Download How to Write a Summary A summary is a shorter way to tell about

How to Write a Summary
A summary is a shorter way to tell about the events or details of a passage. It includes only the most important
details or events. A summary conveys what a passage is about to a reader. The length of a summary depends on
the length of the original text. Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing one:
1. Omit details. Find the main ideas or premise and exclude details and specifics that support the main
ideas.
2. Be objective: do not include personal judgments or comments about the original text and its content.
Here’s What You Need to Do:
Before reading . . .
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Preview the document
Prepare to take notes
During reading . . .
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Take notes to help you answer these questions:
Who is involved?
What events, ideas, or people are emphasized?
What are the causes?
What are the consequences or implications? What can you conclude from it?
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Evaluate and decide what information is important enough to include in your summary.
After reading . . . Writing your summary
Write your summary which should:
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Include the title, author, and topic in the first sentence which is your thesis statement
State the main idea in the second sentence
Be shorter than the original
Include three to five sentences in which you explain—in your own words—what it is about.
Not alter the original meaning
Organize ideas in the order in which they appear
Use transitions such as “according to”
Include enough information so that someone who has not read the article or story will understand it.
Include a quote or two to support a statement
Strong verbs to use . . .
Use good, strong action verbs as opposed to verbs such as is, am, are, was, were, seems, appears, etc.:
argues
asserts
concludes
considers
discusses
emphasizes
examines
explores
focuses on
implies
mentions
notes
points out
says
states
suggests
Here is a sample summary of a short story:
In the short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," author James Thurber humorously presents a
character who fantasizes about himself as a hero enduring incredibly challenging circumstances. In his real life,
Walter Mitty lives an ordinary, plain life; he is a husband under the control of an overbearing, critical
wife. Thurber uses lively dialogue to give readers an understanding of Mitty's character. The story takes place
over a period of about twenty minutes; during this brief time, Mitty drives his wife to the hairdresser and runs
errands that his wife has given him while he waits for her. In between his worrying that he is not doing what she
wants him to do, he daydreams about himself as a great surgeon, brilliant repair technician, expert marksman,
and brave military captain. This story shows that fantasy is often a good alternative to reality.