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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write a Summary

How to Write a Summary

Introduction.

In this lesson, you will learn how to summarize a text accurately.

Guide Overview

Summarizing.

• Tips for summarizing: introducing the main idea
• Tips for summarizing: transitions
• The final summary

A summary is a much shorter version of a text, with only the most essential information.

Below, you can read the main points from each section of the Scholastic News article  ​Running Into History :

• ​Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb was the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon.
• Gibb had to disguise herself as a man to participate in the race because people didn’t think women could run that far at the time.
• Gibb helped open the race to other women.

To turn this information into a summary, you will need to add a few things!​

Tips for Summarizing: Introducing the Main Idea

When you write your summary, it’s important to follow a few steps.

First, start your summary by identifying the title, author and type of text.

You should include the information above and a brief explanation of the author’s major point in the first sentence of your summary.

Example :  The Scholastic News article, “Running Into History,” explains how Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb changed the Boston Marathon.

Tips for Summarizing: Transitions

Have you ever read a text that was robotic and choppy? When that happens, the information is hard to follow and not very interesting! To avoid this, use transitions between the main points of your summary.

Look at the list of  ​Transitional Words and Phrases  from the University of Wisconsin. These can help your writing flow! Every few sentences, use summarizing language that reminds the reader that they are reading a summary. Summarizing transitions include “ The author claims… ” or “ The article explains… ”

The Final Summary

After adding in an introductory sentence and transitions to the main points of the text, the next step is to complete the summary .

Read the summary of the Scholastic News  ​art​icle  below. Notice how 8 paragraphs of text have been shortened into a one-paragraph summary!

The Scholastic News article, “Running Into History,” explains how Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb changed the Boston Marathon.Gibb was the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon. She had to disguise herself as a man to participate in the race because people didn’t think women could run that far at the time.  According to the article, Gibb’s success in the marathon helped to open the race up to other women.

In this lesson, you learned how to:

• summarize informational texts using main ideas and transitional words and phrases

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Writing a paper.

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• Argumentative Essay
• College Admissions Essay
• Expository Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Research Paper
• Thesis Statement
• Writing a Conclusion
• Writing an Introduction
• Writing an Outline
• Writing a Summary

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How to: Write a Summary

At the very beginning of your summary, mention the title of the text you are summarizing, the name of the author, and the central point or argument of the text. Always maintain a neutral tone and use the third-person point of view and present tense (i.e. Tompkins asserts… ). Keep the focus of the summary on the text, not on what you think of it, and try to put as most of the summary as you can in your own words. Present the text’s main points only and be concise! Every word counts.

About Writing: A Guide Copyright © 2015 by Robin Jeffrey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

how to write a summary

A step-by-step guide to writing a great summary.

A summary of a literary work isn't just a plain-old synopsis. It's a valuable study tool, a foundational element of all kinds of essays, a common testing mechanism, and one of the basics of literary analysis. 

Whether you're in high school or college, developing a deep understanding of how and when to summarize a book or text is a valuable skill. Doing so might require a little more knowledge and effort than you'd think. 

That's why we're covering all aspects of summaries, from study tools to plot summaries, below.

What Is a Summary?

A summary is a brief overview of a text (or movie, speech, podcast, etcetera) that succinctly and comprehensively covers the main ideas or plot points. 

Sounds simple, right? Well, there are a lot of unique characteristics that differentiate summaries from other commentary, such as analyses, book reviews, or outlines. 

Summaries are: 

• In your own words. It's important that you don't just copy and paste the writer's words (in fact, that's plagiarizing). Writing the key points of a work in your own words indicates your comprehension and absorption of the material. 
• Objective. While a summary should be in your own words, it shouldn't contain your opinions. Instead, you should gather the main points and intentions of the writer and present them impartially. (If you include your opinions, it instead becomes an analysis or review.)
• More than paraphrasing. Many students fall into the trap of simply paraphrasing—plainly restating the ideas or events of the work. (Is our definition starting to sound contradictory? We told you it wasn't straightforward!) Rather than recounting the events or ideas in a work chronologically or in the order they're presented, instead consider the broad scope of how they all contribute to the narrative or argument. 
• Short. There are no strict rules regarding length, only that it is concise. It's largely dependent on the length of the text it summarizes: longer texts, longer summaries. It also depends on the assignment or objective. However, most are about one to two paragraphs in length. 
• Comprehensive. Yes, it's another seemingly contradictory descriptor, but an important one. Summaries are comprehensive, meaning they cover all of the main plot points or ideas in a work (so they inherently contain "spoilers"). You should present those ideas in a way that condenses them into an inclusive, but not exhaustive, recounting in order to keep it short.  
• Straightforward (even if the text isn't). A good summary should be easy to comprehend, presenting the reader with a simple but all-encompassing understanding of the work at hand. With complex texts, summaries can be particularly useful because they distill big, complicated ideas into a bite-sized package. 

When to Write a Summary

Like so many elements of literary analysis, summaries are misunderstood. We've already explained why they aren't as simple as most people think, but neither are their uses. 

Summary writing is a useful skill in a variety of circumstances, both in and outside the English and Language Arts classrooms. 

Readers, writers, teachers, and students can use summaries: 

• As a study tactic. The ability to summarize a book or text indicates that you've absorbed and understand the material. Plus, writing down notes (as in a summary) is a great way to retain material. Try summarizing at the end of a book chapter, after each section of an article, or periodically in textbooks. Doing so will help you digest the material you've just read, confirming you understood and retained the information therein. Stopping frequently to summarize is most effective because you're less likely to forget important plot points or ideas. 
• As an assignment. Teachers and professors often ask students to summarize a text as a test to confirm they read and understood the material. Before heading into class—especially if you have a test or quiz scheduled—try practicing summarizing the text. Write it down (rather than practicing it out loud or in your head) so that you can review your ideas and ensure you're presenting them succinctly and sensibly. 
• As part of an essay. If you're referencing a book or article in your own paper, you might need to summarize the source as the foundation for your argument. In this case, your summary should be particularly short so the reader doesn't lose sight of your own argument and intention. Introduce the name of the work and its author, then use one sentence (two at most) to describe their objective and how it relates to your own. 
• As part of a review. Summaries are very useful in an academic setting, but they have their place outside of it too. Whether you're on a book review site or just sharing a recommendation with a friend, being able to succinctly write a book summary (with or without spoilers) will help others to make their own judgements of a book. 

Your Step-by-Step Guide for How to Write a Summary

Step 1: read the work .

Summaries are often perceived as a workaround for reading the work itself. That's not a great strategy under most circumstances because you tend to lose a lot of the details and nuance of a work, but it's particularly impractical to do so when writing about the work. 

Remember, a summary is supposed to present your perception of the work as a whole. So in order to develop that perception, you have to first read the original text. 

Step 2: Take Notes 

As you read the work, simultaneously take notes. If you own the book, it might be helpful to add your notes to the margins or highlight passages that are particularly relevant or capture a key idea. If you don't own the book, try taking notes on your computer or in a notebook. You can still notate important passages by writing down the page and paragraph number or writing an abbreviated version of the quotation. Alternatively, try marking key passages with sticky notes or tabs. 

It might also be helpful to write out a short outline of the work as you go. While you won't want to use this verbatim (remember, you shouldn't just paraphrase the work), it can help you establish and remember the text's framework. 

Step 3: Identify the Author's Thesis Statement, Objective, or Main Point 

In some works, such as a journal article, a writer will provide a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a one-sentence synopsis of the author's argument and intention. A thesis statement can be really helpful in forming the backbone of your own summary, just as it forms the backbone of the essay. 

However, even when a thesis statement isn't present—like in a novel—the writer always has an objective or main idea. You should always identify this idea and use it to form the foundation of your summary. 

The main point might be apparent at the outset of the work. Other times, the author won't present it until the conclusion. Sometimes you might identify multiple objectives throughout the work. That's why it's important, as you read, to note any ideas that might be the  main  idea. Even those that aren't the  most  important will likely remain relevant. 

Step 4: Note Other Important Elements

If something stands out to you about the work and seems to play an important role in the text's overall narrative or structure, make a note about it. This could be a recurring theme, an incident in the storyline, or a deviation from the overall argument. 

As you identify and note important elements and moments in the work, the structure of your summary should begin to fall into place. 

Step 5: Prepare to Write Your Summary 

Once you've finished reading the work, review your notes and highlight the key points that came to light. Remember, your summary should be objective, so disregard any opinions you might have noted about the work. You should introduce the thesis or objective, briefly encapsulate the important ideas and moments from the work, and end with a conclusion that ties those ideas to the objective. Keep this structure in mind as you begin. 

Step 6: Begin by Introducing the Work 

As you begin, introduce the work, its author, and, if relevant, the context.

Depending on your situation—for example, if your teacher or professor has asked you to summarize a work as part of an assignment or quiz—this might seem redundant. However, it is standard practice to begin by introducing the work, even if the reader already knows what you're writing about. 

Example:  In  The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald... 

Step 7: Present the Thesis, Main Idea, or Central Argument

Once you've introduced the work, your priority is to clearly define the author's thesis, important point, or central argument. As mentioned above, sometimes the author presents this idea clearly and succinctly at the outset of their work; at other times, it's buried deep in the text. 

Regardless of how the main idea is presented in the work, it should be front and center in your summary. Some teachers might refer to this as a "topic sentence" or "introductory sentence." This is the central point around which you will construct the rest of your writing. As you progress, you'll highlight other ideas or occurrences that relate or contribute to this main idea, so it's important that your representation of it is easily understood. 

Example:  In  The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the story of Jay Gatsby as a symbol of the social stratification, greed, and indulgence of 1920s America. 

