SUMMARIZI
NG
WHAT IS SUMMARIZING?
Summarizing is defined as taking a lot of information and creating a
condensed version that covers the main points.
An example of summarizing is writing a three or four-sentence description that
touches upon the main points of a long book.
TWO AIMS OF SUMMARIZING
(1) to reproduce the overarching ideas in a text, identifying
the general concepts that run through the entire piece, and
(2) to express these overarching ideas using precise, specific
language.
PARTS
Introduction
Its purpose is to give your reader a clear idea of what your summary will cover. It should
provide some background information on the specific chapter you are summarizing before
narrowing down to your particular summary.
Body
Longest part of the summary. This is where you explain to the reader through your
summarized ideas. The body is always divided into paragraphs.
Conclusion
It will wrap up your final thoughts and main points, combining all pertinent information
with an emotional appeal for an ending statement that resonates with your readers.
STEPS
Step 1: Read the text
You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly
understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages:
Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape.
Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read.
Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and re-read any particularly
important or difficult passages.
Step 2: Break the text down into sections(outlining)
To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down
into smaller parts.
Step 3: Identify the key points in each section
Now it’s time go through each part and pick out its most important points.
What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or
conclusion of the article?
Step 4: Write the summary
Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you
need to put them in your own words.
Step 5: Check the summary against the article
Finally, read through the article once more to ensure that:
You’ve accurately represented the author’s work
You haven’t missed any essential information
The phrasing is not too similar to any sentences in the original.
Review and conclude
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
When you summarize, you cannot rely on the language the author has used to develop his or
her points, and you must find a way to give an overview of these points without your own
sentences becoming too general.
You must also make decisions about which concepts to leave in and which to omit, taking into
consideration your purposes in summarizing and also your view of what is important in this
text.
Include the title and identify the author in your first sentence.
The first sentence or two of your summary should contain the author’s thesis,
or central concept, stated in your own words. This is the idea that runs through
the entire text–the one you’d mention if someone asked you: “What is this
piece/article about?”
When summarizing a longer article, try to see how the various stages in the
explanation or argument are built up in groups of related
paragraphs. Divide the article into sections if it isn’t done in the published
form. Then, write a sentence or two to cover the key ideas in each section.
Omit ideas that are not really central to the text. Don’t feel that you must
reproduce the author’s exact progression of thought. (On the other hand, be
careful not to misrepresent ideas by omitting important aspects of the author’s
discussion).
In general, omit minor details and specific examples. (In some texts, an
extended example may be a key part of the argument, so you would want to
mention it).
Avoid writing opinions or personal responses in your summaries
Be careful not to plagiarize the author’s words.
ANY
QUESTIONS?
THANK
YOU!
