ENGL205: Writing a Successful Summary

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ENGL205: Writing a Successful Summary

Writing a Successful Summary

To write a successful summary, it is important to do the following:

Select the main information and ideas: as you read, take notes and highlight the most important points.

Represent information and ideas correctly: avoid changing the meaning of the text you are summarizing.

  • Write concisely: use as few words as possible and keep to the word limit.
  • Write informal, academic style.
  • Write objectively, without arguing.

Five Stages of Writing a Summary

Stage 1: Skim the text and Take Notes

Skin the text until you get the gist (the overall idea). As you read, highlight what you consider to be the key information or ideas in each paragraph and take notes in the margin.

Stage 2: Read and Take Notes

Now carefully read the whole text. If you find more key information, underline or highlight it and add it to your notes.

Stage 3: Choose a Structure

The easiest way to structure a summary is probably to follow the structure of the article you are summarizing. You can also structure summary according to themes, for example, social, economic, and cultural aspects, or pros and cons.

Stage 4: Begin Writing

4.1 Write the First Sentence

 Include the following information (if available) in the first sentence of the introductory paragraph:

  • The title of the article
  • The name of the author
  • The main topic of the article

4.2 Write the Next Introductory Sentences

In the next introductory sentence or sentences, provide additional information about the main focus of the text by summing it up. It is common to write verbs in the present tense in summaries.

4.3 Write the Remaining Short Paragraphs

Now write the remaining short paragraphs, following the structure you chose in stage 3. Keep within the word limit.

Stage 5: Edit Your Work

When you have finished writing, edit your work for the following:

  • Accuracy of grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation
  • Accurate representation of the text
  • Appropriate style: formal and objective
  • Effective paraphrasing
  • Clear language of attribution (saying who thinks what)

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