Guidelines for writing a SUMMARY
 Christine Bauer-Ramazani 

The purpose of a summary is to give the reader, in a about 1/3 of the original length of an article/lecture, a clear, objective picture of the original lecture or text.  Most importantly, the summary restates only the main points of a text or a lecture without giving examples or details, such as dates, numbers or statistics. 

Skills practiced: note-taking, paraphrasing (using your own words and sentence structure), condensing
Examples of acceptable paraphrases and unacceptable paraphrases (= plagiarism): Plagiarism: What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It

Before writing the summary:

  1. For a text, read, mark, and annotate the original.  (For a lecture, work with the notes you took.)

    • highlight the topic sentence

    • highlight key points/key words/phrases

    • highlight the concluding sentence

    • outline each paragraph in the margin
       

  2. Take notes on the following:

    • the source (author--first/last name, title, date of publication, volume number, place of publication, publisher, URL, etc.)

    • the main idea of the original (paraphrased)

    • the major supporting points (in outline form)

    • major supporting explanations (e.g. reasons/causes or effects)

Writing your summary--Steps:

  1. Organize your notes into an outline which includes main ideas and supporting points but no examples or details (dates, numbers, statistics).
     

  2. Write an introductory paragraph that begins with a frame, including an in-text citation of the source and the author as well as a reporting verb to introduce the main idea.
     

    • ARTICLE:

         In his/her article (or lecture) "________________________,”  _____________________  (year)
                                                  (title, first letter capitalized)      (author/lecturer's last name)

        argues/claims/reports/contends/maintains/states that ____________________________.
                                                                                        (main idea/argument; S + V + C)

         Example:  In his article "Michael Dell turns the PC world inside out," Andrew E. Serwer (1997) describes how Michael Dell founded Dell Computers and claims that Dell’s low-cost, direct-sales strategy and high quality standards account for Dell’s enormous success.

  • BOOK:

In his book The Pearl, John Steinbeck (1945) illustrates the fight between good and evil in humankind.

  • INTERVIEW:

In my interview with him/her (date), __________________(first name, last name) stated that ....

Reporting Verbs:

 STRONG ARGUMENT    NEUTRAL      COUNTERARGUMENT     SUGGESTION      CRITICISM

argue state  refute the claim suggest criticize
claim report argue against recommend  
contend explain      
maintain discuss      
insist illustrate      
         

Other examples of frames:

  • According to ___________________, ________________________________________.
             (author's last name, year)                      (main idea; S + V + C)

  • ___________'s  article on ______________ (year) discusses the ____________________.
    (author's last name)                    (topic)                                         (main idea; Noun Phrase)

  • __________________, in his/her article, "________________" argues that ____________.
    (author's last name, year)                                      (title of article)                  (main idea; S + V + C)

  1. The main idea or argument needs to be included in this first sentence.  Then mention the major aspects/factors/reasons that are discussed in the article/lecture.  Give a full reference for this citation at the end of the summary (see #6. below).

    1.  For a one-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a separate sentence.  Give 1-2 explanations for each supporting point, summarizing the information from the original. 

    2. For a multi-paragraph summary, discuss each supporting point in a separate paragraph.  Introduce it in the first sentence (topic sentence).

         Example:   The first major area in which women have become a powerful force is politics.

  1.  Support your topic sentence with the necessary reasons or arguments raised by the author/lecturer but omit all references to details, such as dates or statistics.

  2. Use discourse markers that reflect the organization and controlling idea of the original, for example cause-effect, comparison-contrast, classification, process, chronological order, persuasive argument, etc.

  3. In a longer summary, remind your reader that you are summarizing by using "summary reminder phrases," such as

    • The author goes on to say that ...

    • The article (author) further states that ...

    • (Author's last name) also states/maintains/argues that ...

    • (Author's last name) also believes that ...

    • (Author's last name) concludes that
       

  4. Restate the article’s/lecturer’s conclusion in one sentence.
     

  5. Give a full reference for the citation (see the example below for the in-text citations in #2).  For citing electronic sources, please see Citation of Electronic Resources.

References

Serwer, A. (1997, Sept. 8).  Michael Dell turns the PC world inside out. Fortune, 76-86.

Steinbeck, J. (1945).  The Pearl.  New York: Penguin Books.

© 2006  Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: November 19, 2008