Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How To Summary
How To Summary
In a summary, you want to identify the main idea of the article and put this information into
your own words. To do this, you must be willing to read the article several times. On the first
reading, try to gain a general notion of what the article is trying to say. Once you've done this
write down your initial impression. This is most likely the thesis, or main idea, of the article.
Also, be sure to include the author's first and last name and the title of the article in your
notation for later reference.
Example: In the article "Why Two Best Friends Doesn't Work," author Cassandra Grimes
argues that most teenage girls can't get along in groups of more than two.
When trying to identify the central idea, you should ask yourself, "Why was this essay
written and published?" Clues to help determine this include the following.
Example: "Bypass Cure" by James Johnson records a recent discovery by researchers that
people who have bypass surgery for weight control are also instantly cured of diabetes. Since
rising diabetic rates and obesity has become a worldwide concern, the article provides a
startling but controversial potential solution.
Now that we have identified the main idea of the article, we can move onto the next step.
As John Wood vividly elucidates in his ironic story "Cats Don't Dance" ...
John Wood claims in his ironic story "Cats Don't Dance" that ...
Combine the thesis of the article with the title and author into your first sentence of the
summary. Reference the following sentence as an example.
In "Cats Don't Dance," John Wood explains that in spite of the fact that cats are popular
pets who seem to like us, felines are not really good at any activities that require
cooperation with someone else, whether that is dancing or sharing.
If possible, your first sentence should summarize the article. The rest of your summary
should cover some of the central concepts used to support the thesis. Be sure to restate these
ideas in your own words, and to make your summary as short and concise as possible.
Condense sentences and leave out unimportant details and examples. Stick to the important
points.
Toller criticizes...
In "Global Warming isn't Real," Steven Collins, a professor at the University of Michigan,
claims that ...
New York Times critic Johann Bachman argues in "Global Warming is the Next Best
Thing for the Earth" that ...
If you are discussing the ideas of the author, you always need to make it clear that you are
reciting their ideas, not your own.
According to Mary Johnson in her essay, "Cats Make Good Pets," the feline domestic
companion is far superior to the canine one.
You also need to continue to make it clear to the reader when you are talking about the
author's ideas. To do this, use "author tags," which are either the last name of the author or a
pronoun (he or she) to show you are still discussing that person's ideas.
Also, try to make use of different verbs and adverbs. Your choice of author tag verbs and
adverbs can contribute to the way you analyze the article. Certain words will create a specific
tone. See the tables for a selection of different word choices.
If the article is long (say, 10-12 pages) then your summary should be about four pages. If the
article is shorter, your summary should be about one to two pages. Sometimes, an article
summary can be less than one page.
The length of a summary will also depend on the instructions you have been given. If you are
writing a summary for yourself, it's up to you how long or short it will be (but remember, a
summary is supposed to be a short regurgitation of the information outline in an article). If
you are writing a summary for a class assignment, the length should be specified.
In "My Favorite Shoe," Treyvon Jones explains that Nike shoes are the best brand of
running shoe for serious track athletes. Jones supports this view by pointing out that Nike
shoes are more comfortable, last longer, and provide more cushioning for the feet. He
notes that the statistics from sales and scientific evidence of how Nike shoes are better for
the feet support his claim. In addition, Jones points out that most professional runners use
Nike and he tells his own story of how he won the 100-meter men's competition after
switching to Nike shoes.
How to Edit and Revise Your Summary
Before you are officially done, it is important to edit your work. The steps below explain the
process of editing and revision.