Step 8: Briefly Discuss the Important Elements of the Work

After identifying the thesis or central argument, you should provide a brief overview of the work's other elements, ideas, and plot points. For the most part, the information you present throughout this section should bolster the thesis presented previously. Each sentence should serve as a supporting point for the topic sentence. Don't simply list ideas or plot points, but show how they're connected and inform the work as a whole. Of course, there may also be important elements of the work that are not directly tied to the main idea; it's ok to include these if you feel they are vital to understanding the work.

When writing the body, you should consciously and intentionally leave out unnecessary details. They tend to bog down your writing and lose the reader. 

Example:  The narrator, Nick Carraway, moves to New York's "West Egg," where he reunites with his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom Buchanan. Fitzgerald clearly delineates social lines between West Egg (new money) and East Egg (old money), where Tom and Daisy reside. 

Nick attends a lavish party thrown by his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and learns Jay formerly had a relationship with Daisy. The two reignite their forbidden affair. Tom reveals to Daisy that Gatsby earned his money illegally, through smuggling alcohol, and is actually a man of humble Midwestern origins. Daisy and Gatsby try to run away together, but Daisy accidentally runs over Tom's mistress. Tom, eager to exact revenge, convinces his mistress' husband that Gatsby was to blame in her death, and he murders Gatsby before committing suicide. Few of Gatsby's many friends attend his funeral.

Step 9: Write a Conclusion that Ties It All Together

Much like you introduce the author's major point at the outset of your summary, you should revisit it as you close out your writing. If you presented the author's main idea in the introduction, and then bolstered that main idea by recollecting plot points or important elements from the work, your conclusion should then reiterate how those elements relate to the main idea. 

Example:  Though Gatsby subscribed to the extravagance of his peers, his efforts to fit into the upper echelon of West and East Egg were negated by his humble origins; always out of place, he was rejected for his social class as much as his perceived crimes.  

Step 10: Edit

Before submitting your work, read it in full, and edit out any superfluous and redundant information. It's likely that unnecessary details snuck in as you were writing, and you might find that certain plot points just feel unnecessary within the scope of your finished product. 

In addition to editing for content, be sure to edit it closely for grammatical or spelling errors. Even if your summary is well thought out, its expertise is compromised if it's full of errors! 

How to Write a Plot Summary

The step-by-step guide to writing an effective summary, outlined above, applies to most summaries. However, each type has its own unique elements outside of those standard requirements. 

A plot or book summary, for example, should encapsulate the plot of a short story or novel. When writing one, there are unique strategies to follow.  

Dos of Writing a Plot Summary

• Note plot points as the book or story unfolds. Especially in longer novels, it can be difficult to keep track of the twists and turns in the storyline. That's why we recommend taking notes as you read. 
• Use online study guides for inspiration. Websites like SuperSummary provide in-depth summaries free of charge. While this is a good starting point when writing your own, it should only be for inspiration. Don't copy examples online (that's plagiarism!). 
• Be sure to cover the three main arcs of every story: the exposition, climax, and conclusion. The exposition is the moment when the conflict or driving narrative is introduced. The climax is when that conflict comes to a head, and the narrative reaches its most dramatic moments. The conclusion is when the conflict is resolved or the story comes to an end. You should also include any inciting incidents (the first domino in a plot point).
• Connect the dots. Throughout, you should demonstrate an understanding of how events and characters are related, rather than introducing each element as an independent variable. Remember, you should tie each plot point back to the main idea. 

Don'ts of Writing a Plot Summary

• Don't just regurgitate the storyline. Rather than drone through the story plot point by plot point, you should highlight key moments in the narrative and direct them back to the author's objective. 
• Avoid repetitive phrases like "then" or "next." A key indication you're just repeating the storyline point by point is utilizing a phrase like "then" or "next." While you should recount the major incidents of the narrative, it shouldn't feel so formulaic. 
• Don't let it drag on. Books are long, but summarizing a book should still be short. While it depends on the assignment and the work in question, your summary should be 200 to 600 words, max.

Example :   In  The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the story of Jay Gatsby as a symbol of the social stratification, greed, and indulgence of 1920s America.   The narrator, Nick Carraway, moves to New York's "West Egg," where he reunites with his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom Buchanan. Fitzgerald clearly delineates social lines between West Egg (new money) and East Egg (old money), where Tom and Daisy reside. 

Nick attends a lavish party thrown by his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and learns he formerly had a relationship with Daisy. When the two reignite their forbidden affair, disaster ensues. Tom reveals to Daisy that Gatsby earned his money illegally, through smuggling alcohol, and is actually a man of humble Midwestern origins. Daisy and Gatsby try to run away together, but Daisy accidentally runs over Tom's mistress. Tom, eager to exact revenge, convinces his mistress' husband that Gatsby was to blame in her death, and he murders Gatsby before committing suicide. Few of Gatsby's many friends attend his funeral.

Though Gatsby subscribed to the extravagance of his peers, his efforts to fit into the upper echelon of West and East Egg were negated by his humble origins; always out of place, he was rejected for his social class as much as his perceived crimes.

For an in-depth analysis of The Great Gatsby , check out the our study guide (we have an audio guide, too!).

How to Summarize an Article or Essay

The nature of an article or essay is quite different from a novel or short story, and in many ways, your summary should be too. The outline above remains the same, but the details are different. 

Here's what you should and shouldn't do when writing your article summary. 

Dos of Writing an Article Summary

• Skim the original article first. To develop a basic understanding of the article and the writer's objectives, skim the content before reading it closely. Doing so will help you to identify some of the key points and then pay attention to the arguments around them when you read the article in full. 
• Then read the article closely, marking key passages and ideas. Noting important ideas as you read will help you develop a deeper understanding of the writer's intentions.  
• Note headings and subheadings, which likely identify important points. In articles and essays, the author often utilizes subheadings to introduce their most important ideas. These subheadings can help guide your own writing. 
• Keep it short. The rule of brevity applies to article summaries too. In fact, because articles are usually short compared to novels or books, your text should be correlatively brief. And if you're utilizing the work as part of your own essay or argument, just a couple sentences will do.

Don'ts of Writing an Article Summary

• Don't ignore the conclusion. When reading a long article or essay, it can be tempting to overlook the conclusion and focus on the body paragraphs of the article. However, the conclusion is often where the author most clearly outlines their findings and why they matter. It can serve as a great foundation for your own writing. 
• Don't copy anything from the article directly—always paraphrase. If you copy any passages word-for-word from the article, be sure to identify them as quotations and attribute them to the author. Even this should be done sparingly. Instead, you should encapsulate their ideas within your own, abbreviated words.  
• Don't forget to include proper citations. If you do include a direct quotation from the article, be sure to properly cite them. You can learn how to properly cite quotations in our Academic Citation Resource Guide . 

Example Summary of  "Gatsby as a Drowned Sailor" :  In her essay, "Gatsby as a Drowned Sailor," Margaret Lukens posits that a major, and often overlooked, motif in  The Great Gatsby  is that of the "drowned sailor." The novel, she points out, is immersed in nautical symbols and themes, particularly in the scenes surrounding Jay Gatsby. For example, Gatsby grew up on the shores of Lake Superior, now owns a house on the Long Island Sound, and supposedly spends much of his time on his boat. 

Lukens nods to the nautical imagery throughout Gatsby's lavish party, as well as Nick's interactions with Gatsby. Many of these, she argues, foreshadow Gatsby's death in his pool. Even his funeral is a testament to the motif, with the few attendees soaked to the skin with rain. Lukens presents a thorough case for the overarching nautical motif in  The Great Gatsby  and her argument that though Gatsby hooked a big one, ultimately it was "the one that got away." 

FAQs: How to Write a Book Summary  

How do you summarize without plagiarizing .

By its very nature, a summary isn't plagiarizing because it should be written in your own words. However, there are cases where it might be difficult to identify an appropriate synonym, and the phrase remains somewhat close to the original. In this scenario, just be sure to differentiate the rest of the phrase as much as possible. And if you need to include a direct quote from the work, be sure to appropriately cite it. 

How to write a summary and a reaction? 

In some cases, your teacher may ask you to write a summary and a reaction. Whereas a summary is objective, a reaction is a matter of opinion. So in this case, you should present the actions or ideas of the work, then respond to those actions and ideas with your personal thoughts. 

Why write a summary? 

A summary is a helpful tool many educators use to test their students' comprehension of a text. However, it is also a useful study tactic because recounting what you read can help you organize and retain information. 

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Free English Lessons

How to summarise a text – video.

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In this lesson, you can learn how to read and summarise a text.

Summarising a text is a vital skill for your english reading. if you can’t make a short, clear summary of the main ideas of a text, then you almost certainly haven’t understood it fully., understanding what you read in english isn’t just about the words; it’s about understanding the ideas, how they’re organised, and which ideas are more or less important., here, you’ll see some strategies you can use to improve your english reading , read faster, and improve your reading comprehension., quiz: how to summarise a text.

Now, test your knowledge of what you learned in the lesson by trying this quiz.

The first five questions are about the ideas and strategies for understanding a text, and questions 6 to 10 review the text you studied during the lesson.

For questions 11 to 20, you will read two new texts and answer questions to check your understanding and help you write a summary.

You will get your score at the end, when you can click on ‘View Questions’ to see all the correct answers.

Quiz Summary

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Well done. You have understood a lot of the ideas in this lesson. For further practice, why not try writing your own summary of the texts?

Excellent! You have understood the ideas in this lesson very well. For further practice, why not try writing your own summary of the texts?

Congratulations! You have understood the ideas in the lesson and the texts you have read perfectly. For further practice, why not try writing your own summary of the texts?

1 . Question

Which of these things can help you identify the main idea of a text? Choose as many as you think are correct.

• a title or heading
• the content of the first sentence
• proper nouns
• the content of the final sentence
• the number of words in the text

One of the options is (clearly!) incorrect. You should choose ALL the others!

