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• How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

Published on November 23, 2020 by Shona McCombes . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Summarizing , or writing a summary, means giving a concise overview of a text’s main points in your own words. A summary is always much shorter than the original text.

There are five key steps that can help you to write a summary:

• Read the text
• Break it down into sections
• Identify the key points in each section
• Write the summary
• Check the summary against the article

Writing a summary does not involve critiquing or evaluating the source . You should simply provide an accurate account of the most important information and ideas (without copying any text from the original).

Table of contents

When to write a summary, step 1: read the text, step 2: break the text down into sections, step 3: identify the key points in each section, step 4: write the summary, step 5: check the summary against the article, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about summarizing.

There are many situations in which you might have to summarize an article or other source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to show you’ve understood the material
• To keep notes that will help you remember what you’ve read
• To give an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review

When you’re writing an academic text like an essay , research paper , or dissertation , you’ll integrate sources in a variety of ways. You might use a brief quote to support your point, or paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs.

But it’s often appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is especially relevant to your own research, or to provide an overview of a source before you analyze or critique it.

In any case, the goal of summarizing is to give your reader a clear understanding of the original source. Follow the five steps outlined below to write a good summary.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages:

• Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape.
• Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read.
• Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passages.

There are some tricks you can use to identify the key points as you read:

• Start by reading the abstract . This already contains the author’s own summary of their work, and it tells you what to expect from the article.
• Pay attention to headings and subheadings . These should give you a good sense of what each part is about.
• Read the introduction and the conclusion together and compare them: What did the author set out to do, and what was the outcome?

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections.

If the text is a scientific paper that follows a standard empirical structure, it is probably already organized into clearly marked sections, usually including an introduction , methods , results , and discussion .

Other types of articles may not be explicitly divided into sections. But most articles and essays will be structured around a series of sub-points or themes.

Now it’s time go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article?

Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

In a scientific article, there are some easy questions you can ask to identify the key points in each part.

If the article takes a different form, you might have to think more carefully about what points are most important for the reader to understand its argument.

In that case, pay particular attention to the thesis statement —the central claim that the author wants us to accept, which usually appears in the introduction—and the topic sentences that signal the main idea of each paragraph.

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words.

To avoid plagiarism and show you’ve understood the article, it’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two.

The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points.

Examples of article summaries

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, we summarize this article , which scientifically investigates the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Davis et al. (2015) set out to empirically test the popular saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are often used to represent a healthy lifestyle, and research has shown their nutritional properties could be beneficial for various aspects of health. The authors’ unique approach is to take the saying literally and ask: do people who eat apples use healthcare services less frequently? If there is indeed such a relationship, they suggest, promoting apple consumption could help reduce healthcare costs.

The study used publicly available cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were categorized as either apple eaters or non-apple eaters based on their self-reported apple consumption in an average 24-hour period. They were also categorized as either avoiding or not avoiding the use of healthcare services in the past year. The data was statistically analyzed to test whether there was an association between apple consumption and several dependent variables: physician visits, hospital stays, use of mental health services, and use of prescription medication.

Although apple eaters were slightly more likely to have avoided physician visits, this relationship was not statistically significant after adjusting for various relevant factors. No association was found between apple consumption and hospital stays or mental health service use. However, apple eaters were found to be slightly more likely to have avoided using prescription medication. Based on these results, the authors conclude that an apple a day does not keep the doctor away, but it may keep the pharmacist away. They suggest that this finding could have implications for reducing healthcare costs, considering the high annual costs of prescription medication and the inexpensiveness of apples.

However, the authors also note several limitations of the study: most importantly, that apple eaters are likely to differ from non-apple eaters in ways that may have confounded the results (for example, apple eaters may be more likely to be health-conscious). To establish any causal relationship between apple consumption and avoidance of medication, they recommend experimental research.

An article summary like the above would be appropriate for a stand-alone summary assignment. However, you’ll often want to give an even more concise summary of an article.

For example, in a literature review or meta analysis you may want to briefly summarize this study as part of a wider discussion of various sources. In this case, we can boil our summary down even further to include only the most relevant information.

Using national survey data, Davis et al. (2015) tested the assertion that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and did not find statistically significant evidence to support this hypothesis. While people who consumed apples were slightly less likely to use prescription medications, the study was unable to demonstrate a causal relationship between these variables.

Citing the source you’re summarizing

When including a summary as part of a larger text, it’s essential to properly cite the source you’re summarizing. The exact format depends on your citation style , but it usually includes an in-text citation and a full reference at the end of your paper.

You can easily create your citations and references in APA or MLA using our free citation generators.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

Finally, read through the article once more to ensure that:

• You’ve accurately represented the author’s work
• You haven’t missed any essential information
• The phrasing is not too similar to any sentences in the original.

If you’re summarizing many articles as part of your own work, it may be a good idea to use a plagiarism checker to double-check that your text is completely original and properly cited. Just be sure to use one that’s safe and reliable.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Paraphrasing

 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words. Want to make your life super easy? Try our free text summarizer today!

A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depends on the length of the article you’re summarizing, and on the purpose of the summary.

You might have to write a summary of a source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material
• For your own use, to keep notes on your reading
• To provide an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review
• In a paper , to summarize or introduce a relevant study

To avoid plagiarism when summarizing an article or other source, follow these two rules:

• Write the summary entirely in your own words by paraphrasing the author’s ideas.
• Cite the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarize the whole text, not just introduce it.

An abstract is a type of summary , but summaries are also written elsewhere in academic writing . For example, you might summarize a source in a paper , in a literature review , or as a standalone assignment.

All can be done within seconds with our free text summarizer .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, May 31). How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-summarize/

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Summary schreiben

Du willst wissen, was du bei einer Zusammenfassung in Englisch beachten musst? Wir zeigen dir, wie du eine erstklassige Summary schreibst. Im Video lernst du noch schneller, worauf es beim Summary schreiben ankommt.

Summary schreiben — Was ist eine Summary? 

Eine summary schreiben — so gehst du vor, wie schreibt man eine summary — aufbau , wichtige tipps und tricks, summary schreiben — häufigste fragen, linking words.

Eine Summary ist nichts weiter als eine Inhaltsangabe auf Englisch. Genau wie bei einer Zusammenfassung in Deutsch fasst du in einer Summary in Englisch einen Text kurz und sachlich zusammen.

Das Ziel einer Summary ist es, dem Leser nur die wichtigsten Informationen eines Textes in gekürzter Form vorzustellen.

Eine Summary in Englisch ist höchstens so lang wie ein Drittel des Originaltextes. Ist der Originaltext fünf Seiten lang, sollte deine Summary also nicht länger als 1,5 Seiten sein. 

Als Erstes beschäftigst du dich gründlich mit dem Originaltext. Lies dir den Text dafür am besten dreimal aufmerksam durch. 

• Beim ersten Lesen geht es nur darum, einen ersten Eindruck vom Text zu bekommen. Gehe sicher, dass du den Text und seine Hauptaussage – seine These – verstehst. 
• Beim zweiten Lesen markierst du  Schlüsselwörter und -phrasen , die besonders wichtig für den Text sind. Du versuchst dann, Antworten auf die sieben W-Fragen (wer/ who , was/ what , wann/ when , wo/ where , warum/ why , wie/ how und wozu/ what for ) zu finden.
• Beim dritten Lesen gliederst du den Text in Sinnabschnitte . Du überlegst dir also, mit welchen Themen oder Argumenten sich der Autor hauptsächlich beschäftigt und wie sich diese kurz und verständlich zusammenfassen lassen.

Am besten markierst du die Punkte in verschiedenen Farben . So erkennst du auf einen Blick, wo sich eine W-Frage oder ein Schlüsselwort im Text verstecken. Wenn du damit fertig bist, sollte dein Text schön bunt sein.

Nachdem du dich ausführlich mit dem Text beschäftigt hast, beginnst du mit der eigentlichen Zusammenfassung . Du hältst dich dabei an die bekannte Struktur aus Einleitung (introduction) , Hauptteil (body) und Schluss (conclusion) .

Summary schreiben — Einleitung 

Du beginnst deine Summary mit einem Einleitungssatz , der folgende Fragen beantwortet:

• text type – Um welche Textsorte handelt es sich? Ist es ein poem (Gedicht), eine novel (Roman), eine short story (Kurzgeschichte) oder ein newspaper article (Zeitungsartikel)?
• title  – Wie lautet der Titel?
• author   – Wer hat den Text geschrieben?
• date (and place ) of publishing  – Wann wurde er veröffentlicht? (Und wo ist er erschienen?)
• main t opic  – Was ist das Hauptthema?

Daraus ergibt sich folgendes Muster:  The [ text type ] [ title ] was written by [ author ] in [ date of publishing ] and deals with [ main topic ].

Summary schreiben – Beispiel : The novel  “ Harry Potter and the Philosopher′s Stone ” was written by Joanne K. Rowling in 1997 and is about a young wizard called Harry .  

