | delete
- Really nicely done.
-
-
-
ChrisDay
Feb 3, 2011 @ 11:42 am | delete
- good stuff
-
-
-
windygig
Dec 18, 2010 @ 9:16 pm | delete
- Very concise summary. Great lens.
-
-
-
Margo_Arrowsmith
Dec 18, 2010 @ 4:46 pm | delete
- You have so many helpful lenses. Small things, things we don't think about, until we have to do it, or want to, then its, so what do I do? You answer that question!
-
- Load More
Lens Love
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
About Rwoman
Rwoman's writing advice...
...is based on decades of experience as a professional writer, editor, and writing teacher.
by rwoman
I teach academic writing and have for more than a decade. If you are looking for tips for writing academic papers then look no further than my collect... more »
- 331 featured lenses
- Winner of 31 trophies!
- Top lens » Inspirational Messages About Life
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
Become a better writer
Writing tips
Academic writing