2 . Question

True or false: You should always check any unknown words in a dictionary.

3 . Question

What should you not do when you are skim reading? Choose one answer.

• Underline words that you don't know.
• Read as fast as you can.
• Continue without hesitating or re-reading anything.

4 . Question

Look at five different linking phrases.

Which are used to add specific details or examples to a previous point?

Choose three answers.

• for example
• for instance
• in particular
• on the other hand
• by contrast

5 . Question

Which of these words mean the same as ‘important’?

• significant
• unnecessary

6 . Question

Before you answer questions 6 to 10, look again at the text you studied in the lesson. You can download a copy of it here: Understanding and summarising a text practice texts

Guugu Yimithirr—an unusual Australian language

Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland; the majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale. The English word ‘kangaroo’ originates from Guugu Yimithirr, but the language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions. This means that there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’, and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr give directions exclusively using points of the compass. For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.” While this sounds strange in English, a Guugu Yimithirr speaker would see nothing unusual in it. Linguists and anthropologists investigating this unusual trait discovered that Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass; specifically, they use the position of the sun, the position of landmarks, or the way that plants grow. In this way, they are always aware of where north, south, east and west are, although they can temporarily lose this ability if they move a large distance, for example if they fly to another region. A group of Guugu Yimithirr speakers who were flown to Brisbane—a journey of around 2000km—were unable to identify compass directions for around one week after their journey; thereafter, they became oriented and were able to communicate direction and position as they usually would.

What is the main idea in the first sentence? Choose one answer.

• Some Australians speak a language called Guugu Yimithirr.
• The town Hopevale is in Queensland.
• Many people speak Guugu Yimithirr in Queensland.
• Indigenous Australians use unusual words.

7 . Question

Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland ; the majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale. The English word ‘kangaroo’ originates from Guugu Yimithirr, but the language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions. This means that there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’, and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr give directions exclusively using points of the compass. For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.” While this sounds strange in English, a Guugu Yimithirr speaker would see nothing unusual in it. Linguists and anthropologists investigating this unusual trait discovered that Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass; specifically, they use the position of the sun, the position of landmarks, or the way that plants grow. In this way, they are always aware of where north, south, east and west are, although they can temporarily lose this ability if they move a large distance, for example if they fly to another region. A group of Guugu Yimithirr speakers who were flown to Brisbane —a journey of around 2000km—were unable to identify compass directions for around one week after their journey; thereafter, they became oriented and were able to communicate direction and position as they usually would.

Which of the following highlighted words from the text are proper nouns? Choose two answers.

8 . Question

Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland; the majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale . The English word ‘kangaroo’ originates from Guugu Yimithirr, but the language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions . This means that there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’, and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr give directions exclusively using points of the compass. For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.” While this sounds strange in English, a Guugu Yimithirr speaker would see nothing unusual in it. Linguists and anthropologists investigating this unusual trait discovered that Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass; specifically, they use the position of the sun, the position of landmarks, or the way that plants grow. In this way, they are always aware of where north, south, east and west are, although they can temporarily lose this ability if they move a large distance, for example if they fly to another region. A group of Guugu Yimithirr speakers who were flown to Brisbane—a journey of around 2000km—were unable to identify compass directions for around one week after their journey; thereafter, they became oriented and were able to communicate direction and position as they usually would.

Which of these highlighted sentences is a general idea? Choose one answer.

• The language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions.
• For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.”
• The majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale.

9 . Question

What is the most unusual thing about Guugu Yimithirr, according to the main idea of the text? Choose one answer.

• There are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’.
• The words 'north', 'south', 'east' and 'west' are not used as in other languages.
• There is no way to talk about the position of things.
• It is the origin of the word 'kangaroo'.

10 . Question

How do speakers of Guugu Yimithirr know where ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ and ‘west’ are? Choose one answer.

• They use signs from nature.
• They use a compass.
• They learn the directions as children.

11 . Question

Before you answer questions 11 to 15, skim read the following text:

It’s not what you say – it’s what you don’t!

Euphemisms are metaphorical expressions which we say in order to avoid using words that sound unpleasant or uncomfortable. English is not alone in having plenty of them, but they are certainly in common use, particularly in Britain, where the cultural sensitivities of the 19th century still linger in many parts of society. Back then, if you needed to go to the toilet, you couldn’t simply announce the fact using the word ‘toilet’. Women might say they were “going to powder their nose” while men would “go to the little boys’ room” and people of either sex could “spend a penny”—this being the original price of using a public lavatory in London. All three euphemisms, and many more, are still used regularly.

English probably has an indirect way of avoiding almost any topic you can think of, from embarrassing intimate things like romance—”are they stepping out?”—to the most intrusive of matters to the English mind: how much money someone earns—”I bet he takes home a packet”. Yet, there is no subject more laden with euphemisms than the one thing that’s going to happen to every one of us. Whether he “goes to meet his maker”, “kicks the bucket”, “pops his clogs”, “bites the dust” or “breathes his last”, when an Englishman dies, the last thing he wants is for anybody to actually say it.

If you haven’t already downloaded the PDF copy of the texts for this quiz, click here: Understanding and summarising a text practice texts

What does most of the text talk about? Choose one option.

• Alternative ways to talk about uncomfortable topics.
• How to avoid saying the word ´toilet´.
• A variety of expressions that refer to dying.
• Cultural sensitivities in 19th century Britain.

12 . Question

Euphemisms are metaphorical expressions which we say in order to avoid using words that sound unpleasant or uncomfortable. English is not alone in having plenty of them, but they are certainly in common use, particularly in Britain , where the cultural sensitivities of the 19th century still linger in many parts of society. Back then, if you needed to go to the toilet, you couldn’t simply announce the fact using the word ‘toilet’. Women might say they were “going to powder their nose” while men would “go to the little boys’ room” and people of either sex could “spend a penny”—this being the original price of using a public lavatory in London . All three euphemisms, and many more, are still used regularly.

Which of the highlighted proper nouns are places? Choose two answers.

13 . Question

Which key word from the first paragraph indicates that the main idea of the text is examined in one specific context?

• particularly
• metaphorical

14 . Question

Euphemisms are metaphorical expressions which we say in order to avoid using words that sound unpleasant or uncomfortable. English is not alone in having plenty of them, but they are certainly in common use, particularly in Britain, where the cultural sensitivities of the 19th century still linger in many parts of society. Back then, if you needed to go to the toilet , you couldn’t simply announce the fact using the word ‘toilet’. Women might say they were “going to powder their nose” while men would “go to the little boys’ room” and people of either sex could “spend a penny”—this being the original price of using a public lavatory in London. All three euphemisms, and many more, are still used regularly.

English probably has an indirect way of avoiding almost any topic you can think of, from embarrassing intimate things like romance —”are they stepping out?”—to the most intrusive of matters to the English mind: how much money someone earns —”I bet he takes home a packet”. Yet, there is no subject more laden with euphemisms than the one thing that’s going to happen to every one of us. Whether he “goes to meet his maker”, “kicks the bucket”, “pops his clogs”, “bites the dust” or “breathes his last”, when an Englishman dies , the last thing he wants is for anybody to actually say it.

Are the highlighted sections general ideas or details?

• general ideas

15 . Question

Which is the best summary of the text?

• The text is about the alternative expressions, called euphemisms, which English people can use to avoid mentioning uncomfortable topics, such as death.
• The text is about metaphorical expressions which we say in order to avoid using words that sound unpleasant or uncomfortable.
• The text is about why English people prefer to use alternative expressions rather than talking about death, romance, money and going to the toilet.

One incorrect answer just repeats a sentence from the text without attempting to summarise the whole thing.

The other incorrect answer focuses on a detail which isn’t explained in detail in the text.

16 . Question

Before you answer questions 16 to 20, skim read the next text:

From Bowie to McCartney, Oasis to Coldplay and a thousand other acts you’ve probably never heard of—Toots and the Maytals, anyone?—if you make your living from music, there is only one place to play the ultimate gig: a field in the south-west of England in the last week of June. This is the Glastonbury Festival, the largest music event in the world, which takes place nearly every summer, come rain or shine, and attracts both the biggest star names and the largest crowds. Though it started fairly small in 1970, these days over 100,000 people attend, the majority of whom stay for the full five days, camping overnight in tents.

It’s not just about music. To give it its full name, the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts promises a diverse programme, including circus acts, experimental theatre and new-age dance, but also yoga sessions, palm readers, demonstrations of vegan cooking, and the usual crowd of money-makers found at any large public gathering. The thousands surely come for the headline bands, but many veterans claim it’s the bits away from the main stage that really create the memories. After all, when Paul McCartney plays, you’ll be standing half a mile away; it’s the closer encounters with pioneers of reggae like Toots and the Maytals—as you munch on your veggie burger—that make Glastonbury the glorious experience it is.

What is the general idea of the text? Choose one answer.

• The Glastonbury Festival is the biggest music event in the world, but there's more to it than just big names.
• The Glastonbury Festival has grown considerably since it first started.
• The Glastonbury Festival is full of surprises, including yoga, cookery and theatre.
• The Glastonbury Festival is the most important place to play if you are a professional musician.

17 . Question

From Bowie to McCartney , Oasis to Coldplay and a thousand other acts you’ve probably never heard of—Toots and the Maytals, anyone?—if you make your living from music, there is only one place to play the ultimate gig: a field in the south-west of England in the last week of June . This is the Glastonbury Festival, the largest music event in the world, which takes place nearly every summer, come rain or shine, and attracts both the biggest star names and the largest crowds. Though it started fairly small in 1970, these days over 100,000 people attend, the majority of whom stay for the full five days, camping overnight in tents.