Wenn es sich um einen Zeitungsartikel handelt, gibst du neben dem Datum auch noch die Zeitung an, in der der Text veröffentlicht wurde. Das sieht dann so aus:

Summary schreiben – Beispiel : The article “Why Children Become Bullies at School” by Kelly Oakes was published in BBC Future on 16 September 2019 and deals with the reasons for children to bully others.

Summary schreiben — Hauptteil 

Im Hauptteil deiner Summary beginnst du dann mit der Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Aussagen des englischen Textes. 

Dabei orientierst du dich an den Sinnabschnitten aus deiner Vorarbeit. Sie helfen dir dabei, wichtige von unwichtigen Informationen zu unterscheiden.  

Tipp: Bei den Antworten auf die W-Fragen (wer/ who , was/ what , wann/ when , wo/ where , warum/ why , wie/ how und wozu/ what for ) handelt es sich in der Regel um wichtige Informationen, die unbedingt in deiner Summary auftauchen sollten.

Fiktionale Texte, die von einer erfundenen Wirklichkeit handeln, lassen sich besonders leicht zusammenfassen. In dem Fall beschreibst du einfach in kurzer Form den Ablauf der erzählten Geschehnisse. Das schließt auch das (offene) Ende mit ein! 

Folgende Formulierungen helfen dir dabei, den Inhalt eines englischen Texts zusammenzufassen:

Summary schreiben — Schluss 

Zum Schluss legst du die Hauptaussage(n) des Textes noch einmal dar. In der Regel reichen dafür 1-2 Sätze. 

Um den Schluss deiner Summary in Englisch einzuleiten, helfen dir diese Formulierungen: 

Summary schreiben – Beispiel : The article presents several factors that can motivate some children to bully others. Considering those, the author concludes that […].

• Du schreibst deine Inhaltsangabe in Englisch im Simple Present . Also: The author says  und nicht   The author is saying !
• Gib nicht deine eigene Meinung oder Wertung wieder. Es geht nicht um deine Gedanken ( I think …) , sondern darum was der Autor denkt oder sagt ( The author thinks …).
• Verwende deine eigenen Worte. Zitate und direkte Rede haben in deiner Summary nichts zu suchen!
• Bleibe sachlich. Vermeide Veranschaulichungen oder erzählerische Wörter wie suddenly ,  naturally  oder sadly .
• Benutze  Synonyme , um deine Wortwahl abwechslungsreicher zu gestalten. 
• Es gilt das Motto: Je kürzer, desto besser . Verzichte auf unwichtige Wiederholungen oder Ausschweifungen. 

Und wie immer: Das Korrekturlesen nicht vergessen!

• Was ist eine Summary? Eine Summary ist eine Zusammenfassung oder eine Inhaltsangabe auf Englisch. Darin gibst du dem Leser eine Übersicht über den Inhalt eines Textes oder eines Films.   
• In welcher Zeitform schreibst du eine Summary? Eine Summary schreibst du im Präsens, also im Simple Present. Manchmal gibt es aber Ausnahmen, bei denen du bestimmte Stellen im Present Perfect Simple oder im Present Perfect Progressive schreibst.

Du hast noch Probleme damit, deine Sätze sinnvoll miteinander zu verknüpfen? Dann schau dir jetzt unseren Beitrag zu den linking words an!

Beliebte Inhalte aus dem Bereich Textarten Englisch

• Biografie schreiben Dauer: 03:57
• Bildbeschreibung Englisch Dauer: 03:50
• Wegbeschreibung Englisch Dauer: 03:47

Weitere Inhalte: Textarten Englisch

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Everything You Need To Know About Writing a Summary

Wondering why summary writing is important? Knowing how to compose one is an essential skill not just for students but for anyone who wants to understand and communicate complex ideas clearly. In this post, we’ll provide five easy steps and more to teach you how to write a summary.

Table of Contents

What is a summary, how to write a summary in five easy steps, example of a summary, tips on writing a good summary.

Mastering the art of summary writing is crucial, but do you know why? Well, you might be surprised to learn that knowing how to craft one can help you become a better learner and communicator. If you have yet to sharpen this skill set, don’t worry. Below, we’ll go through five easy steps to write a good summary , complete with examples and tips.

Let’s begin!

A summary is a concise distillation of a larger body of work that briefly but thoroughly encapsulates its main ideas and essential points. It is designed to give the reader a clear understanding of the original project without needing to read it in full.  

Being able to restate in your own words what you’ve just read is a sign that you’ve truly absorbed and understood the information. In contrast, merely memorizing facts is not a good indication of comprehension. In other words, if you can’t concisely summarize something, you haven’t fully grasped the concept.

The word summary is a noun that refers to the “concise but comprehensive rewriting of an original body of work.”

• I had to write a summary of one of Mark Twain’s stories.

The verb form of this word is to summarize , which means “to provide a summary of something.”

• She missed the presentation, so I summarized it for her.

Now that we’ve reviewed what a summary entails, let’s get to the fun part: writing one!

Keep in mind that summaries can encompass a wide range of subjects, including books, articles, movies, meetings, and more. Also, a summarization isn’t necessarily always confined to writing; you can verbally summarize something, too. However, the steps below are designed to help you compose a written summary.

1. Read and take notes. 

First things first: Read or watch the original work you’ll be summarizing. While you do, take brief pauses and explain to yourself what you just read or watched. As the main ideas start becoming clear to you, take notes. This will make the writing process easier.

2. Start with an introductory sentence.

In academic and formal contexts, summaries typically begin with an introductory sentence that states the work’s title and author. This sets the stage for the reader by immediately identifying what is being discussed. However, if the work has already been identified, it may not be necessary to start with the title and author. For example, if you’re in a class that is currently discussing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, then you may not need to include that information in the introduction.

3. Explain the main points.

Identify and elaborate on the main arguments or messages, and seek supporting evidence, topic sentences, or thesis statements .

It’s also a good idea to focus on the what, how, and why:

• What are the key ideas or events?
• How do they develop throughout the work?
• Why are they important to the work’s overall message?

Remember, be selective in what you include. Summaries are about the bigger picture, not the small details. 

4. Organize your summary to ensure a smooth flow.

Your summary should be coherent and easy to read. Therefore, you should use transition words to ensure logical progression from one idea to the next. It’s best to structure your summary similarly to the original work. Despite being a condensed version, it should still stand on its own as a cohesive piece of writing. In other words, ensure that there is a clear beginning, middle, and end.

5. Conclude by restating the author’s thesis. 

Finish your summary with a clear statement that effectively captures the author’s main argument or purpose. Keep in mind that the conclusion of a summary should not introduce new information but instead provide a sense of closure. This will leave the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the original text.

Imagine you’re taking a class on Shakespeare, and you’re assigned to write a one-paragraph summary of Romeo and Juliet. It should be similar to the following example:

“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragic play that tells the story of two young, star-crossed lovers. It begins with a street brawl between servants from the wealthy Montague and Capulet families and ends with two shocking deaths that ultimately reconcile a long-time feud. Romeo, a Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet, at a masquerade ball. Despite their families’ conflict, they marry in secret. After Romeo is banished for avenging the death of his friend, Juliet fakes her death to be with him. The plan goes awry, leading to Romeo and Juliet’s actual deaths. When the families learn of the tragic sequence of events, they decide to end their bitter feud once and for all.

It’s important to note that the length of the summary depends on the assignment’s instructions. It is possible to write a longer summary of Romeo and Juliet, if needed, by providing some more details and elaborating on the play’s themes.

How Long Should a Summary Be?

Some guidelines suggest that summaries should be 10%-30% of the original work, so it often depends on the complexity of the text and the intended purpose. If you’re writing a summary for school and are unsure how long it should be, ask your instructor for clarification.

As you work on your summary, keep the following tips in mind:

Take notes as you read.

We already mentioned this, but it’s worth reiterating. Taking notes as you read the original work is an easy way to simplify the summary writing process. The notes don’t have to be extensive; they just have to help you remember the important points.

Use your own words.

Don’t just copy and paste from the original work. Instead, analyze it and restate it. Imagine you and a friend just read an article. You understand it, but your friend doesn’t. You wouldn’t just reread it, hoping that a second reading would miraculously become clearer, right? No, you’d reword it. That’s precisely what you have to do when writing a summary.

Do not include opinions or interpretations.

A summary’s purpose is to restate the original text concisely. Avoid writing about your opinions or judgments about the work, and do not include elaborate interpretations.

Ensure proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

You can follow all the steps above and even ensure you abide by these tips. But if your summary is riddled with errors, it won’t be as effective. A simple way to ensure flawless spelling, grammar, and punctuation is to use LanguageTool as your personal writing assistant. Not only will it correct any mistakes, but it will also enhance your style. Plus, it supports more than thirty languages and dialects, so whether you’re writing in your native tongue or your second language, your instructors will be utterly impressed with your prose.

