Writing summaries
When you summarise a passage, you must show that you:
• understand fully what you have read
• are able to pick out the main ideas
• can express these ideas clearly, concisely and as far as possible in your own words.
Follow these steps:
• Read the passage to be summarised several times. Check the meanings of any unfamiliar
words. Try to work them out from the context first, as this is what you will have to do in the
examination. If you are still unsure, check the meaning in your dictionary.
• Identify the main idea and supporting details in each paragraph.
• List the content points you will include in your summary.
• Find synonyms for some of the words in the passage. You do not need to change every
word in it, but you are expected to paraphrase sentences and use your own words in the
summary.
DO NOT
• copy long chunks of the passage
• write over the word limit
• use informal language
• include your own opinions.
• Include opinions and examples
• Include statistics
• State new information
What should you include in your summary?
To prepare to write your summary, underline the key points / main points or ideas in the
original and strike out any unnecessary details.
How should you phrase your summary?
Write in your own words as far as possible and avoid copying chunks of text from the
original. You don’t need to change every word, but if you know a synonym, use it, e.g.
‘traces’ instead of ‘remains’. Try to generalize information categorically where applicable.
E.g. Oranges, bananas, pineapples and grapes can all be generally categorized as fruits.
What about the word limit?
You must keep within the specified word limit. Any information included after reaching this
limit will not be credited. This means that you might lose marks for failing to include all the
main points.
What are examiners looking for?
• your ability to identify the main ideas and opinions expressed
• the way in which you organise and express these ideas and opinions in your own words
• your use of language: grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation.
Take the opportunity to revise the advice given on summary writing in Units 8 and 9.
Writing Summary
In the examination, you will be asked to summarise an expository text of around 350–400
words. The text to be summarised may take the form of an article, a letter, an email, a notice
or a report. Key skills required for this exercise are extracting key points, paraphrasing and
finding synonyms to replace words in the original text.
Note: To paraphrases sentences, find synonyms for some words.If possible, change the
construction of the sentences.
Summarise the report in not more than 100 words.
• List the content points before writing your summary.
• Do NOT include dialogue or examples in your summary.
Writing Summary Study Tip
• Always read the instructions carefully so that you are clear about the purpose of your
summary, and your intended audience. If you are answering an examination question
where the audience is not specified, assume that the examiner is your audience.
Ensure that you fully understand the text you are to summarise.
Follow these steps to help you prepare your summary:
• Survey the text
• Review what you know about the topic
• Read the text
• Question what you read
• Recall what you have read
• Writing your summary: Note the content points and jot down key words in the text.
Remember to paraphrase the original text and use synonyms where possible.
If there is a word limit, do not exceed it. You will not be given credit for any work which
comes after the word limit.
MAIN IDEAS
• The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or
passage. It states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or
passage.
• The main idea may be stated or it may be implied.
• When the main idea of a paragraph is stated, it is most often found in the
first sentence of the paragraph. However, the main idea may be found in any
sentence of the paragraph.
• The main idea may be stated in the first sentence of a paragraph and then be
repeated or restated at the end of the paragraph.
• The main idea may be split. The first sentence of a paragraph may present a
point of view, while the last sentence presents a contrasting or opposite view.
• To find the main idea of any paragraph or passage, ask these questions:
1. Who or what is the paragraph about?
2. What aspect or idea about the ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author concerned
with?
How To Write A Summary
1. Read the material and identify the main ideas. Distinguish
the main ideas from the details.
2. Write the main ideas in phrase form. The main ideas can be
noted in a list, in a topic web, or in the left column of two-
column notes.
3. Begin the summary with an introductory statement.
4. Turn the main ideas into sentences, occasionally including
details when it is necessary to convey the main idea.
5. Combine the sentences into one or more paragraphs.
6. Use transition words to connect the sentences and the
paragraphs; first, next, finally, before, after, during, later, also, another, in addition, in
conclusion, to sum up, similarly, however, on the contrary, most important, for example, as a
result, therefore
7. Proofread the summary for punctuation, spelling, sentence
structure, and content.
8. Write a first draft of your summary. Count the words and if
it is too long, shorten it by cutting out some of the dertails and
writing more concisely.