Which of the highlighted words is not a proper noun? Choose one answer.

• the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts

18 . Question

From Bowie to McCartney, Oasis to Coldplay and a thousand other acts you’ve probably never heard of—Toots and the Maytals, anyone?—if you make your living from music, there is only one place to play the ultimate gig: a field in the south-west of England in the last week of June. This is the Glastonbury Festival, the largest music event in the world , which takes place nearly every summer, come rain or shine, and attracts both the biggest star names and the largest crowds. Though it started fairly small in 1970, these days over 100,000 people attend, the majority of whom stay for the full five days, camping overnight in tents.

It’s not just about music. To give it its full name, the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts promises a diverse programme , including circus acts, experimental theatre and new-age dance, but also yoga sessions, palm readers, demonstrations of vegan cooking, and the usual crowd of money-makers found at any large public gathering. The thousands surely come for the headline bands, but many veterans claim it’s the bits away from the main stage that really create the memories . After all, when Paul McCartney plays, you’ll be standing half a mile away; it’s the closer encounters with pioneers of reggae like Toots and the Maytals—as you munch on your veggie burger—that make Glastonbury the glorious experience it is.

Which of the highlighted sentences could you remove, without changing the general idea of the text? Choose one answer.

• Though it started fairly small in 1970, these days over 100,000 people attend, the majority of whom stay for the full five days, camping overnight in tents.
• This is the Glastonbury Festival, the largest music event in the world
• To give it its full name, the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts promises a diverse programme
• Many veterans claim it’s the bits away from the main stage that really create the memories

19 . Question

It’s not just about music. To give it its full name, the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts promises a diverse programme, including circus acts, experimental theatre and new-age dance, but also yoga sessions, palm readers, demonstrations of vegan cooking, and the usual crowd of money-makers found at any large public gathering. The thousands surely come for the headline bands, but many veterans claim it’s the bits away from the main stage that really create the memories . After all, when Paul McCartney plays, you’ll be standing half a mile away; it’s the closer encounters with pioneers of reggae like Toots and the Maytals—as you munch on your veggie burger—that make Glastonbury the glorious experience it is.

Which of the key words highlighted indicate that this sentence is emphasising the main idea of the text? There are two correct answers.

• it's the … that

20 . Question

Now choose the best summary of the text.

• The text describes who you can see at the Glastonbury Festival, including the world's most famous music stars and lesser-known bands or non-musicians who are even more memorable.
• The text describes the history of the Glastonbury Festival, how many people go to it and some of the big names who have played there.
• The text describes the Glastonbury Festival as two very different events – one with big name rock stars and the other with musicians who are not famous, but just as good.

One incorrect answer says something which is not true (so not mentioned in the text).

The other incorrect answer leaves out an important main idea of the text.

Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland; the majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale. The English word ‘kangaroo’ originates from Guugu Yimithirr, but the language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions. This means that there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’, and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr give directions exclusively using points of the compass. For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.” While this sounds strange in English, a Guugu Yimithirr speaker would see nothing odd about it. Linguists and anthropologists investigating this unusual trait discovered that Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass; specifically, they use the position of the sun, the position of landmarks, or the way that plants grow. In this way, they are always aware of where north, south, east and west are, although they can temporarily lose this ability if they move a large distance, for example if they fly to another region. A group of Guugu Yimithirr speakers who were flown to Brisbane—a journey of around 2000km—were unable to identify compass directions for around one week after their journey; thereafter, they became oriented and were able to communicate direction and position as they usually would.

‘Sprites’ and high-altitude lightning

When most people hear the word ‘lightning’, they will think of an electrical discharge between a thundercloud and the ground. However, since 1989, scientists have discovered that thunderstorms will typically generate a range of electrical phenomena, including discharges which reach almost 100km in altitude—close to the edge of space. The most common of these are known as ‘sprites’, named after the air spirits of European mythology. Sprites last a few milliseconds, and they appear as huge, dark red flashes, which are often shaped like a jellyfish. Although sprites are believed to occur millions of times per year, they were not discovered until 1989, and have rarely been photographed since then. How can this be? One reason is that sprites are generally only observable from very high altitudes or from space. Sprites can rarely be observed from the ground, but only under extremely specific conditions. Another reason is that sprites do not appear as predictably as ‘regular’ lightning, and a high-speed camera is required to have any chance of capturing an image of one.

In this lesson, we’ll work with a sample text. You can see it higher up on this page. We recommend reading it before you continue watching. Now, let’s look at the most important reading strategy you need to use.

1. Finding the Main Idea

To understand and summarise a text, you need to find the main idea . Every coherent text has one central idea, which connects the different parts of the text. You need to know what this is. But, every text is different, and there isn’t one way to find the main idea. Instead, you need to look at the whole thing.

Here are some things you should look at: One: is there a title or headings? These will often highlight the most important points. Two: what is the first sentence about? Often, the first sentence of a text or paragraph will summarise the main ideas. Three: what does most of the text talk about? Look at each sentence and paragraph. Is there a single topic which connects them? Look at our sample text and think about these questions. Pause the video if you need more reading time.

So, what do you think the main idea of our sample text is? We’ll show you three possible summaries. Which do you think is best?

• This text is about Guugu Yimithirr, and gives some information about the history of the language and how it has changed over time.
• The text is about indigenous Australian languages which are spoken in northern Australia, and which are often different from European languages in interesting ways.
• The text is about Guugu Yimithirr, an Australian language which is unusual because it does not have words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘forwards’ or ‘backwards’.

What do you think? The best is number three. Let’s see why. First, you should look at the title. The title tells you that the text will be about Guugu Yimithirr, but it also mentions that this language is ‘unusual’. You should immediately focus on this word, because it shows that this language is different in some way. Also, ‘unusual’ could mean many things. What does it mean here? Unusual how? Second, what’s the first sentence about? Here, it gives background information. It doesn’t help you to find the main idea. That’s OK—in this case, the background information is helpful, because most people don’t know what Guugu Yimithirr is. Third, what does most of the text talk about? Apart from the first sentence, every sentence is about the same topic: the fact that Guugu Yimithirr uses compass directions —north, south, east, west—for all directions, because there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, and so on. This answers the question you found in the title: why is this language unusual? Now you have a reason. However, analysing the text in this way is complex, and there are other sub-skills you might need.

Let’s look at an important example.

2. Separating General Ideas from Details

To summarise a text, you need to find which ideas are general, and which are details or examples. The general ideas will give you the overall meaning. If you confuse general ideas and details, you might misunderstand the overall meaning what you’re reading. Unfortunately, there are no clear markers which show you what’s general or not. A single sentence might mix general ideas and details together. You need to use context and other clues to work out which ideas are general and which are details. Look at five extracts from our sample text.

• Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland.
• For example, you might hear “Your pen is on the table, just north of the fruit bowl.

What do you think? Are these general ideas, or details? Which do you need to understand in order to find the overall meaning? Sentences one, three and four are general. Two and five are details. One is general because it introduces the topic by giving background information. This is like a topic sentence, which tells you what the rest of the text will be about. Two is a detail. It’s more background information; you don’t need it to understand the overall meaning. Three is a general, important idea. This sentence highlights the unusual feature of the Guugu Yimithirr language. The rest of the text expands on the idea introduced in this sentence.

We said that four is general; however, it’s kind of in the middle. It explains the exact meaning of ‘lacking egocentric directions’ which is referred to in sentence three. Technically, this sentence isn’t necessary to understand the main idea. On the other hand, most people—including educated native English speakers —wouldn’t know what ‘egocentric directions’ are. This sentence explains it, and so it *is* important for understanding the whole text.

Five is a detail. It adds an example of how Guugu Yimithirr speakers talk about position and direction, but it isn’t necessary to understand the main idea.

So, what do you need to focus on here? First, it’s a good idea to skim a text first, reading fast and trying to understand the overall idea in a simple way. In order to separate general ideas from details, you need some context. Until you’ve read the whole thing, you won’t have this. Second, look for linking phrases like ‘for example’, ‘for instance’, ‘specifically’ or ‘in particular.’ Linking phrases like these show you that what follows is an explanation of a more general idea that was mentioned before. Third, remember that one sentence can contain both general ideas and details mixed together. For example, this sentence contains both a detail—about the word ‘kangaroo’—and a general point.

• The English word ‘kangaroo’ originates from Guugu Yimithirr, but the language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions.

Now, why not do some more practice? Look at the rest of our sample text. Which ideas are general? Which ideas are details? Pause the video and try it now, if you want. Did you do it? Here’s a shorter version, with all examples and details removed.

• Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland. The language is perhaps more notable for entirely lacking ‘egocentric’ directions. This means that there are no words for ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘backwards’ or ‘forwards’, and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr give directions exclusively using points of the compass. Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass. They can temporarily lose this ability if they move a large distance.

If you can do this, you’ll be able to read much faster. Why? Because you only need to focus on the general ideas to understand the overall meaning. Here, you only need to understand 76 words, instead of 230. This saves you time, which could be helpful if you are under time pressure, like in an IELTS reading exam . There’s another related, skill which can help you to understand and summarise a text in English. Let’s look!

3. Identifying Key Words

First, look for proper nouns, which start with a capital letter. Sometimes, we see that students think they don’t understand a word, but they don’t realise that the ‘word’ is actually a proper noun, like a person’s name, or a place name. Can you find three examples of proper nouns in our text? Pause the video if you want time to think about it. You could say ‘Guugu Yimithirr’, ‘Queensland’, ‘Hopevale’, ‘English’ or ‘Brisbane’. Generally, if a proper noun is important or not widely-understood, it will be explained. For example, ‘Guugu Yimithirr’ is obviously important, and it’s explained in the first sentence. If a proper noun isn’t explained, you can usually ignore it, or try to work out the meaning from the context. For example, look at the first sentence.