Go ahead and give it a try today!

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How to Write a Summary (Examples Included)

Ashley Shaw

Have you ever recommended a book to someone and given them a quick overview? Then you’ve created a summary before!

Summarizing is a common part of everyday communication. It feels easy when you’re recounting what happened on your favorite show, but what do you do when the information gets a little more complex?

Written summaries come with their own set of challenges. You might ask yourself:

• What details are unnecessary?
• How do you put this in your own words without changing the meaning?
• How close can you get to the original without plagiarizing it?
• How long should it be?

The answers to these questions depend on the type of summary you are doing and why you are doing it.

A summary in an academic setting is different to a professional summary—and both of those are very different to summarizing a funny story you want to tell your friends.

One thing they all have in common is that you need to relay information in the clearest way possible to help your reader understand. We’ll look at some different forms of summary, and give you some tips on each.

Let’s get started!

What Is a Summary?

How do you write a summary, how do you write an academic summary, what are the four types of academic summaries, how do i write a professional summary, writing or telling a summary in personal situations, summarizing summaries.

A summary is a shorter version of a larger work. Summaries are used at some level in almost every writing task, from formal documents to personal messages.

When you write a summary, you have an audience that doesn’t know every single thing you know.

When you want them to understand your argument, topic, or stance, you may need to explain some things to catch them up.

Instead of having them read the article or hear every single detail of the story or event, you instead give them a brief overview of what they need to know.

Academic, professional, and personal summaries each require you to consider different things, but there are some key rules they all have in common.

Let’s go over a few general guides to writing a summary first.

1. A summary should always be shorter than the original work, usually considerably.

Even if your summary is the length of a full paper, you are likely summarizing a book or other significantly longer work.

2. A summary should tell the reader the highlights of what they need to know without giving them unnecessary details.

3. It should also include enough details to give a clear and honest picture.

For example, if you summarize an article that says “ The Office is the greatest television show of all time,” but don’t mention that they are specifically referring to sitcoms, then you changed the meaning of the article. That’s a problem! Similarly, if you write a summary of your job history and say you volunteered at a hospital for the last three years, but you don’t add that you only went twice in that time, it becomes a little dishonest.

4. Summaries shouldn’t contain personal opinion.

While in the longer work you are creating you might use opinion, within the summary itself, you should avoid all personal opinion. A summary is different than a review. In this moment, you aren’t saying what you think of the work you are summarizing, you are just giving your audience enough information to know what the work says or did.

Now that we have a good idea of what summaries are in general, let’s talk about some specific types of summary you will likely have to do at some point in your writing life.

An academic summary is one you will create for a class or in other academic writing. The exact elements you will need to include depend on the assignment itself.

However, when you’re asked for an academic summary, this usually this means one of five things, all of which are pretty similar:

• You need to do a presentation in which you talk about an article, book, or report.
• You write a summary paper in which the entire paper is a summary of a specific work.
• You summarize a class discussion, lesson, or reading in the form of personal notes or a discussion board post.
• You do something like an annotated bibliography where you write short summaries of multiple works in preparation of a longer assignment.
• You write quick summaries within the body of another assignment . For example, in an argumentative essay, you will likely need to have short summaries of the sources you use to explain their argument before getting into how the source helps you prove your point.

Regardless of what type of summary you are doing, though, there are a few steps you should always follow:

• Skim the work you are summarizing before you read it. Notice what stands out to you.
• Next, read it in depth . Do the same things stand out?
• Put the full text away and write in a few sentences what the main idea or point was.
• Go back and compare to make sure you didn’t forget anything.
• Expand on this to write and then edit your summary.

Each type of academic summary requires slightly different things. Let’s get down to details.

How Do I Write a Summary Paper?

Sometimes teachers assign something called a summary paper . In this, the entire thing is a summary of one article, book, story, or report.

To understand how to write this paper, let’s talk a little bit about the purpose of such an assignment.

A summary paper is usually given to help a teacher see how well a student understands a reading assignment, but also to help the student digest the reading. Sometimes, it can be difficult to understand things we read right away.

However, a good way to process the information is to put it in our own words. That is the point of a summary paper.

A summary paper is:

• A way to explain in our own words what happened in a paper, book, etc.
• A time to think about what was important in the paper, etc.
• A time to think about the meaning and purpose behind the paper, etc.

Here are some things that a summary paper is not:

• A review. Your thoughts and opinions on the thing you are summarizing don’t need to be here unless otherwise specified.
• A comparison. A comparison paper has a lot of summary in it, but it is different than a summary paper. In this, you are just saying what happened, but you aren’t saying places it could have been done differently.
• A paraphrase (though you might have a little paraphrasing in there). In the section on using summary in longer papers, I talk more about the difference between summaries, paraphrases, and quotes.

Because a summary paper is usually longer than other forms of summary, you will be able to chose more detail. However, it still needs to focus on the important events. Summary papers are usually shorter papers.

Let’s say you are writing a 3–4 page summary. You are likely summarizing a full book or an article or short story, which will be much longer than 3–4 pages.

Imagine that you are the author of the work, and your editor comes to you and says they love what you wrote, but they need it to be 3–4 pages instead.

How would you tell that story (argument, idea, etc.) in that length without losing the heart or intent behind it? That is what belongs in a summary paper.

How Do I Write Useful Academic Notes?

Sometimes, you need to write a summary for yourself in the form of notes or for your classmates in the form of a discussion post.

You might not think you need a specific approach for this. After all, only you are going to see it.

However, summarizing for yourself can sometimes be the most difficult type of summary. If you try to write down everything your teacher says, your hand will cramp and you’ll likely miss a lot.

Yet, transcribing doesn’t work because studies show that writing things down (not typing them) actually helps you remember them better.

So how do you find the balance between summarizing the lessons without leaving out important points?

There are some tips for this:

• If your professor writes it on the board, it is probably important.
• What points do your textbooks include when summarizing information? Use these as a guide.
• Write the highlight of every X amount of time, with X being the time you can go without missing anything or getting tired. This could be one point per minute, or three per five minutes, etc.

How Do I Create an Annotated Biography?

An annotated bibliography requires a very specific style of writing. Often, you will write these before a longer research paper . They will ask you to find a certain amount of articles and write a short annotation for each of them.

While an annotation is more than just a summary, it usually starts with a summary of the work. This will be about 2–3 sentences long. Because you don’t have a lot of room, you really have to think about what the most important thing the work says is.

This will basically ask you to explain the point of the article in these couple of sentences, so you should focus on the main point when expressing it.

Here is an example of a summary section within an annotation about this post:

“In this post, the author explains how to write a summary in different types of settings. She walks through academic, professional, and personal summaries. Ultimately, she claims that summaries should be short explanations that get the audience caught up on the topic without leaving out details that would change the meaning.”

Can I Write a Summary Within an Essay?

Perhaps the most common type of summary you will ever do is a short summary within a longer paper.

For example, if you have to write an argumentative essay, you will likely need to use sources to help support your argument.

However, there is a good chance that your readers won’t have read those same sources.

So, you need to give them enough detail to understand your topic without spending too much time explaining and not enough making your argument.

While this depends on exactly how you are using summary in your paper, often, a good amount of summary is the same amount you would put in an annotation.

Just a few sentences will allow the reader to get an idea of the work before moving on to specific parts of it that might help your argument.

What’s the Difference Between Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Using Quotes?

One important thing to recognize when using summaries in academic settings is that summaries are different than paraphrases or quotes.

A summary is broader and more general. A paraphrase, on the other hand, puts specific parts into your own words. A quote uses the exact words of the original. All of them, however, need to be cited.

Let’s look at an example:

Take these words by Thomas J. Watson:

”Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t as all. You can be discouraged by failure—or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember, that’s where you will find success.”

Let’s say I was told to write a summary, a paraphrase, and a quote about this statement. This is what it might look like:

Summary: Thomas J. Watson said that the key to success is actually to fail more often. (This is broad and doesn’t go into details about what he says, but it still gives him credit.)

Paraphrase: Thomas J. Watson, on asking if people would like his formula for success, said that the secret was to fail twice as much. He claimed that when you decide to learn from your mistakes instead of being disappointed by them, and when you start making a lot of them, you will actually find more success. (This includes most of the details, but it is in my own words, while still crediting the source.)

Quote: Thomas J. Watson said, ”Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure—or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember, that’s where you will find success.” (This is the exact words of the original with quotation marks and credit given.)

Avoiding Plagiarism

One of the hardest parts about summarizing someone else’s writing is avoiding plagiarism .

That’s why I have a few rules/tips for you when summarizing anything:

1. Always cite.

If you are talking about someone else’s work in any means, cite your source. If you are summarizing the entire work, all you probably need to do (depending on style guidelines) is say the author’s name. However, if you are summarizing a specific chapter or section, you should state that specifically. Finally, you should make sure to include it in your Work Cited or Reference page.

