Summaries

What is a summary?

When you write a summary, you briefly restate the main ideas of an article, essay, chapter, etc. in your own words. A summary should be objective—in other words, it should not contain any of your own opinions or ideas.

How long should a summary be?

The length of your summary depends on the length of the passage you’re summarizing. The longer the passage, the more ideas it contains. However, you should remember that a summary only identifies the central idea and main supporting points of a passage; it does not include minor details. As a result, your summary will always be shorter than the passage you’re summarizing.

When are summaries used?

You can use a summary to help you understand what you’ve read. A summary forces you to put the main ideas of a passage into your own words; obviously, you won’t be able to do this unless you understand what you’ve read. When you’re writing a paper, you can use a summary to briefly present outside information to your readers before you respond to it. In addition, you will probably be asked to summarize ideas, theories, policies, etc. when you take essay exams.

How do you write a summary?

No set “rules” exist for writing summaries, and you will eventually develop your own system. However, the following guidelines should help you:

1. Read the passage carefully. As you read, try to identify the author’s purpose in writing.

2. Read the passage again. This time, divide the passage into sections or stages of thought—make use of the author’s subheadings or paragraph divisions to help you do this. Then label each section and underline or highlight key ideas and terms.

3. In your own words, write one-sentence summaries of each stage of thought. Write these on a separate sheet of paper; you’ll use them later. Make sure your list reflects the organization of the passage.

4. Write a thesis—a one-sentence summary of the central idea of the whole passage. In some cases, a clear thesis may already exist in the original passage. If so, you may want to quote it in your summary. If not, write your own thesis. Remember that when a passage makes an argument, your thesis should summarize the author’s conclusion regarding the issue. For a passage that describes or explains something, your thesis should indicate the subject of the description or explanation and its main features.

5. Write the first draft of your summary. You can do this by combining your thesis with your list of one-sentence summaries from step three. Again, make sure your summary reflects the organization of the passage. After you have combined your thesis with your list, read your summary and eliminate any repetition or unimportant information.

6. Check your summary against the original passage. If necessary, make adjustments for accuracy and completeness.

7. Revise your summary again. Work to make your sentences flow smoothly. If necessary, add transitional words and phrases such as “also,” “in addition,” “on the other hand,” “however,” etc. Finally, check grammar, punctuation, and spelling.