• Guugu Yimithirr is an indigenous Australian language, spoken in northern Queensland; the majority of speakers live in the town of Hopevale.

Even if you’ve never heard of Queensland or Hopevale, you can work out that they’re place names. Next, look for words that tell you that an idea is important. You could look for words like ‘important’, ‘notable’, ‘significant’ or ‘essential’. For example, you saw this sentence.

The word ‘ notable ’ highlights something important about the language. This means you should focus on this sentence. If you’re under time pressure, you should spend extra time on this sentence. Also, look for words which were also used in the title, or possibly which appeared in the first sentence or paragraph. Remember that writers might use paraphrase, so you might not find the exact same words. There was a key word from the title used in the text. Do you know where? Pause the video if you want time to find it! The word ‘unusual’ appears in this sentence.

• Linguists and anthropologists investigating this unusual trait discovered that Guugu Yimithirr speakers use subtle environmental cues to orient themselves to the points of the compass; specifically, they use the position of the sun, the position of landmarks, or the way that plants grow.

You heard before that ‘unusual’ is a key word in the title. So, when you see it, you should pay extra attention to this sentence. In fact, this sentence gives you one of the key general ideas. Depending on your situation, you might have different options to deal with unknown words. If you have unlimited time, unlimited patience and access to a dictionary, then you can check the meaning of every word. However, this strategy is not possible in most cases. No one really has unlimited time or unlimited patience. Plus, there are often restrictions; if you’re taking an exam, you’ll have a time limit and you probably won’t be able to use a dictionary. This is why it’s important to focus on the general ideas, and then find key words within them. If there are 50 words you don’t know, that’s difficult to deal with. However, if you can focus on a smaller number of more important sentences, there will be fewer unknown words.

At this point, you should know how to read and summarise a text in English. We have a challenge for you! At the top of this page, you’ll find a second text to practise with. If you’re watching on YouTube, you can find a link in the video description. Can you write a summary of the second text? Your summary should be maximum two sentences, or ideally just one. Use the reading techniques you saw in this lesson. Post your suggestion in the comments, and read other people’s ideas.

Thanks for watching this lesson from Oxford Online English!

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Effective Steps to Clearly Write Passage Summaries

Table of Contents

Learning how to summarize a long passage of text is not only challenging but also time-consuming. But with the proper steps to  write a summary of the passage , you can make the process less complicated.

This article will guide you through practical steps in summarizing a text. A summary gives a concise overview of a text’s main points using your own words. This helps make an article more digestible while presenting all the essential focal points clearly.

When to Write a Summary

There are many instances when you might need to make a summary of a piece of writing. It could be for writing assignments or simplifying an article you’re studying. You might also need to summarize the text to:

• Demonstrate that you were able to understand the material fully
• Keep notes of the main points of the text
• Give readers a compelling overview of your work

As you write an academic text such as an essay, research paper, or dissertation, you’ll integrate sources in several ways. You may use a brief quote or paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs to support your main ideas.

It is appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is relevant to your research. A summary must give your reader a clear understanding of the source. To write a good summary, follow the four steps outlined below.

Effective Steps to Write a Summary of the Passage.

1. read the text thoroughly..

Read the article thoroughly so you can understand it fully. It can help to read it more than once to absorb in-depth information. The best way to read something is by following these steps.

• Take a quick look at the article to get an idea of what it’s about and how it’ll look together.
• Read it carefully, underlining the essential parts and taking notes.
• Read through the article again and make sure you understand the main points. You can re-read any passages that are hard to understand.

2. Break Down the Text Into Sections.

Breaking the text into smaller sections makes it easier to read and understand.

If the text follows a standard empirical structure, it will likely already be divided into clear sections. This makes the task of summarizing easier. The sections usually include an introduction, methods, and results.

There are, however, other types of writing that don’t have clear divisions between sections. They will most likely be composed of several minor points or themes.

If this is the case, you can write a descriptive word or phrase in the margin next to each section. This will help you quickly tell the different sections apart.

3. Figure Out What Each Section’s Main Points Are.

Examine each section and identify its most important points. What will the reader need to comprehend the general argument of the article?

Remember that you don’t need to paraphrase each paragraph of the text to write your summary. Your goal should be to extract the main points without providing too much background info.

4. Start Writing the Summary

At this point, you should already have a clear understanding of the article’s main themes.

Try to restate them using your own words. Not only will this display your knowledge of the content, but it will also help avoid plagiarism issues. No part of the article should be directly copied and pasted.

Tips for Making a Good Summary

A good summary should be concise, coherent, and independent . Let’s try to look at these qualities in greater detail.

Comprehensive

Take notes of all the essential points in the original passage and take note of them in a list. Take the time to review all the ideas in your list and include all those essential to the author’s development of their main idea.

Avoid repetition, as this can add unnecessary length to your summary. You should make your summary much shorter than the source.

Your summary needs to make sense. It should not be drawn straight from your list of notes or sound like a disjointed group of points.

Independent

You’re not imitating the author of the text you are summarizing. In contrast, you are expected to maintain your voice throughout the summary. Use your own words instead of simply quoting the author. Your summary is supposed to be based on your interpretation of the writer’s point and ideas.

Final Words

When you  write a summary of the passage , you need to remember that you’re not just copying the author’s words.

Instead, you’re taking the essential key points and using your own words to interpret them. To do this effectively, follow the tips provided above. Make sure your summary has a coherent and concise message so it is clear to the reader. 

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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• How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

Published on 25 September 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 12 May 2023.

Summarising , or writing a summary, means giving a concise overview of a text’s main points in your own words. A summary is always much shorter than the original text.

There are five key steps that can help you to write a summary:

• Read the text
• Break it down into sections
• Identify the key points in each section
• Write the summary
• Check the summary against the article

Writing a summary does not involve critiquing or analysing the source. You should simply provide an accurate account of the most important information and ideas (without copying any text from the original).

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When to write a summary, step 1: read the text, step 2: break the text down into sections, step 3: identify the key points in each section, step 4: write the summary, step 5: check the summary against the article, frequently asked questions.

There are many situations in which you might have to summarise an article or other source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to show you’ve understood the material
• To keep notes that will help you remember what you’ve read
• To give an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review

When you’re writing an academic text like an essay , research paper , or dissertation , you’ll integrate sources in a variety of ways. You might use a brief quote to support your point, or paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs.

But it’s often appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is especially relevant to your own research, or to provide an overview of a source before you analyse or critique it.

In any case, the goal of summarising is to give your reader a clear understanding of the original source. Follow the five steps outlined below to write a good summary.

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You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages:

• Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape.
• Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read.
• Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passages.

There are some tricks you can use to identify the key points as you read:

• Start by reading the abstract . This already contains the author’s own summary of their work, and it tells you what to expect from the article.
• Pay attention to headings and subheadings . These should give you a good sense of what each part is about.
• Read the introduction and the conclusion together and compare them: What did the author set out to do, and what was the outcome?

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections.

If the text is a scientific paper that follows a standard empirical structure, it is probably already organised into clearly marked sections, usually including an introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

Other types of articles may not be explicitly divided into sections. But most articles and essays will be structured around a series of sub-points or themes.

Now it’s time go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article?

Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

In a scientific article, there are some easy questions you can ask to identify the key points in each part.

If the article takes a different form, you might have to think more carefully about what points are most important for the reader to understand its argument.

In that case, pay particular attention to the thesis statement —the central claim that the author wants us to accept, which usually appears in the introduction—and the topic sentences that signal the main idea of each paragraph.

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words.

To avoid plagiarism and show you’ve understood the article, it’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two.

The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points.

Examples of article summaries

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, we summarise this article , which scientifically investigates the old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’.

An article summary like the above would be appropriate for a stand-alone summary assignment. However, you’ll often want to give an even more concise summary of an article.

For example, in a literature review or research paper, you may want to briefly summarize this study as part of a wider discussion of various sources. In this case, we can boil our summary down even further to include only the most relevant information.

Citing the source you’re summarizing

When including a summary as part of a larger text, it’s essential to properly cite the source you’re summarizing. The exact format depends on your citation style , but it usually includes an in-text citation and a full reference at the end of your paper.

You can easily create your citations and references in APA or MLA using our free citation generators.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

Finally, read through the article once more to ensure that:

• You’ve accurately represented the author’s work
• You haven’t missed any essential information
• The phrasing is not too similar to any sentences in the original.

If you’re summarising many articles as part of your own work, it may be a good idea to use a plagiarism checker to double-check that your text is completely original and properly cited. Just be sure to use one that’s safe and reliable.

A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words.

Save yourself some time with the free summariser.

A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depends on the length of the article you’re summarising, and on the purpose of the summary.

With the summariser tool you can easily adjust the length of your summary.

You might have to write a summary of a source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material
• For your own use, to keep notes on your reading
• To provide an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review
• In a paper , to summarise or introduce a relevant study

To avoid plagiarism when summarising an article or other source, follow these two rules:

• Write the summary entirely in your own words by   paraphrasing the author’s ideas.
• Reference the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarise the whole text, not just introduce it.

An abstract is a type of summary , but summaries are also written elsewhere in academic writing . For example, you might summarise a source in a paper , in a literature review , or as a standalone assignment.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, May 12). How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 2 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/working-sources/how-to-write-a-summary/

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3.9: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

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• Page ID 31441

• Athena Kashyap & Erika Dyquisto
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

Paraphrasing

The essay assignments for most first-year composition classes call on you to use information from various texts. However, you cannot just copy the exact words out of the text you are writing about. If you do, you are plagiarizing and may put your academic career in jeopardy. If you are not citing direct quotes and citing them, you must put the words from the readings fully into your own words and cite them.