2. Change the wording.

Sometimes when people are summarizing or paraphrasing a work, they get too close to the original, and actually use the exact words. Unless you use quotation marks, this is plagiarism. However, a good way to avoid this is to hide the article while you are summarizing it. If you don’t have it in front of you, you are less likely to accidentally use the exact words. (However, after you are done, double check that you didn’t miss anything important or give wrong details.)

3. Use a plagiarism checker.

Of course, when you are writing any summary, especially academic summaries, it can be easy to cross the line into plagiarism. If this is a place where you struggle, then ProWritingAid can help.

Just use our Plagiarism Report . It’ll highlight any unoriginal text in your document so you can make sure you are citing everything correctly and summarizing in your own words.

Find out more about ProWritingAid plagiarism bundles.

Along with academic summaries, you might sometimes need to write professional summaries. Often, this means writing a summary about yourself that shows why you are qualified for a position or organization.

In this section, let’s talk about two types of professional summaries: a LinkedIn summary and a summary section within a resume.

How Do I Write My LinkedIn Bio?

LinkedIn is all about professional networking. It offers you a chance to share a brief glimpse of your professional qualifications in a paragraph or two.

This can then be sent to professional connections, or even found by them without you having to reach out. This can help you get a job or build your network.

Your summary is one of the first things a future employer might see about you, and how you write yours can make you stand out from the competition.

Here are some tips on writing a LinkedIn summary :

• Before you write it, think about what you want it to do . If you are looking for a job, what kind of job? What have you done in your past that would stand out to someone hiring for that position? That is what you will want to focus on in your summary.
• Be professional . Unlike many social media platforms, LinkedIn has a reputation for being more formal. Your summary should reflect that to some extent.
• Use keywords . Your summary is searchable, so using keywords that a recruiter might be searching for can help them find you.
• Focus on the start . LinkedIn shows the first 300 characters automatically, and then offers the viewer a chance to read more. Make that start so good that everyone wants to keep reading.
• Focus on accomplishments . Think of your life like a series of albums, and this is your speciality “Greatest Hits” album. What “songs” are you putting on it?

How Do I Summarize My Experience on a Resume?

Writing a professional summary for a resume is different than any other type of summary that you may have to do.

Recruiters go through a lot of resumes every day. They don’t have time to spend ages reading yours, which means you have to wow them quickly.

To do that, you might include a section at the top of your resume that acts almost as an elevator pitch: That one thing you might say to a recruiter to get them to want to talk to you if you only had a 30-second elevator ride.

If you don’t have a lot of experience, though, you might want to skip this section entirely and focus on playing up the experience you do have.

Outside of academic and personal summaries, you use summary a lot in your day-to-day life.

Whether it is telling a good piece of trivia you just learned or a funny story that happened to you, or even setting the stage in creative writing, you summarize all the time.

How you use summary can be an important consideration in whether people want to read your work (or listen to you talk).

Here are some things to think about when telling a story:

• Pick interesting details . Too many and your point will be lost. Not enough, and you didn’t paint the scene or give them a complete idea about what happened.
• Play into the emotions . When telling a story, you want more information than the bare minimum. You want your reader to get the emotion of the story. That requires a little bit more work to accomplish.
• Focus. A summary of one story can lead to another can lead to another. Think about storytellers that you know that go off on a tangent. They never seem to finish one story without telling 100 others!

To wrap up (and to demonstrate everything I just talked about), let’s summarize this post into its most essential parts:

A summary is a great way to quickly give your audience the information they need to understand the topic you are discussing without having to know every detail.

How you write a summary is different depending on what type of summary you are doing:

• An academic summary usually gets to the heart of an article, book, or journal, and it should highlight the main points in your own words. How long it should be depends on the type of assignment it is.
• A professional summary highlights you and your professional, academic, and volunteer history. It shows people in your professional network who you are and why they should hire you, work with you, use your talents, etc.

Being able to tell a good story is another form of summary. You want to tell engaging anecdotes and facts without boring your listeners. This is a skill that is developed over time.

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Narrative Essay

How to write a summary.

Proficient students understand that  summarizing , identifying what is most important and restating the text (or other media) in your own words, is an important tool for college success.

After all, if you really know a subject, you will be able to summarize it. If you cannot summarize a subject, even if you have memorized all the facts about it, you can be absolutely sure that you have not learned it. And, if you truly learn the subject, you will still be able to summarize it months or years from now.

Proficient students may monitor their understanding of a text by summarizing as they read. They understand that if they can write a one- or two-sentence summary of each paragraph after reading it, then that is a good sign that they have correctly understood it. If they can not summarize the main idea of the paragraph, they know that comprehension has broken down and they need to use fix-up strategies to repair understanding.

Summary Writing Format

• When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the form of a paragraph.
• A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you see it.
• A summary is written in your own words.
• A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.
• Identify in order the significant sub-claims the author uses to defend the main point.
• Copy word-for-word three separate passages from the essay that you think support and/or defend the main point of the essay as you see it.
• Cite each passage by first signaling the work and the author, put “quotation marks” around the passage you chose, and put the number of the paragraph where the passages can be found immediately after the passage.
• Using source material from the essay is important. Why? Because defending claims with source material is what you will be asked to do when writing papers for your college professors.
• Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Example Summary Writing Format

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion “… passage 1 …” (para.3). Didion also writes “… passage 2 …” (para.8). Finally, she states “… passage 3 …” (para. 12) Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Paul Powell. Provided by : Central Community College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Elisabeth Ellington and Ronda Dorsey Neugebauer. Provided by : Chadron State College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution

How to Write a Summary: Tips, Strategies and Best Practices

Writing a summary requires a deep understanding of the original text and the ability to concisely restate its main ideas in your own words, highlighting the essence of the content. 

This process begins with crafting an organized paragraph that opens with an introductory sentence, clearly mentioning the text’s title, author, and central theme, steering clear of personal commentary to maintain the integrity of the summarized information.

In this blog, you will discover various strategies and best practices for summary writing, including ways to start a summary, summary steps, and the recommended length for a summary.

Purpose and Benefits of a Summary

Understanding the purpose of a summary is pivotal in grasping its significance in both academic and professional realms. Summaries serve multiple functions, each tailored to enhance comprehension, retention, and communication of key ideas. 

Here's a breakdown of the types of summary, core components and benefits of summary writing:

• Academic Summaries : Used in scholarly contexts to condense research findings, theories, or literary works.
• Executive Summaries : Often found in business settings, these provide a snapshot of reports or proposals, highlighting key points for decision-makers.
• Abstracts : Common in scientific articles, abstracts offer a brief overview of research aims, methods, results, and conclusions ] .
• Main Idea or Thesis : A summary must encapsulate the central theme or argument presented in the original text.
• Essential Supporting Points : It should also highlight crucial supporting arguments or evidence that back the main idea.
• Independence from Original Text : While a summary relies on the content of the source material, it should stand on its own, providing a clear and concise rendition of the original work.
• Improves Comprehension : Summarizing forces the writer to distill complex ideas into simpler, more digestible formats, thereby enhancing understanding of the subject matter.
• Facilitates Future Reference : A well-crafted summary serves as a handy reference tool, allowing quick recall of a text’s key points without the need to revisit the entire work.
• Better Understanding : By summarizing, writers can showcase their grasp of the material, making it a valuable tool in educational settings to assess understanding.
• Objective Representation : Unlike critiques or analyses, summaries aim to objectively convey the essence of a text, focusing solely on the author’s ideas without personal bias or interpretation.

Understanding these aspects of summary writing underscores its value in effectively communicating complex information. This skill, once honed, becomes an indispensable tool across various domains, from academia to industry, underscoring the importance of mastering the art of summary writing.

Steps to Deep Reading Before Summarizing

Before embarking on the task of summarizing, engaging in deep reading is essential to fully grasp the content and nuances of the text. 

Listed below are some of the benefits of deep reading

Deep Reading Benefits :

• Deep reading is the mind's default mode for processing texts, allowing for deeper thinking and association with unique ideas.
• It improves focus and teaches the brain to commit to one task at a time, which is essential in today’s world of information overflow.
• Engaging deeply with a text provides more value, as immersion in the material follows the reader everywhere, encouraging positive action based on the information absorbed.

