Summarizing Tips

 

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.