When paraphrasing, there are two basic kinds of changes you can make:

• Change the words so you are using synonyms wherever possible. For example, imagine you are paraphrasing the sentence “After work, Judy rushed back to her house.” Instead of “her house” you can say “her home” or “her place.” Instead of “rushed” you could say “hurried.”
• Change the sentence structure so that it is different. One method is to switch the order of dependent and independent clauses. For example, instead of “After work, Judy rushed back to her house” you might write, “Judy was in a hurry to get back home at the end of the day.”

However, this is really just a bit simplistic. It still may not give you a full paraphrase. A full paraphrase, which should convey another's idea fully and truly, should be in your own words (except for, perhaps, key words and data measures). One of the best ways to paraphrase another's idea is to put aside the text (don't look at it) and write down the gist (the general idea) of what the author is saying.

One important thing to remember is that you choose which information is important. For a simple example,

Joe drove after hours for Lyft for six months to save up enough money to buy himself a laptop.

You could decide that some of the detail is not necessary for your paper. You could leave the unimportant detail out of your paraphrase, like this:

In order to afford a laptop, Joe worked for a long time.

The author of this sentence decided that the specific job Joe held, the number of years, and the fact that it was his dream stereo wasn’t important. That was his choice.

Here is a video that explains the above with additional examples.

How to Paraphrase in Five Easy St eps. Author ed by: Scribbr. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube license.

Remember: When paraphrasing another's idea, be sure to still provide an in-text citation.

How to avoid plagiarism when paraphrasing a text:

Stop, Thief! Avoid Plagiarism by Paraphrasing . Authored by: Emily Nimsakont. All Rights Reserved. Standard YouTube License.

Exercise 1\(\PageIndex{1}\)

Using the methods discussed above (especially the "don't look at the original method") paraphrase the following passage on your own piece of paper.

Infectious diseases are transmitted from person to person by direct or indirect contact. Certain types of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi can all cause infectious disease. Malaria, measles, and respiratory illnesses are examples of infectious diseases. (Source: Healthline.com. No author).

Exercise 2\(\PageIndex{1}\)

As the continued spread of COVID-19 puts much of the U.S. economy at a standstill, many are wondering how the economic slowdown will affect the real estate market. While construction is considered an essential business in the majority of states and real estate agents have transitioned to online showings, housing markets nationwide are likely to struggle, and some appear to be far more vulnerable than others. (Source: Evan Comen, May 26, 2020, USA Today)

Summarizing

How to write a summary.

Proficient students understand that summarizing , identifying what is most important and restating the text (or other media) in your own words, is an important tool for college success.

After all, if you really know a subject, you will be able to summarize it. If you cannot summarize a subject, even if you have memorized all the facts about it, you can be absolutely sure that you have not learned it. And, if you truly learn the subject, you will still be able to summarize it months or years from now.

Proficient students may monitor their understanding of a text by summarizing as they read. They understand that if they can write a one- or two-sentence summary of each paragraph after reading it, then that is a good sign that they have correctly understood it. If they can not summarize the main idea of the paragraph, they know that comprehension has broken down and they need to use fix-up strategies to repair understanding.

How to Write a Summary (A Review)

A summary is a brief restatement of someone else’s points in your own words . It needs to be:

• Brief – much shorter than the original, so not the details but just the main points
• Complete – including all the key information
• Accurate – the correct information
• Objective – not your opinion, but what the writer actually communicates

Step A. Annotating the Text for Main Ideas

1. Annotate for engagement and understanding: be sure you stayed awake and actually understood what you read!

2. Find the main ideas of each of the sections and, when appropriate, each of the paragraphs in your section.

3. You may underline the main ideas, or write them in your own words in the margin.

Remember, a main idea is a complete idea or sentence, not just a couple of words.

• Don’t write for your main idea: “youth unemployment”
• Do say: “Youth unemployment has increased.”

Step B. Planning the Summary

Write the main ideas of each paragraph and each section in your own words – and make sure each is a complete sentence. Do not include any judgment about what is in the article.

Step C. Write a Draft Summary

1. Introduce the name of the article and the author in the first sentence along with the main idea of the article.

2. Type up the paraphrased main ideas in complete sentences.

3. Analyze how the ideas connect and relate to each other. (For example, does one idea cause the next? Are some ideas examples of a larger point?) Organize the sentences into a logical order.

4. Include transition words that help the reader understand these connections.

5. Edit out ideas that repeat, and change the order of sentences as necessary.

6. Write the name of the article, the authors, and the controlling idea (main idea of the whole reading) in the first or second sentence.

7. Make sure that important details are included, but not details that are too specific.

8. Do not give your own opinions or say whether the authors do a good or bad job.

9. If the article discusses a study, the summary should briefly describe the purpose of the study and include the results of the study on a high level.

Summary Writing Format

• When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the form of a paragraph.
• A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you see it.
• A summary is written in your own words.
• A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Summary Writing Format Example

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion “… passage 1 …” (para.3). Didion also writes “… passage 2 …” (para.8). Finally, she states “… passage 3 …” (para. 12) Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Summary: Using it Wisely

Knowing how to summarize something you have read, seen, or heard is a valuable skill, one you have probably used in many writing assignments. It is important, though, to recognize when you must go beyond describing, explaining, and restating texts and offer a more complex analysis. This page will help you distinguish between summary and analysis and avoid inappropriate summary in your academic writing.

It is important that your keep your assignment and your audience in mind as you write. If your assignment requires an argument with a thesis statement and supporting evidence—as many academic writing assignments do—then you should limit the amount of summary in your paper. You might use summary to provide background, set the stage, or illustrate supporting evidence, but keep it very brief: a few sentences should do the trick. Most of your paper should focus on your argument.

Writing a summary of what you know about your topic before you start drafting your actual paper can sometimes be helpful. If you are unfamiliar with the material you’re analyzing, you may need to summarize what you’ve read in order to understand your reading and get your thoughts in order. Once you figure out what you know about a subject, it’s easier to decide what you want to argue.

Why is it so tempting to stick with summary and skip analysis?

Many writers rely too heavily on summary because it is what they can most easily write. If you’re stalled by a difficult writing prompt, summarizing may be more appealing than staring at the computer for three hours and wondering what argument to make about the content.

To write a more analytical paper, you may need to carefully consider your writing assignment before reading, viewing, or listening to the material about which you’ll be writing so that your encounter with the material will be more purposeful.

How do I know if I’m writing an argument instead of just summarizing?

If you answer yes to the questions below, it is a sign that your paper may have analysis rather than just summary (which is usually a good thing):

• Am I making an original argument about the text?
• Have I arranged my evidence around my own points, rather than just stating what the author has said?
• Am I explaining why or how an aspect of the text is significant?

Strategies for Writing a Summary

You can use T.I.P.S. to help you write a summary.

I=main idea

P=major supporting points

S=summarize

Read through the selection you are summarizing thoroughly, jotting down the topic, main idea, major supporting points. Then, in a couple of lines, summarize the information you have jotted down in your own words. This is your summary.

How to Write a Summary by Paraphrasing Source Material

When you paraphrase material from a source, you restate the information from an entire sentence or passage in your own words, using your own original sentence structure. A paraphrased source differs from a summarized source in that you focus on restating the ideas, not condensing them.

It is important to check your paraphrase against the source material to make sure it is both accurate and original. Inexperienced writers sometimes use the thesaurus method of paraphrasing—that is, they simply rewrite the source material, replacing most of the words with synonyms. This constitutes a misuse of sources. A true paraphrase restates the gist of the ideas using the writer’s own language and style

Example Paraphrase Writing Format

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion … PARAPHRASE 1 …”. Didion also CLAIMS… PARAPHRASE 2 …”. Finally, she CLAIMS “… PARAPHRASE 3 …” Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Summarizing Circles: A small group/ class activity

Practice summarizing by working with teams.

1. Divide the text you are summarizing into small sections.

2. In groups of three or so, ask students to summarize each section. They must use words such as

“In other words,….” “Here the author is saying that….” To summarize,

3. Students should try to write their section down in a single line using these starters. They should not use the words used in the text, but instead come up with their own words to explain the ideas in the text. They should get at the main idea in the section rather than just repeat the details.

4. As a class, determine the main idea of the whole passage. Write up a sample summary on the board based on the summaries from the sections.

Contributors and Attributions

• Adapted from English Composition I: Rhetorical Methods-Based , Provided by Lumen Learning, License: CC BY: Attribution

This page most recently revised on June 6, 2020.

Module 2: Using Sources

How to write a summary.

Proficient students understand that  summarizing , identifying what is most important and restating the text (or other media) in your own words, is an important tool for college success.

After all, if you really know a subject, you will be able to summarize it. If you cannot summarize a subject, even if you have memorized all the facts about it, you can be absolutely sure that you have not learned it. And, if you truly learn the subject, you will still be able to summarize it months or years from now.

Proficient students may monitor their understanding of a text by summarizing as they read. They understand that if they can write a one- or two-sentence summary of each paragraph after reading it, then that is a good sign that they have correctly understood it. If they can not summarize the main idea of the paragraph, they know that comprehension has broken down and they need to use fix-up strategies to repair understanding.