Here are the steps to ensure effective deep reading:

• Initiate with Skimming and Active Reading :
• Begin by skimming through the text to get a general idea of its main themes and structure.
• Actively read the article or text, paying close attention to its presentation. This might involve rereading certain sections and keeping the purpose and intended audience in mind.
• Divide the text into manageable sections. This helps in focusing on smaller parts of the text, making it easier to understand and summarize later.
• Summarize each section individually while ensuring it aligns with the overall main idea of the text. This step is vital in understanding the content thoroughly before proceeding to write a summary.
• Deep reading requires complete engagement with the text. Eliminate all distractions to immerse yourself fully in the material.
• Understand every word in the writing, especially unfamiliar ones. This might require looking up meanings to ensure comprehensive understanding.
• Read carefully and multiple times if needed, particularly the difficult parts, until they are fully understood.
• Question the text and identify any discrepancies or mistakes, fostering a critical thinking approach.
• Discuss insightful parts of the text with others. This can provide different perspectives and deepen understanding.
• Attempt to rewrite what you've read. Successfully doing so indicates a deep comprehension of the material.
• After a thorough initial reading, it's beneficial to give the article a deep re-read, highlighting passages that stand out.
• Refine the highlights to make the author's ideas easier to understand and scrutinize their relevance to personal experiences and existing knowledge.
• Write out high-level ideas by hand to further embed the new knowledge into the mind, and then explain these concepts in detail in a fresh document for a comprehensive understanding.

By adhering to these steps, readers can significantly enhance their understanding of the text, which is a crucial precursor to writing an effective summary. This deep engagement ensures that the summary captures the essence of the original text accurately and cohesively.

Crafting the Perfect Introductory Sentence

Crafting the perfect introductory sentence for a summary involves several key components that ensure clarity, conciseness, and a comprehensive understanding of the original text. Here's how to get started:

• Title and Author : Always include the title of the text and the author's name in the introductory sentence. This provides immediate context to the reader.
• Main Point : Clearly state the main point or thesis of the text as you understand it. This sets the stage for the rest of your summary.
• Use Your Own Words : Avoid direct quotations; instead, paraphrase the author's main ideas in your own words to demonstrate your understanding and keep the summary original.
• Start with the Source : Begin your summary by acknowledging the source material. This could be as simple as "In [Author's Name]'s [Title of the Text], the main argument focuses on...".
• Incorporate a Reporting Verb : Use verbs like 'argues', 'claims', 'contends', or 'insists' to present the author's main ideas. This not only introduces the summary but also sets a scholarly tone.
• Be Concise but Comprehensive : Your introductory sentence should capture the essence of the text in a nutshell, providing a snapshot of the author's thesis and the text's main theme.
• For a novel: "In [Author's Name]'s novel, [Title], the story revolves around the central conflict faced by [main character], highlighting [main theme or journey]."  
• For an academic article: "In the article '[Title]' by [Author's Name], published in [Year], the author contends that [main argument], supported by [key evidence]."  
• For a scientific research paper: "The research paper '[Title]' by [Author's Name], focuses on [main research topic], where the author argues [main findings]."

By following these steps and structure, you can craft an introductory sentence that effectively sets the stage for your summary, providing your readers with a clear, concise, and comprehensive overview of the original text. 

Condensing Main Points with Precision

Condensing the main points of a text with precision involves a meticulous process of identifying, prioritizing, and articulating the essence of the original material. Here's how to approach this crucial step in summary writing:

• Main Idea : Determine the central thesis or argument of the text. This is the backbone of your summary.
• Supporting Points : Pinpoint the essential arguments or evidence that bolster the main idea. These should be included to provide a comprehensive overview.
• Keywords : Spot keywords within the text as they often signal important concepts or themes.
• Use Your Own Words : Paraphrase the author's ideas into your own language to demonstrate understanding and avoid plagiarism. Remember, a summary should significantly condense the original text while accurately representing its main points.
• Structure : Present the main ideas in the order they appear in the original text, using transitional phrases for coherence. However, avoid creating an outline or merely listing the points as they occur.
• Omissions : Exclude any examples, detailed evidence, or rhetorical questions used by the author. The goal is to distill the text to its most pivotal elements, not to replicate its detailed discussions.
• Abbreviations and Symbols : Use abbreviations and symbols to note down key points. This helps in keeping your summary concise.
• Mind Maps and Columns : For longer texts, consider organizing the main points using a mind map or columns. This visual organization can help in understanding how ideas connect and which details are most important.
• Highlighting : Use colors and highlighting to differentiate between themes or categories of information. Writing small can also help in fitting more content on a single page.

In summary writing, the ability to discern and distill the essence of the text is paramount. By following these steps, writers can ensure that their summaries are both accurate and concise, providing readers with a clear and succinct overview of the original material without injecting personal opinion or unnecessary detail.

Ensuring Coherence and Smooth Transitions

Ensuring coherence and smooth transitions in writing is akin to creating a map for readers to follow, guiding them through the ideas presented in a logical and fluid manner. Here are strategies to achieve this:

• Use of Transitional Words and Phrases : Incorporate words such as 'subsequently' and 'conversely,' or phrases like 'as a result' and 'in conclusion' to link ideas and signal logical connections between them.
• Key Phrases Repetition : Pick up key phrases from the previous paragraph and incorporate them in the next. This creates an obvious progression for readers, making the text more accessible and easier to follow.
• Transitional Paragraphs : After major sections, employ transitional paragraphs to pause, regroup, and indicate where you are in your argument. These paragraphs should summarize major points, relate the previous section to the thesis, and connect it to what will follow, enhancing the overall flow of the essay.
• Avoid using personal pronouns such as 'I' or 'We', which can disrupt the objective tone of a summary.
• Beware of poor transitions that can lead to choppy, jumpy, or disconnected writing. These hinder the reader's ability to follow the organization or train of thought.
• Within Paragraphs : Use transitional words or phrases, or keywords from the preceding paragraph, to ensure connections are clear within a paragraph. This helps in joining ideas together in a sentence and sentences together in a paragraph.
• Between Paragraphs : Highlight connections between corresponding paragraphs by referencing relevant material from previous paragraphs in the next. Writing transitions that specifically connect one paragraph to another enhances the effectiveness more than using generic transitions.

By employing these strategies, writers can significantly enhance the cohesiveness of their writing. Effective use of transitions not only aids in better understanding by the reader but also ensures a smooth flow of ideas, making the summary more engaging and easier to comprehend. 

Conclusion: Wrapping up Your Summary

Throughout this article, we've explored the nuanced skill of summary writing, offering readers a detailed guide on effectively condensing complex texts into clear, concise summaries. From understanding the foundational purpose and benefits of summaries in various contexts to mastering the art of crafting the perfect introductory sentence and ensuring coherence with smooth transitions, the guidance provided aims to enhance both academic and professional writing capabilities. Emphasizing the importance of using one's own words and maintaining objectivity, this article has underscored the critical skills required for precise and effective summary writing, making it an invaluable resource for individuals looking to refine their summarizing abilities.

What are the essential guidelines for creating a summary?

To craft an effective summary, you should:

• Paraphrase the content using your own language.
• Focus on the core ideas of the original material and keep it concise.
• Refrain from incorporating your own interpretations or analyses; the summary should reflect the author's ideas, not yours.

How can I develop a strategy for summarizing a text?

Developing a summary strategy involves:

• Thoroughly reading and understanding the text.
• Taking notes on the central theme and key points that should be included.
• Using the author's original keywords and considering how their ideas pertain to your own arguments in your work.

Can you outline the five steps involved in writing a summary?

Certainly! The five steps for summarizing are:

• Read and comprehend the material you intend to summarize.
• Highlight or underline significant sections of the text.
• Jot down the primary arguments.
• Include relevant supporting details.
• Review your summary for accuracy and clarity.

What makes a summary both good and effective?

A good and effective summary should:

• Start with an introductory sentence that mentions the text's title, author, and the main thesis as perceived by you.
• Be composed in your own words, ensuring it's a paraphrase of the original.
• Only encapsulate the original text's ideas without adding your personal opinions, interpretations, or commentary.

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How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

Published on 25 September 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 12 May 2023.

Summarising , or writing a summary, means giving a concise overview of a text’s main points in your own words. A summary is always much shorter than the original text.

There are five key steps that can help you to write a summary:

• Read the text
• Break it down into sections
• Identify the key points in each section
• Write the summary
• Check the summary against the article

Writing a summary does not involve critiquing or analysing the source. You should simply provide an accurate account of the most important information and ideas (without copying any text from the original).

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Table of contents

When to write a summary, step 1: read the text, step 2: break the text down into sections, step 3: identify the key points in each section, step 4: write the summary, step 5: check the summary against the article, frequently asked questions.

There are many situations in which you might have to summarise an article or other source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to show you’ve understood the material
• To keep notes that will help you remember what you’ve read
• To give an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review

When you’re writing an academic text like an essay , research paper , or dissertation , you’ll integrate sources in a variety of ways. You might use a brief quote to support your point, or paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs.

But it’s often appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is especially relevant to your own research, or to provide an overview of a source before you analyse or critique it.

In any case, the goal of summarising is to give your reader a clear understanding of the original source. Follow the five steps outlined below to write a good summary.

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You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages:

• Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape.
• Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read.
• Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passages.

There are some tricks you can use to identify the key points as you read:

• Start by reading the abstract . This already contains the author’s own summary of their work, and it tells you what to expect from the article.
• Pay attention to headings and subheadings . These should give you a good sense of what each part is about.
• Read the introduction and the conclusion together and compare them: What did the author set out to do, and what was the outcome?

