Writing
Writing a summary
While reading the original work, take note of what or who is the focus and ask the usual questions that reporters use: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Using these points can help you to write the summary
When you write a summary:
- Read the text carefully
- Underline the essential facts: highlighting the main idea and any key supporting ideas. Look for section headings, bolded or italicized words, and subheadings.
- Make notes and group the reading into sections according to the author's topic divisions.
- Write a one-sentence summary of each section, focusing on the main point. Don't include unnecessary details
- Try to find a sentence that summarizes the whole text
- Write the first draft: In the first sentence, include the title and author of the reading as well as the the sentence you think summarizes the whole text. Then use your one sentence summaries to complete the summary
- Elude personal opinions, but be sure to use your own words.
- Use expressions such as:
- According to the text ...
- The text mentions that ...
- The text says that ...
- The text refers to ...
- The text points out / emphasizes ...
- DO NEVER COPY THE ORIGINAL TEXT
Other useful information:
♦ Use 3rd person and present tense.
♦ Be concise and brief.
♦ Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.
♦ Use a lower level of technicality than the authors of the original article use. Do not write a summary your readers cannot understand
♦ Make the summary clear and understandable to someone who has not read the original article. Your summary should stand on its own
Frames to write a summary
ARTICLE:
In his/her article (or lecture) "________________________," _____________________ (year)
(title, first letter capitalized) (author/lecturer's last name)
argues/claims/reports/contends/maintains/states that ____________________________.
(main idea/argument; S + V + C)
Example: In his article "The PC turns the world inside out," John Lynle (1997) describes how Michael Mortimer founded MM Computers and claims that Mortimer's low-cost, direct-sales strategy and high quality standards account for his enormous success.
BOOK:
In his book The Pearl, John Steinbeck (1945) illustrates the fight between good and evil in humankind.
INTERVIEW:
In my interview with him/her (date), __________________(first name, last name) stated that .... Reporting Verbs:
REPORTING VERBS YOU CAN USE IN YOUR SUMMARY
| STRONG ARGUMENT |
NEUTRAL |
COUNTERARGUMENT |
SUGGESTION |
CRITICISM |
| argue | state | refute |
suggest |
criticize |
| claim | report | argue against | recommend |
|
| contend | explain | discuss | ||
| maintain | discuss | |||
| insist | illustrate |
Other examples of frames:
According to ___________________, ________________________________________.
(author's last name, year) (main idea; S + V + C)
___________'s article on ______________ (year) discusses the ____________________.
(author's last name) (topic) (main idea; Noun Phrase)
__________________, in his/her article, "________________" argues that ____________.
(author's last name, year) (title of article) (main idea; S + V + C)
Adapted from: http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/AEP/EN104/summary.htm
Further practice
If you want to learn how to write a summary, read the example on this web page, and the steps you should follow to do it properly
It has several parts, first: Tips to write a summary; second: the whole text; then, the steps you have to take to write the draft and finally the summary.