Summary Writing Format

• When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the form of a paragraph.
• A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you see it.
• A summary is written in your own words.
• A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.
• Identify in order the significant sub-claims the author uses to defend the main point.
• Copy word-for-word three separate passages from the essay that you think support and/or defend the main point of the essay as you see it.
• Cite each passage by first signaling the work and the author, put “quotation marks” around the passage you chose, and put the number of the paragraph where the passages can be found immediately after the passage.
• Using source material from the essay is important. Why? Because defending claims with source material is what you will be asked to do when writing papers for your college professors.
• Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Example Summary Writing Format

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion “… passage 1 …” (para.3). Didion also writes “… passage 2 …” (para.8). Finally, she states “… passage 3 …” (para. 12) Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Paul Powell. Provided by : Central Community College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Elisabeth Ellington and Ronda Dorsey Neugebauer. Provided by : Chadron State College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution

How to Summarize a Text

A summary is an overview of a piece of writing, formulated into your own words. When we write a research paper, essay, or article, we may need to use other authors’ information. We can use that information by summarizing the major points and citing the writer and work. We can also summarize something we read in order to remember it better. Another form of summarizing can usually be seen on the back cover of a book, where there is a very brief summary of the entire book. Let’s take a look at some tips that can be used to summarize the writing as effectively as possible.

1. Understand the purpose of the text

It is impossible to give an overview of something you don’t fully understand. To put it in other words, the purpose of the writing should be clear for you. Your summary should leave no room for confusion. You may require multiple readings of the source material, especially if it is a long text. Otherwise, you may mislead your reader by providing an inaccurate account of the text.

2. Identify the main ideas

Summarizing is about taking relevant information out of a text and putting it into your own words. Reading the text, finding the main points, and connecting them gives you a summary. Omit minor details, illustrations, examples, or anything else that is not the focus of the text. If you have multiple paragraphs, you can take the central idea from each one for the summary. If it is a huge text, make a small outline highlighting the primary ideas. Sometimes there are similar ideas in one paragraph. You can summarize that paragraph by combining them.

3. Paraphrasing is not summarizing

Even though they may follow the same pattern, there are key differences. Both of them require using your own words to describe the information. While the paraphrase is usually the same length as the original text, a summary is always shorter. When paraphrasing, you can use all the ideas in a text, whether it is a primary or secondary idea, whereas a summary requires just primary ideas.

4. The length of the summary

There isn’t a rule of thumb when it comes to the length of it, but it is believed that a summary may contain about 25% of the original text. It is different if the text is longer than one page. For instance, a book summary can be in just a few sentences or even be published in a short book.

5. No personal opinions or comments

As it should contain all the essential information of the original text, you should avoid giving your interpretations or adding your comments. You can summarize a text by understanding its meaning and finding primary ideas expressed in it. Summarizing is different from paraphrasing, as a summary is a shorter retelling of the text. The length of the summary should be approximately one-quarter of the original text and should not contain any personal beliefs, opinions, or counterarguments. The passage above is the summary of the entire article expressed in three sentences.

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Mastering the Art of Summary Writing

Musharrat Abir

It doesn’t matter which class you are in; if you are a student in the primary and high schools of Bangladesh, you will definitely have to write a summary in your English 1st paper exam. Despite our extensive experience in summary writing, many of us still struggle to receive a satisfactory score on this question. When it comes to the board exams, not achieving a competitive score in summary writing can have a significant negative impact on your total result. Failing to attain a high score in summary writing could potentially prevent you from securing an A+ in English 1st paper, which is already quite challenging to achieve in board examinations like SSC and HSC.

What is a Summary?

Now, what is a summary? So, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, a summary is a short , clear description that gives the main facts or ideas about something. A summary is a concise version of a longer text, speech, or document that captures the main ideas, key points, and essential information. The purpose of a summary is to provide readers or listeners with a brief and clear overview of the original content, allowing them to grasp the most important elements without having to go through the entire source material.

What is the purpose of summary writing?

Other than getting a good mark on summary writing, the purpose of a summary is to quickly give the reader or listener an idea of what this material is saying . A summary serves as a concise and focused overview of a longer text, speech, or document. It distills the key points and core message, aiding in retention, decision-making, and as a reference point. 

When to Write a Summary

We have summary writing in our English first paper exams. Sometimes we have to write a summary of a familiar story or poem, while at other times it’s on a completely unknown topic. Regardless of the topic, if you know how to write a proper summary, you’ll definitely excel! Since summaries are commonly written in various contexts, here are some common situations and places where summaries are needed:

01. Academic Papers: Summaries can be found in academic articles, research papers, and theses, often as abstracts, to provide a concise overview of the study’s purpose, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

02. Academic Summarization Tests: In standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, or IELTS, students are asked to provide summaries of reading passages to demonstrate their reading comprehension.

03. Project Proposals: Summaries are often required in project proposals, where the proposal’s main points and objectives are briefly outlined.

04. Academic Presentations : In academic presentations, speakers often include a summary slide or section at the beginning or end of their presentation to highlight key takeaways.

05. Education: Teachers may ask students to write summaries as assignments to assess their comprehension of lesson materials.

06. Scientific Abstracts: Scientific research papers include abstracts that provide a concise summary of the study’s goals, methods, results, and conclusions.

The list is not exhaustive, and there are many other purposes of summary writing out there!

English for Everyday

• প্রাত্যহিক জীবনে ইংরেজি ভাষার ব্যবহার
• ইংরেজিতে প্রশ্ন ও উত্তর দেওয়ার কৌশল
• ইংরেজিতে সাবলীলভাবে কথা বলার আত্নবিশ্বাস
• অফিসে ব্যবহার করার জন্য Professional Practice

Qualities of a Summary Writing

While writing a summary, there are a few qualities of a summary that you need to keep in mind:

01. Accuracy: Summaries must correctly reflect the main ideas without changing the meaning. So, read the text thoroughly and present the ideas correctly.

02. Conciseness: Keep it short and to the point. Capture the main ideas without adding extra details or repeating stuff.

03. Objectivity : Be neutral. Don’t put your personal opinions or interpretations into the summary.

04. Clarity: Make it easy to understand. Use simple and precise language to convey the main points clearly.

05. Comprehensiveness: Cover all the important parts of the original text without going into too much detail.

06. Structure: Organize your summary logically. It should flow smoothly, just like an organized closet.

07. No New Info: Don’t add new ideas or information that were not present in the original text.

08. Readability: Write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested.

Now, let’s discuss one of the most crucial aspects of summary writing: its length . As a general guideline, a summary should typically be about one-fourth the length of the original work, which may range from 1 to 3 pages. Suppose the original text is a 20-line lesson about the history of Bangladesh. In that case, the summary should condense these 20 lines into about 5 lines, highlighting critical historical events, significant leaders, and their contributions to the struggle for independence. This concise version aids students in understanding the essential information from the text.

Things you should include in a Summary Writing

In a summary writing, you should include the following key elements:

Main Idea: Clearly convey the main idea or thesis of the original text. This is the central point that the author is trying to make.

Key Points: Summarize the most important points, arguments, or findings from the original text. These are the supporting details that help to explain and support the main idea.

Key Examples: If the original text includes illustrative examples, statistics, or anecdotes, include a few of the most relevant ones to support the key points.

Key Terms: Use terms or phrases from the original text if they are essential to understanding the topic. This ensures accuracy and clarity.

Context: Provide a brief context or background information if it’s necessary to understand the main idea and key points.

Tone: Consider the author’s tone (e.g., formal, informal, neutral) and try to reflect it appropriately in your summary.

Conciseness: Keep the summary concise, avoiding unnecessary details, examples, or repetition. The goal is to capture the essence of the text in a compact form.

Avoid Personal Opinions: A summary should be objective and not include your personal opinions or analysis of the text.

Citations: If required, include proper citations to credit the source, especially in academic or research summaries.

Structure: Organize the summary logically, typically in the same order as the original text, to make it clear and easy to follow.

Difference between a Summary and an Analysis  

Difference between summarising and paraphrasing.

Summary Writing Format

Here’s a clear and structured step-by-step format to help you master the art of writing a summary:

Step 1: Read the text carefully

While writing a summary in English , you should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. First, scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape. Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read. Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passage. For example, if you are reading a summary on Cox’s Bazar, first skim through the whole thing.

Step 2: Break the text down into sections

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections. For instance, you might explore topics like the location of Cox’s Bazar, its attractions, and the reasons for its fame.

Step 3: Identify the key points in each section and mark important lines

Now it’s time to go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article? Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

Step 4: Write the summary

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words. It’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two. The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points. A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author, and the main point of the text as you see it. A summary is written in your own words. 

Here are some key points to keep in mind for summary writing

• Introduction: Start with a brief introduction that includes the title of the original text, the author (if known), and a sentence summarizing the general topic or purpose of the text.
• Main Points: In the body of your summary, cover the main points or key ideas presented in the original text. Each main point should be presented in a separate paragraph. 
• Conciseness: Be concise and avoid including unnecessary details or examples. Focus on the most critical information.
• Use of your own words: Paraphrase the information from the original text using your own words. Avoid direct quotations.
• Order: Maintain the order of the original text as much as possible to preserve the logical flow of ideas.
• Length: Ensure your summary writing is of an appropriate length, depending on the guidelines provided. For IELTS, aim for around 150 words.
• Cohesion: Use linking words and phrases (e.g., “Firstly,” “In addition,” “Moreover”) to create cohesion between your sentences and paragraphs.
• No Personal Opinions: A summary should be objective and not include your personal opinions or interpretations.
• Conclusion: End your summary with a concluding sentence that reiterates the main theme or message of the original text.
• Proofreading: After writing your summary, proofread it carefully to correct any grammatical or spelling errors.

Step 5: Check the summary against the article

After writing the summary, it’s essential to review it against the original article. Make sure your summary accurately reflects the main points and doesn’t misrepresent the information. This step helps ensure the integrity of your summary.

Examples of  Summary Writing

To better grasp the art of writing summaries, here’s an example :

“In the article “Why Promoting a Reading Culture Could Promote Wellbeing,” Natalie Clarkson discusses how a workplace that encourages reading leads to greater satisfaction and higher productivity. Reading a book helps employees lower stress levels by allowing the reader to escape into imagination. The satisfaction that a reading culture offers also translates to less stress in the workplace, which maintains high levels of productivity. When employees are happier, they are more likely to stay with an organization and work more effectively as part of a team. All of these benefits make a workplace reading culture a positive influence on employee well-being 

(Clarkson, Natalie. (2015) Why promoting a reading culture could promote well-being.)