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections.

If the text is a scientific paper that follows a standard empirical structure, it is probably already organised into clearly marked sections, usually including an introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

Other types of articles may not be explicitly divided into sections. But most articles and essays will be structured around a series of sub-points or themes.

Now it’s time go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article?

Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

In a scientific article, there are some easy questions you can ask to identify the key points in each part.

If the article takes a different form, you might have to think more carefully about what points are most important for the reader to understand its argument.

In that case, pay particular attention to the thesis statement —the central claim that the author wants us to accept, which usually appears in the introduction—and the topic sentences that signal the main idea of each paragraph.

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words.

To avoid plagiarism and show you’ve understood the article, it’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two.

The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points.

Examples of article summaries

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, we summarise this article , which scientifically investigates the old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’.

An article summary like the above would be appropriate for a stand-alone summary assignment. However, you’ll often want to give an even more concise summary of an article.

For example, in a literature review or research paper, you may want to briefly summarize this study as part of a wider discussion of various sources. In this case, we can boil our summary down even further to include only the most relevant information.

Citing the source you’re summarizing

When including a summary as part of a larger text, it’s essential to properly cite the source you’re summarizing. The exact format depends on your citation style , but it usually includes an in-text citation and a full reference at the end of your paper.

You can easily create your citations and references in APA or MLA using our free citation generators.

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Finally, read through the article once more to ensure that:

• You’ve accurately represented the author’s work
• You haven’t missed any essential information
• The phrasing is not too similar to any sentences in the original.

If you’re summarising many articles as part of your own work, it may be a good idea to use a plagiarism checker to double-check that your text is completely original and properly cited. Just be sure to use one that’s safe and reliable.

A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words.

Save yourself some time with the free summariser.

A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depends on the length of the article you’re summarising, and on the purpose of the summary.

With the summariser tool you can easily adjust the length of your summary.

You might have to write a summary of a source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material
• For your own use, to keep notes on your reading
• To provide an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review
• In a paper , to summarise or introduce a relevant study

To avoid plagiarism when summarising an article or other source, follow these two rules:

• Write the summary entirely in your own words by   paraphrasing the author’s ideas.
• Reference the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarise the whole text, not just introduce it.

An abstract is a type of summary , but summaries are also written elsewhere in academic writing . For example, you might summarise a source in a paper , in a literature review , or as a standalone assignment.

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Quickly Teach How to Write a Summary With Clear Examples and Stems

How to write a summary with clear examples, a template, and a formula to help you teach summary writing to your elementary students.  

It’s the first day of school. You’ve given your students the classic summary writing assignment : “What I Did Over Summer Break.”

One student dives in and begins writing a personal narrative to rival War and Peace.

Another (maybe more than one) groans and lays their head down in despair.

You’ve seen this, right?

This summer vacation prompt might be one of the most difficult assignments we can give some of your elementary students. For others students, it might be the easiest.

You can listen to this post on the TeacherWriter Talks podcast.

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The Summary Writing Assignment From Days of Yore

This year, instead of giving the typical summary writing assignment, perhaps you could read an interesting article or story together, and have your students write a summary about that.

Now, in all honesty, and with full disclosure, I have to admit this assignment isn’t always the best choice either. Why? It’s because at the beginning of the year, students are out of practice with writing, and some may not have learned how to write a summary yet.

This blog will help you with a simple system to teach summary writing with ease, using templates, graphic organizers and a step-by-step plan.

How to Start Teaching How to Write a Summary at the Beginning of the School Year

First of all, define what a summary is for your students. Next, define what it isn’t. Last, don’t let them start writing until you’ve modeled the process and done a think aloud with them.

Teaching how to write a summary isn’t a one and done lesson. You’ll be revisiting pieces and parts of the summary time after time. You’ll know when your students finally have it, because they’ll be able to write a summary in just a few minutes.

How Fast Can a Student Write a One Page Summary?

It was the beginning of the year. My student cried and laid his head in his hands. He struggled with writing, didn’t like it, and gave some push back with every assignment.

Gradually, with accommodations, scaffolding, and several meetings in small group writer’s workshops, his writing began to emerge. His eyes sparkled every time he showed me how much his writing had improved.

One day, I gave an assignment, and this student turned it in inside of Google Classroom in about ten minutes.

I said, “Hey, I don’t think you could have done a stellar job so quickly.”

The student assured me, “Yes, I did my best, I edited and revised it, and I think it’s perfect.”

Not wanting to seem curmudgeonly, I pulled up the document and read it out loud with the student. I was so surprised and pleased because it was absolutely the best summary they had turned in that year. Wow!

At that moment, I knew the student understood how to write a summary that sparkled!

Things to Include in a Summary

• Main idea of the article in one sentence. 
• One or two important details.
• Transition words.

The students must read the article, once, twice, possibly three times before writing the summary. It all depends on the text complexity and the reading level of the student. You can read it with students, too. 

If you choose to read it with them, read it once to get the overall ideas. Read it a second time to annotate important points. Read it a third time to clarify any doubts and to really get to the understanding of the text.

What NOT to Include in a Summary

• Thoughts or reflections about the content.
• Conclusion statements are optional.

It’s important to make sure your students understand that summary writing and opinion writing are two different things. I use the acronym, JTFF.

Just the Facts, Friend!

If a student starts writing includes opinions, reminiscences, comparisons with their own experiences, etc., all you need to say is,

Grading tip: If a student adds opinions or personal thoughts to a summary, simply write the letters JTFF over that part of their writing. They’ll know what you mean.

Using a Template or Formula to Teach Summary Writing

• Graphic organizer to use while reading.
• Sentence stems for the introduction.
• Format to follow like a step-by-step guide
• Use scaffolds

This is where we get to the meaty part of the lesson. I’m going to lay out the parts of my simple system for teaching summary writing. You want to simplify writing a summary as much as possible, and this is how you can do it. It’s not a bad thing to use a template or formula.

In addition, have an entire blog post dedicated to some of the most effect Scaffolds for Teaching Writing  to help you differentiate the writing lessons for your students. You don’t need anything special to use them. You can incorporate them into your teaching today.

• Read the article to get the overall ideas.
• Read the article again using a graphic organizer. My suggestion is that you use the same graphic organizer for summaries every time. This prevents students from having to learn how to navigate a graphic organizer while they’re trying to learn to write a summary.
• Students annotate the text and make notes of important ideas in the graphic organizer.
• Use a sentence stem for the introduction. Include the article title, the author’s name, a verb such as “tells”, “reports,” “defines,” etc., and the main idea.
• Write the important points about the main idea in the summary, usually in the present tense.

Examples of Writing a Summary Sentence Introduction

The summary sentence template looks like this:

The article (or story) —Title of Article— by —Author’s Name— tells —Main Idea—.

For example:

The story The First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg tells about what happens when Sarah Jane Hartwell is afraid to go to her new school.

Another example: 

The blog article “Preventing Summer Slide”, by Suzanne Pitner gives several ideas to keep children entertained and learning during the summer break.

Yet another example:

According to the blog post “Santa Claus Tracking”, by Suzanne Pitner, NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955 as he makes his annual trip around the world.

A great way to practice this is to have your students write a one sentence summary starter about their favorite books, or books they read over the summer. Practice this all the time in every context of summary writing.

The Body of the Summary

For young learners, and for English learners, having a format or a template to follow is similar to having a recipe on hand. In the same way you follow a recipe step by step, students can follow a template step by step.

• First, write the opening summary sentence. (See the template above.)
• Next, add one or two important facts or details about the article or book.
• Finally, include transition words, or linking words.

Did you notice the simple yet obvious transition words I used in this template? That’s perfect for teaching elementary students how to write. Let them master the obvious transition words first. Later they can learn how to write more subtle, nuanced transitions.

Transition Words for Writing Summaries in Elementary School

These are a few ideas of transitions appropriate for younger grades. Your textbook, if you have one, may have more transitions and examples of linking words. I found these to be the simplest to implement in classes of 8 to 11 year-old learners.

• First, next, last
• First, second, third
• One thing, another thing, finally
• In the beginning, in the middle, in the end
• To begin, to continue, in the end

These summaries help them organize their thoughts in a sequential order that makes sense for the writing task at hand.

Summary Tool in Google Docs (TM)

Google Docs (™) has a tool to use to help teach summaries. Depending on the article, it may or may not provide a simple, one or two sentence summary. 

You can use this to identify key points to include while summary writing. It’s also a great way to get a classroom conversation going about the following questions:

• Is this an adequate summary?
• Did it give enough information to make the reader want to read the article?
• Is anything missing from this summary?

Please note that my impression of this tool is that it’s designed for web writing and short articles. It’s not a replacement for the actual summary you’ll be teaching your students to write.

Here’s how to access the Summary Tool in Google Docs (™).

