| Summary writing is perhaps the best test of
comprehension. The summaries that we will work with are brief -- one paragraph maximum for
our purposes -- complete, objective restatements of the contents of a piece of writing.
This type of summary focuses on an article's (essay, report, etc.) central theme, the main
points that support the central idea and the relationships between them. Also the slant, tone or bias of the piece under consideration
should be indicated; however, the summary does not contain any of your own ideas, opinions
or conclusions. There is no "you" in summary writing. This may seem simple; it
isn't. Most of us are not trained to read carefully; we skim and scan our way
through articles, reports, even letters. The steps listed below can you become an
effective summary writer.
- Read the article carefully.
- Reread. Divide the article into sections or stages of
thought. Label, on the article itself, each section or stage of thought. Underline key
ideas and terms.
- Write one-sentence summaries, on a separate sheet of paper,
of each stage of thought or, if appropriate, of each paragraph.
- Write a topic sentence--a one sentence summary of the
entire article. This sentence should express the central idea and contain the author,
title and source of the piece. For example,
H.G. Wells, in the novel The Time Machine, depicts a gloomy veiw of utopia.
Write the first draft by combining 3 & 4. Eliminate
repetition, combine sentences, and use transitional words and phrases for a smooth and
logical flow of ideas. Make sure title, author and source are indicated in the first
couple of sentences.
- Rewrite, making sure that you have answered who, what,
when, why and how. Check for grammatical and mechanical correctness. Avoid short, choppy
sentences. Make sure "you" are not apparent.
- Write a concluding sentence that "sums up" what
an audience will gain from reading the article.
- Title your summary with a title that is your own.
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