• The opening line introduces the genre, title, author, and an overview of the article.
• The summary uses an objective tone without opinion.
• The author ends the summary with a closing line.
• The closing line restates the main points of the article, avoiding smaller details.

To understand the difference between a poorly written and a well-written summary, here’s a summary writing example to illustrate the distinction.

The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the way we access and share information. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and computers, people have unprecedented access to vast amounts of data at their fingertips. The internet serves as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and entertainment. Social media platforms have created new avenues for connecting people across the globe. However, this digital age also brings concerns about data privacy and security, as personal information is increasingly stored and shared online. Striking a balance between the convenience and risks of the digital world remains a critical challenge in the 21st century.

Poorly Written Summary

Digital technology has changed how we get and share information, and it’s easy with smartphones and computers. The internet has a lot of knowledge and fun. Social media lets us connect globally, but it’s not always safe.

Well Written Summary

The digital age, characterized by the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and computers, has transformed information access and sharing. The internet provides an immense resource for knowledge and entertainment, while social media platforms facilitate global connections. However, the convenience of this digital world must be balanced with concerns about data privacy and security. Achieving this equilibrium stands as a significant challenge in the 21st century.

DOs & DON’Ts of Summary Writing 

Here are some DOs & DON’Ts of summary writing:

• Take note of the main theme.
• Pick out important supporting details .
• Write a chapter outline. 
• Be objective. 
• Brevity and clarity 
• Avoid details not included in the main text.
• Avoid first and second person point of view.
• Do not interject.
• Make it elaborate enough for a Summary Writing

These guidelines will help you create effective and well-crafted summaries.

Reporting Verbs in Summary Writing 

Reporting verbs convey your stance toward the information source. Your stance can be ‘positive,’ ‘negative,’ or ‘neutral.’ If you disagree with the author, you’d use a negative reporting verb to express your disagreement. However, in Summary Writing, you do not provide your point of view.

Tools for Summary Writing 

• Text Summarizer | Quillbot AI
• AI Summarizing Tool  
• Free Text Summarizer 
• Summary Writing App for Academic Writing 
• AI Summarizing Tool | Grammarly

English Grammar Fundamentals

• ইংরেজি গ্রামারের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বেসিক রুলস
• প্রয়োজন অনুযায়ী গ্রামারের ব্যবহার
• উদাহরণের মাধ্যমে প্রতিটি রুলস এর সহজ ব্যাখ্যা
• ১৭টি ভিডিও লেসন ও সার্টিফিকেট

Summary Writing Checklist

Practice makes everything perfect, right? So, here are some ideas for practicing summary writing.

Firstly, Find an article in the newspaper, on the Internet, or in your book that is interesting to you and write a summary using the guidelines. Then, u se the checklist below to edit your summary.  If you marked no , then go back to your summary and fix it.  Put a check in the Fixed box.

Frequently Asked Questions on Summary Writing

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on summary writing:

How can I make my summary more engaging?

Ans: To make your summary more engaging, consider incorporating compelling anecdotes or real-world examples, using descriptive language to vividly convey key points, and concluding with a thought-provoking statement or question that encourages further reflection.

What point of view should you use in summary W riting ? 

In summary writing, you should use the third-person point of view. Using the third person maintains an objective and formal tone and keeps the focus on the content being summarized rather than the summarizer’s perspective.

How do I avoid plagiarism in a summary?

To avoid plagiarism, rephrase the content in your own words rather than copying verbatim. Properly cite the source when necessary.

Can I include direct quotations in a summary?

It’s best to avoid direct quotations in a summary. Summarizing involves expressing ideas in your own words. However, if a direct quote is essential, use it sparingly and provide proper citation.

What tense should I use in summary writing?

Summaries are often written in the present tense to make them more immediate and engaging. However, consistency with the original text’s tense is also important.

How can I make my summary more concise?

To make a summary more concise, focus on the most important information, remove unnecessary details, and use clear and concise language.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid in summary writing?

Common mistakes include adding new information not present in the original text, expressing personal opinions, and failing to accurately represent the source’s main ideas.

At first, summary writing might seem challenging. However, the more you practice following our provided guidelines, the better you will become at mastering summary writing!

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আপনার কমেন্ট লিখুন

কন্টেন্ট সমূহ, 📖 related blog, 5 reasons why you keep failing that test.

Okay, maybe not failing, but we all know the ever familiar ‘you-studied-for-months-and-still-did-worse-than-the-friend-who-never-saw-the-syllabus’ situation. We’ve all been through it time and again, so really, what are we doing wrong? And how do we get out of this? It’s possible. And it’s possible to get out of this in 10 minutes. (Because we’re all goldfishes and anything more than 10 minutes is like the script of The Lord of the Rings).

Subject-Verb Agreement With The Batman

See what the Batman has to say on subject – verb agreement

এসএসসি পরীক্ষা: ব্যবসায় শিক্ষা শাখা- শেষ সময়ে প্রস্তুত তো?

পুরোটা পড়ার সময় নেই ? ব্লগটি একবার শুনে নাও ! তুমি যেহেতু এখন এই লেখাটি পড়ছ তাহলে ধরে নেয়া যেতে পারে যে তুমি ব্যবসা শিক্ষা শাখার একজন এসএসসি ক্যান্ডিডেট। তাই প্রথমেই তোমার জীবনের একটি অন্যতম পরীক্ষার জন্য অনেক শুভ কামনা। পরীক্ষার শুরু হওয়ার আগের একদম শেষ সময়টায় আমাদের একটা কমন প্রবলেম হয় সেটা হচ্ছে আমরা …

এসএসসি পরীক্ষা: ব্যবসায় শিক্ষা শাখা- শেষ সময়ে প্রস্তুত তো? Read More »

What is an effective summary?

A summary provides the reader with all of the essential information, ideas, or arguments from the original source. A summary is written in   your own words   but it is still exclusively an explanation of another author’s ideas. It is   n ot   an evaluation, commentary, or analysis.   Nothing   should appear in your summary that was not included in the original text. The   tone   of your writing should also be   neutral , never reflecting personal opinion or biases. 

A summary should be   accurate, clear,  and  concise.  

• Accurate –   A summary must always   accurately represent   the original text.
• Clear –   A summary should be easy for readers to understand. This means breaking down long or complex texts into short and (relatively) simple writing. Someone with no knowledge of the original text should be able to read your summary and know what that text is about.
• Concise –   A summary is an overview. It must provide the reader with the key points from the original text in as few words as possible.

To Include or Not to Include…

A summary will   not   include everything from the original text. You need to select   only   the major points or essential information to include in your summary. Details, such as supporting evidence or examples, should not be included.

How long should it be?

There is no standard length for a summary. How long it is will depend on how much material is being summarized and how much space you have for the summary. A book   might   require a multi-paragraph summary or just a single paragraph. An article might need a single paragraph or just a few sentences. A general rule is that shorter is better, so condense the material as much as possible while still getting the main points across.

How to write a summary

• Divide   the text into   distinct sections . This could be by chapter, by subheadings, or even by paragraphs. Doing so will make it easier to make notes and identify key points later.
• Consider   the   objective   of your summary. The original text (especially longer ones) may contain multiple topics/arguments/ideas, not all of which will be relevant for your purposes.
• Decide   what is   important   about the original text that you want to summarize.
• Record   the   source   of the original text, making note of the author, publication information, and anything else you’ll need to cite this source.
• Identify   the overall   thesis   of the text (or section of a larger text) that you are summarizing. Write it in the margins or at the top of a separate sheet.
• Select   the   main points   of each section and write them out (in your own words) in the margins or on a separate sheet.
• Organize   your   selected points   into an   outline   for your summary. Feel free to reorder or arrange them in different ways from how they appear in the original text if that will ensure they make more sense. For example, you might want to group similar ideas together in your summary that didn’t appear together in the original.
• Introduce   the author and/or title of the original work when you begin your summary. You can do this by including the   author’s name   and using appropriate   reporting verbs .
• Compose   your summary by turning the   selected main points  from your outline into sentences   and combining them into paragraphs.
• Review   what you’ve written and compare it to the original text. Is there any essential information missing? Is your summary easily   comprehensible   and above all   useful   to a reader with no knowledge of the source material?

Sample summary

From:   Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

" Other animals, which, on account of their interests having been neglected by the insensibility of the ancient jurists, stand degraded into the class of things . ... The day has been, I grieve it to say in many places it is not yet past, in which the greater part of the species, under the denomination of slaves, have been treated ... upon the same footing as ... animals are still. The day may come, when the rest of the animal creation may acquire those rights which never could have been withholden from them but by the hand of tyranny. The French have already discovered that the blackness of skin is no reason why a human being should be abandoned without redress to the caprice of a tormentor. It may come one day to be recognized, that the number of legs, the villosity of the skin, or the termination of the os sacrum, are reasons equally insufficient for abandoning a sensitive being to the same fate. What else is it that should trace the insuperable line? Is it the faculty of reason, or perhaps, the faculty for discourse?... the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being?... The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes...” (283).

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

There are just two main points in this passage:

1. Animals   aren’t   protected by the law because they are considered “things” rather than moral subjects.

2. Animals   should   be protected by the law because they have the capacity to suffer.

Everything else is either supporting rhetoric or specific examples of the broader points Bentham is making. Therefore they don’t need to be included.

A summary of this passage might look like this:

In   Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation , Bentham challenges the traditional justifications for why non-human animals are denied moral consideration under the law. Instead, he argues that the law should serve to project   any   individual who has the capacity to suffer (283).