Summary

SUMMARY
COMMUNICATION
SKILLS
What is a summary?
 A summary is a shorter version of an original text that outlines the

main points in a specific structure. The length of your summary usually
depends on the length of the original text. Longer articles or proposals
may require longer summaries to address all the ideas, while short texts
may have only one paragraph. There are four common elements to
include when creating a summary, which includes the following:
• Introductory sentence: An introductory sentence for a summary
often states the author and the text's title.
• Main points of the original text: This restates the main points the
author conveyed.
• Supporting arguments: Here, you list the arguments that support
the author's thesis or main idea.
• Final point: Conclude your summary with the final point from the
author.
How to write a summary?
Here are steps you can follow to help you write more
effective summaries:
1. Read the text thoroughly
2. Take notes to identify the main idea
3. Identify the main arguments
4. Prepare your draft
5. Write the summary
6. Quote the author
7. Conclude the summary
1. Read the text thoroughly
Read the text several times to ensure you understand
everything about the author's message. On the first
read, focus simply on reading instead of pausing to
take notes. Try to identify the purpose, the
supporting argument and any additional details.
When you read the text the second time, you can
make comments in a notebook or in the margins of
the text if you have a physical copy.
2. Take notes to identify the main idea
Write the main points or themes you recognize in the
text. To identify this concept, try to determine the
tone and category of the text. For example, it may be
a literary essay or a scientific article. Next, try to find
any repetitions in the text. If the author repeats some
specific arguments throughout the text, it means
they likely are essential. Reading the title and
determining the publication place and date can help
you learn more about the intended audience.
3. Identify the main arguments
 Reread the text more carefully to find elements that
support those main points. For example, you can look for
repetitions, details referring to the title or descriptions of
characters. Here are tips for identifying important
arguments in an article:
 Print a paper copy or use a digital version that allows you to
take notes.
 Look for the sentence that tells the main concept in each
paragraph and underline it.
 After you finish reading the entire article, read the topic
sentences you underlined.
4. Prepare your draft
Rephrase those sentences on the side of the page or
in your notebook. When you note these elements,
consider writing them in your own words and leave
out any unimportant details. Write down the
author's first and last name and the title of the article
for later reference.
5. Write the summary
You can start your summary with the author's name
and the title of the text. For example, you can use
some variation of, "According to Martin Somers in
'The Child and the Wolf,'" to introduce your text.
Ideally, your first sentence summarizes the text,
while the rest of your summary restates the main
concepts that support the thesis. It’s essential to use
your own words and paraphrase these ideas. Try to
make your summary as concise as possible by
avoiding examples of unrelated facts.
6. Quote the author
Quoting a specific passage from the author may be
one of the best ways to explain their main point. If
the author has a credential, such as a position of
power or a relevant award, you can mention it to
help demonstrate the authority of the text. For
example, you can say something like, "In his lecture
about inflation, Polders, a professor in economics at
the Southern University," to introduce the author
and make the claim that comes next to sound more
reputable.
7. Conclude the summary
Restate the author's conclusion or last main point to
end your summary. Even though a summary is a
short text, restating the most important part can
help ensure your audience understands what you’re
trying to convey. If this summary is for a professional
presentation, consider listing the most important
piece of data in the summary to help the audience
remember it.
8. Correct and refine
Once you complete your summary, consider reading
it out loud and make any necessary corrections.
Delete any repetition, and try to transition words
when necessary to help every sentence flow to the
next. Also, check your grammar and spelling to
ensure your summary doesn’t have errors. You can
have a friend or colleague read your summary to help
notice any corrections you may have missed.

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SUMMARY

 A summary is a shorter version of an original text that outlines the

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