Six Effective Tips to Write a Summary
A summary
presents the major
ideas from a text while reducing its length.
When you write a summary, you may find it tempting
to combine various
parts of the text. However, this isn’t the best
strategy. To write an effective summary, you can rearrange the order of
the points and remove minor details.
1. Identify the sections
of the text
Find the text’s thesis
and main ideas.
Breaking down the text into sections helps you to understand the author’s flow and organization.
2. Distinguish between major and minor details
How
do the details connect back to the thesis and main ideas? Remember, a summary is a shortened version of the original
text. You’ll need to focus on the need-to-know
information.
3. Remove minor details
and examples
Condense the text, but beware of misrepresenting the author’s ideas.
Sometimes omitting details can change the spirit of the text.
4. Pay attention to
transition words
Transition words can signal
emphasis and guide you through
the logic of the text’s
argument. Look out for words like “however”, “therefore”, and “thus”.
5. Re-order the ideas as
needed
You
don’t have to maintain the exact same order as the author. Re-organize your
points so that your summary is
logical.
6. Reserve your opinions
Your analysis of the text is important, but it does not
belong in a summary. Remember, a
summary is a condensed form of the author’s ideas and intent. Save your
opinions of the text for a discussion.
