Title.
What are the steps in writing a summary?
STEP I. Read through the whole piece, carefully.
Make notes as you read.
STEP 2. When you finish, look back for the 1-2 sentences that state the author's main point.
Write it/them down or place some special annotation in the
margin of your book. This is the article's thesis statement. While
it may appear early in the essay--the first paragraph or two (as you
are taught to locate yours), it may not, in fact, be stated until the
end of the piece (almost as if it were a conclusion).
STEP 3. Reread the selection, dividing it into sections of thought.
Each section may be one paragraph, but, more likely, each section
will incorporate several paragraphs.
STEP 4. Write a sentence or two summarizing each section of thought.
If you have trouble doing this, you might try writing a summary
sentence for each paragraph and then revising where you see
yourself repeating ideas.
STEP 5. Write a first draft of your summary, including the following items:
A. In the first sentence or two
1. the author's name.
2. the article's or chapter's name (perhaps even the magazine's or book's name in which the
article or chapter appeared).
3. the author's thesis statement.
EXAMPLE: "In our excerpt from The Idea of a University, John Henry Newman argues that the real purpose of a university education is to help students become wise, enable each one to understand as much as possible of the world in which (s)he lives and to see clearly how each piece of knowledge relates to each other piece of knowledge."
B. Next, write your summary sentences for each paragraph or section. Put
them in the same order that the author presents the essay, because you
are, after all, simply reporting back what (s)he says.
C. You should make every effort to put the author's ideas into your own
words--to avoid plagiarism. However, you may occasionally want to
quote a point directly from the author. That's okay; just be sure to place
quotation marks around what you have borrowed and cite your page
number.
D. Occasional supporting details, if and only if they are the most significant ones.
STEP 6: Check your draft against the original piece for accuracy.
STEP 7: Revise the summary to "smooth out" its choppiness. In other words, link your section
summary sentences together with good transitional words or phrases (like in addition,
moreover, on the other hand, however, finally).
STEP 8: Proofread and check spelling.
STEP I. Read through the whole piece, carefully.
Make notes as you read.
STEP 2. When you finish, look back for the 1-2 sentences that state the author's main point.
Write it/them down or place some special annotation in the
margin of your book. This is the article's thesis statement. While
it may appear early in the essay--the first paragraph or two (as you
are taught to locate yours), it may not, in fact, be stated until the
end of the piece (almost as if it were a conclusion).
STEP 3. Reread the selection, dividing it into sections of thought.
Each section may be one paragraph, but, more likely, each section
will incorporate several paragraphs.
STEP 4. Write a sentence or two summarizing each section of thought.
If you have trouble doing this, you might try writing a summary
sentence for each paragraph and then revising where you see
yourself repeating ideas.
STEP 5. Write a first draft of your summary, including the following items:
A. In the first sentence or two
1. the author's name.
2. the article's or chapter's name (perhaps even the magazine's or book's name in which the
article or chapter appeared).
3. the author's thesis statement.
EXAMPLE: "In our excerpt from The Idea of a University, John Henry Newman argues that the real purpose of a university education is to help students become wise, enable each one to understand as much as possible of the world in which (s)he lives and to see clearly how each piece of knowledge relates to each other piece of knowledge."
B. Next, write your summary sentences for each paragraph or section. Put
them in the same order that the author presents the essay, because you
are, after all, simply reporting back what (s)he says.
C. You should make every effort to put the author's ideas into your own
words--to avoid plagiarism. However, you may occasionally want to
quote a point directly from the author. That's okay; just be sure to place
quotation marks around what you have borrowed and cite your page
number.
D. Occasional supporting details, if and only if they are the most significant ones.
STEP 6: Check your draft against the original piece for accuracy.
STEP 7: Revise the summary to "smooth out" its choppiness. In other words, link your section
summary sentences together with good transitional words or phrases (like in addition,
moreover, on the other hand, however, finally).
STEP 8: Proofread and check spelling.