• In your top bar, click on “View.”
• Click on “Show Outline.”
• Click on the “plus” sign next to the word Summary.

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• How to Write a Summary

Proficient students understand that  summarizing , identifying what is most important and restating the text (or other media) in your own words, is an important tool for college success.

After all, if you really know a subject, you will be able to summarize it. If you cannot summarize a subject, even if you have memorized all the facts about it, you can be absolutely sure that you have not learned it. And, if you truly learn the subject, you will still be able to summarize it months or years from now.

Proficient students may monitor their understanding of a text by summarizing as they read. They understand that if they can write a one- or two-sentence summary of each paragraph after reading it, then that is a good sign that they have correctly understood it. If they can not summarize the main idea of the paragraph, they know that comprehension has broken down and they need to use fix-up strategies to repair understanding.

Summary Writing Format

• When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the form of a paragraph.
• A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you see it.
• A summary is written in your own words.
• A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.
• Identify in order the significant sub-claims the author uses to defend the main point.
• Copy word-for-word three separate passages from the essay that you think support and/or defend the main point of the essay as you see it.
• Cite each passage by first signaling the work and the author, put “quotation marks” around the passage you chose, and put the number of the paragraph where the passages can be found immediately after the passage.
• Using source material from the essay is important. Why? Because defending claims with source material is what you will be asked to do when writing papers for your college professors.
• Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

Example Summary Writing Format

In the essay Santa Ana , author Joan Didion’s main point is ( state main point ). According to Didion “… passage 1 …” (para.3). Didion also writes “… passage 2 …” (para.8). Finally, she states “… passage 3 …” (para. 12) Write a last sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main point.

• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Paul Powell. Provided by : Central Community College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Authored by : Elisabeth Ellington and Ronda Dorsey Neugebauer. Provided by : Chadron State College. Project : Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Table of Contents

Instructor Resources (Access Requires Login)

• Overview of Instructor Resources

An Overview of the Writing Process

• Introduction to the Writing Process
• Introduction to Writing
• Your Role as a Learner
• What is an Essay?
• Reading to Write
• Defining the Writing Process
• Videos: Prewriting Techniques
• Thesis Statements
• Organizing an Essay
• Creating Paragraphs
• Conclusions
• Editing and Proofreading
• Matters of Grammar, Mechanics, and Style
• Peer Review Checklist
• Comparative Chart of Writing Strategies

Using Sources

• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting the Works Cited Page (MLA)
• Citing Paraphrases and Summaries (APA)
• APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines

Definition Essay

• Definitional Argument Essay
• How to Write a Definition Essay
• Critical Thinking
• Video: Thesis Explained
• Effective Thesis Statements
• Student Sample: Definition Essay

Narrative Essay

• Introduction to Narrative Essay
• Student Sample: Narrative Essay
• "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
• "Sixty-nine Cents" by Gary Shteyngart
• Video: The Danger of a Single Story
• How to Write an Annotation
• Writing for Success: Narration

Illustration/Example Essay

• Introduction to Illustration/Example Essay
• "She's Your Basic L.O.L. in N.A.D" by Perri Klass
• "April & Paris" by David Sedaris
• Writing for Success: Illustration/Example
• Student Sample: Illustration/Example Essay

Compare/Contrast Essay

• Introduction to Compare/Contrast Essay
• "Disability" by Nancy Mairs
• "Friending, Ancient or Otherwise" by Alex Wright
• "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard
• Writing for Success: Compare/Contrast
• Student Sample: Compare/Contrast Essay

Cause-and-Effect Essay

• Introduction to Cause-and-Effect Essay
• "Cultural Baggage" by Barbara Ehrenreich
• "Women in Science" by K.C. Cole
• Writing for Success: Cause and Effect
• Student Sample: Cause-and-Effect Essay

Argument Essay

• Introduction to Argument Essay
• Rogerian Argument
• "The Case Against Torture," by Alisa Soloman
• "The Case for Torture" by Michael Levin
• How to Write a Summary by Paraphrasing Source Material
• Writing for Success: Argument
• Student Sample: Argument Essay
• Grammar/Mechanics Mini-lessons
• Mini-lesson: Subjects and Verbs, Irregular Verbs, Subject Verb Agreement
• Mini-lesson: Sentence Types
• Mini-lesson: Fragments I
• Mini-lesson: Run-ons and Comma Splices I
• Mini-lesson: Comma Usage
• Mini-lesson: Parallelism
• Mini-lesson: The Apostrophe
• Mini-lesson: Capital Letters
• Grammar Practice - Interactive Quizzes
• De Copia - Demonstration of the Variety of Language
• Style Exercise: Voice

What Is a Summary In Writing? (Explained + 40 Examples)

In my 20+ years of writing essays, research articles, short stories, blog posts, and books, I’ve summarized thousands of times.

Here is my summary answer about “What is a summary in writing?”

A summary in writing is the craft of distilling vast oceans of text into droplets of essence, a skill as crucial as it is challenging . At the core, summary writing is the distillation of essential points from a larger text, preserving the original message and intent. It balances brevity and clarity.

As contradictory as it might sound, there is a lot more to say about summary in writing.

The Essence of Summarization

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Over the years, I’ve learned that a successful summary does two things well—it provides clarity to the reader and respects the original work’s integrity.

Brevity and clarity are the twin pillars of a good summary.

My mantra, “As short as possible and as long as necessary,” and a favorite quote I align with—attributed to Einstein—”Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler,” encapsulate my approach to summaries.

Achieving this balance is more an art than a science, a dance between being concise and being clear.

My guideline—keeping things as short as necessary but as long as needed—is a testament to this balancing act.

It’s about not just shrinking text size but ensuring every word counts, every sentence conveys meaning, and the essence of the text is untouched.

Types of Summaries

Below are some common types of summaries you need to know:

• Descriptive Summaries: These provide an overview of the main points of a text, without offering analysis or interpretation. Descriptive summaries focus on summarizing the content in a clear and concise manner, making them useful for providing an overview or introduction to a topic.
• Analytical Summaries: Analytical summaries go beyond simply recounting the main points of a text; they also analyze and evaluate the content. These summaries often delve into the author’s arguments, evidence, and conclusions, offering insights into the text’s significance and implications.
• Informative Summaries: Informative summaries aim to convey the most important information from a text, often condensing complex ideas into simpler language. These summaries are commonly used in academic writing, where the goal is to provide readers with a clear understanding of the text’s main points.
• Critical Summaries: Critical summaries involve not only summarizing the content of a text but also critiquing it. Writers may highlight strengths and weaknesses, identify biases or gaps in the argument, and offer their own perspective on the text’s merits or limitations.
• Abstracts: Abstracts are concise summaries of longer documents, such as research papers or articles. They typically include a brief overview of the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions of the study, allowing readers to quickly grasp the key findings and significance of the research.

Crafting the Perfect Summary

Summarizing is not a random act but a structured process.

It starts with a thorough reading, understanding the text’s main arguments, themes, and nuances.

Then, identifying the core elements that are indispensable to the message.

The challenge is to weave these elements into a cohesive, shorter narrative that stands on its own while reflecting the original text’s spirit.

Personal Insights and Techniques

Through trial and error, I’ve honed specific techniques that aid in summarization:

• Highlighting Key Points: As I read, I highlight or note down crucial information and standout ideas.
• Structuring the Summary: I create a rough outline, deciding the order of points based on their relevance and the original work’s flow.
• Rewriting with Precision: This step involves rewriting the highlighted points in my own words, ensuring clarity and conciseness without diluting the message.

Template for Writing a Summary

Crafting a summary can be simplified by following a structured template.

While each summary may vary in complexity and content, this general template provides a framework to guide your summarization process:

• Introduction: Begin by introducing the text and its author, providing necessary context for the summary. Identify the main topic or thesis of the text and briefly outline its purpose and significance.
• Main Points: Summarize the main points or arguments presented in the text, focusing on the most essential information. Use concise language and avoid unnecessary details or tangents.
• Supporting Details: Provide supporting evidence or examples to reinforce the main points of the text. Select key quotations, statistics, or anecdotes that best illustrate the author’s ideas.
• Analysis: Analyze the text’s content, identifying any underlying themes, patterns, or implications. Consider the author’s purpose, audience, and rhetorical strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of their argument or message.
• Conclusion: Conclude the summary by summarizing the overall message or takeaway of the text. Reflect on the significance of the text’s content and its relevance to the broader context or field of study.

Here is a great video on how to summarize in writing:

The Role of Experience in Writing Summaries

Experience plays a critical role in mastering summarization.

In my life, I’ve learned that every word in a summary must earn its place. This discernment comes from practice and familiarity with a wide range of texts.

It comes down to what words and ideas to leave in and what to leave out.

Experience has taught me when to cut deeper and when to allow a bit more space for explanation or narrative, always guided by the principle of making things as simple as possible but no simpler.

Original Research and Testing

My curiosity led me to conduct a series of experiments comparing different summarization techniques across various text types.

