WRITING A SUCCESSFUL SUMMARY

To write a successful summary, you must focus on the most important points of the original passage. These are strategies for writing a good summary.
 Use your own words and your own sentence structure.
 Remember that a summary is much shorter than a paraphrase. Include only the main points and main supporting points, leaving out most details.
 Do not change the meaning of the original.

The method for writing a summary is similar to the one for writing a paraphrase.
 Read the original passage several times until you understand it fully. Look up any words that you don’t understand.
 Decide what the most important points are. It helps to underline them. It also helps to take notes on the passage. Write down only a few words for each idea- not complete sentences.
 Write your summary from your notes. Don’t look at the original while you are writing.
 Include a sentence that sums up the main idea of the article.
 Use transition signals between sentences as needed.
 Check your summary against the original to make sure you have used different words but have not changed the meaning.
 Add an in-text citation at the end of the summary.