WHAT İS A SUMMARY?

What is a Summary?

• Much shorter than the original (1/3 of the

original text).

• Contains only the most important information

from the original.

• Begins with the original text’s main idea (this is

the first sentence of the summary).
What is a Summary?

• Don’t change any of the information that is in

the original. Don’t include your own ideas!

• Write in your own words (none of the phrases

or sentences used by the original author are
allowed).

• Written for people who did not read the original

article.
Summarising Sentences

• Example: The tall cowboy put the saddle on his

horse, untied him from the fence, waved
goodbye and rode off into the sunset.
• Summary: The cowboy left.
 Summarise the sentences below
1. As the bus rolled into her hometown, Liz looked around at
the familiar streets and shops which she had not seen for two
years.
………………………………………………………………………………

2. With her new credit card, Yoko bought groceries at the

supermarket, shoes at the department store, and a new set
of tires for her sports car at the auto supply store.
………………………………………………………………………………

3. In Lara’s library you can find mysteries, novels, biographies,

travel books, how-to manuals, science fiction thrillers and
reference books.
………………………………………………………………………………
 Summarising a paragraph
Example: Shopping malls have produced a revolution in the
United States shopping and living habits in just 45 years.
Before 1950, there were no malls, but now almost every city or
region has at least one. In fact, shopping malls have become a
part of daily life. Many people even think of them as social
centers. In a way, malls have taken the place of Main Street.
Shops and services which were once spread over several city
blocks are now in one place at the mall. Busy housholders can
save time by doing their shopping at the mall. And people
young and old, with time on their hands, often say, “Let’s go to
the mall!”

Summary: Shopping malls have changed the culture in the

United States throughout the time.
Summary:
Write:
• the main idea
• the author’s full name
• the title of the article in one sentence.
In the article, “Article Title” by Author’s Full Name, the
author writes that (main idea).

In the article, “What is Politics?” by Tarık Oğuzlu, the

author writes that … (main idea).
• A reader must be able to understand the original
article by reading only your summary.

• Punctuation:

In the article, “What is Politics?” by Tarık Oğuzlu, the

author writes that …