Writing a Summary

 

- Identify the title, author, and topic in the first sentence.

- State the main idea in the second sentence.

- Be shorter than the original article.

- Begin with a sentence that states the topic.

- Include a second sentence that states the author's main idea.

- Include 3-5 sentences in which you explain - in your words-  what the 

  author is saying about the subject.

- Include one or two interesting quotations, examples, or details.

- Retain the author's original meaning.

- Arrange the ideas in the order in which they appear in the article.

- Include transitions such as "according to" and the author's name

  to show that your are summarizing someone else's ideas.

- Use enough information from the article that someone who has not

  read the article will understand the ideas.

 

Word Bank

 

news/magazine

journal/article

book review, editorial

first-hand report

personal or biographical essay

research report

 

analyzes/analysis

argues/argument

asserts/assertion

discusses/discussion

focuses on/focus

explains/explanation

 

comparing/contrasting

retelling/explaining

illustrating/defending, demonstrating

defining, describing

listing, arguing, showing, justifying

relating, reporting, noting

emphasizing, pointing out

highlighting the fact

 

argue, call attention to,

deny, show, prove,

suggest, inform, persuade,

disclose, report, convince