I assessed the outcomes based on reader comprehension, retention, and feedback.

The Impact of Testing Different Techniques

My research involved comparing various summarization strategies to identify the most effective approaches for different text types.

This hands-on testing revealed that the audience’s needs significantly influence the summary’s structure and content.

For instance, summaries intended for academic audiences prioritized accuracy and conciseness, while those for a general audience often leaned towards engaging narratives and essential takeaways.

Findings and Insights

One key insight from this research was the importance of adaptability.

A one-size-fits-all approach to summarization doesn’t work.

Tailoring the summary to the text type and intended audience increases effectiveness and satisfaction. Additionally, iterative testing highlighted the value of feedback in refining summaries.

Incorporating reader feedback into the summarization process can significantly enhance clarity and relevance.

40 Examples of Summaries

In the spirit of showing rather than telling, let’s dissect examples of summaries from various genres.

For brevity’s sake, I’ll categorize these examples and provide insights into what makes each effective.

Research Articles/Essays

• The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems: Summarizes key findings on the degradation of coastal ecosystems due to rising temperatures, including potential long-term effects and mitigation strategies.
• Technological Advancements in Renewable Energy: Details the latest advancements in solar and wind energy technologies, highlighting efficiency improvements and the path toward sustainable energy solutions.
• Behavioral Economics and Consumer Decision Making: Explores how psychological factors influence economic decisions, offering insights into improving marketing strategies and consumer education.
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Discusses the integration of AI in diagnostics and patient care, emphasizing potential benefits and ethical considerations.
• Educational Reforms and Student Outcomes: Analyzes the impact of recent educational reforms on student performance and equity, suggesting further research directions and policy implications.
• Microplastics in Marine Environments: Examines the sources, distribution, and ecological impacts of microplastics, proposing methods for reduction and cleanup.
• Mental Health in the Workplace: Investigates the correlation between workplace environment and employee mental health, recommending strategies for creating supportive work cultures.
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Reviews sustainable farming techniques and their effectiveness in promoting biodiversity, soil health, and food security.
• The Influence of Social Media on Political Discourse: Evaluates how social media platforms have transformed political communication, voter behavior, and public opinion formation.
• Advances in Alzheimer’s Research: Presents recent breakthroughs in understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on potential therapeutic targets and preventive measures.

Work Reports

• Annual Marketing Strategy Review: Summarizes the performance of last year’s marketing campaigns, key metrics achieved, lessons learned, and strategies for the upcoming year.
• Quarterly Sales Report: Details sales performance by region and product line, comparing results against targets, analyzing trends, and suggesting actionable insights for improvement.
• Customer Satisfaction Survey Analysis: Compiles findings from recent customer surveys, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for service enhancement.
• IT Infrastructure Upgrade Project Summary: Outlines the objectives, progress, challenges, and next steps in the company’s IT infrastructure overhaul, including budget and timeline updates.
• Employee Training Program Evaluation: Reviews the outcomes of the latest employee training initiatives, assessing effectiveness in skill development and impact on performance.
• Competitor Analysis Report: Provides an overview of key competitors’ strategies, market positioning, product offerings, and potential threats or opportunities.
• Supply Chain Optimization Study: Summarizes findings from a study on supply chain efficiencies, identifying bottlenecks and recommending solutions for cost reduction and speed.
• Risk Management Assessment: Evaluates the company’s exposure to various risks, including financial, operational, and reputational risks, proposing mitigation strategies.
• Sustainability Initiatives Progress Report: Tracks the progress of corporate sustainability efforts, including environmental impact reductions, community engagement, and sustainability goals.
• New Product Development Update: Offers a snapshot of the development stages, challenges encountered, market research findings, and estimated launch timeline for a new product.
• The Echo of the Ocean : A novel about a marine biologist uncovering a groundbreaking discovery about sea life communication, while navigating personal challenges and ethical dilemmas.
• Futures Past : A science fiction saga exploring the consequences of time travel on human history, ethics, and personal identity through intertwined narratives.
• Mind Over Matter : A non-fiction exploration of the power of the human mind to overcome physical limitations, featuring real-life stories of resilience and scientific insights.
• The Last Emperor’s Secret – Historical fiction set in ancient China, revolving around a palace conspiracy, hidden treasures, and the quest for truth.
• Green Horizons : An environmental science book discussing innovative solutions to climate change, from renewable energy to conservation strategies, aimed at a general audience.
• Heartstrings : A collection of short stories delving into the complexities of human relationships, love, loss, and redemption, across diverse cultures and situations.
• Digital Frontiers : Examines the digital revolution’s impact on society, economy, and individual lives, offering insights into future trends and ethical considerations.
• Culinary Journeys : A travelogue that takes readers on a gastronomical tour around the world, exploring the history and stories behind iconic dishes and ingredients.
• The Art of Innovation : A guide to fostering creativity and innovation in the workplace, with case studies from leading companies and practical tips for teams.
• Voices of the Forest : A fantasy novel featuring a young hero’s adventure in a mystical forest, battling dark forces to save their homeland with the help of enchanted creatures.

Short Stories

• The Last Light : A poignant tale about a lighthouse keeper’s final night before the automation of his lighthouse, reflecting on the changes and constants in life.
• Crossroads : Explores the moment a young man stands at a crossroad, literal and metaphorical, contemplating the diverging paths of his future.
• Echoes of War : Follows a veteran’s struggle with returning to civilian life, haunted by memories of the battlefield, and his journey towards healing.
• A Stitch in Time : A whimsical story about a seamstress who discovers her sewing machine can repair more than just clothes, mending broken hearts and dreams.
• The Glass Forest : Details an explorer’s discovery of a mysterious forest where trees are made of glass, symbolizing beauty and fragility.
• Shadows on the Moon : A science fiction piece about a colony on the moon dealing with the psychological effects of living in perpetual darkness and light.
• Invisible Ties : Explores the unseen connections between strangers on a crowded subway, each carrying their own stories and struggles.
• The Color of Autumn : Captures a painter’s attempt to paint the perfect autumn scene, reflecting on the impermanence of life and the enduring beauty of nature.
• Whispers in the Wind : Tells the story of a small village where the wind carries voices from the past, and a young girl learns the history of her ancestors.
• Ripples : A narrative about the impact of a single act of kindness, following its ripple effects through the lives of various people in a community.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Writers Make When Summarizing

Summarizing is an art, but like any craft, it’s prone to pitfalls.

Here are the five most common mistakes writers make when summarizing, along with tips on how to avoid them.

Summarizing may seem straightforward, but it’s deceptively complex.

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is oversimplifying or overcomplicating the summary, leading to confusion or loss of crucial information.

Another common error is failing to capture the essence of the original text, resulting in a summary that misses the mark.

Additionally, inadequate understanding of the audience can lead to summaries that are either too technical or too simplistic for the intended readership. Lastly, neglecting to cite sources or provide proper attribution in summaries can result in accusations of plagiarism or intellectual dishonesty.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes

• Oversimplifying or Overcomplicating: Striking the right balance between brevity and clarity is key.
• Missing the Essence: Ensure the summary captures the core message and key points of the original text.
• Audience Misalignment: Tailor the summary to the audience’s knowledge level and interests.
• Lack of Attribution: Always cite sources and provide proper credit for ideas and information.
• Ignoring Structure and Flow: A well-structured summary enhances readability and comprehension.

Final Thoughts: What Is a Summary In Writing?

Summarization is more than a writing skill—it’s a critical thinking exercise that challenges you to understand deeply, analyze critically, and communicate effectively.

In my two decades of writing, I’ve seen firsthand how a well-crafted summary can open doors to understanding, make knowledge more accessible, and bridge the gap between complex ideas and a broader audience.

Read This Next:

• What Is TNR In Writing? (Explained w/ Examples)
• What Is Generative Writing? [Ultimate Guide + 100 Examples]
• What Is A Cold Open In Writing? (Tips, Examples, Guide)
• What Is A Universal Statement In Writing? (Explained)

Helpful Test

How to write a summary in 7 steps (with examples).

Summarizing may seem like a simple task, but it entails a lot more than just rephrasing sentences.

Crafting a well-crafted summary involves extracting the essential information from a text while maintaining its fundamental message.

Summarizing is a handy skill that can save you time, improve your attention to detail, and help you better understand complex topics.

These are some of the simple steps that can help you write a summary with confidence:

1. Read the text carefully

Before you even think about summarizing, it is important to read the text you want to summarize carefully.

Whether it’s an article, a book chapter, or any other piece of writing, take notes on the key ideas and important details.

Reading through the text multiple times is recommended, ensuring that you don’t miss anything essential.

2. Identify the main points

Now that you’ve thoroughly read the text, it’s time to determine the main ideas, arguments, or positions presented.

These are the key points that need to be included in your summary. Look for topic sentences, headings, or repeated information as clues.

Identifying the main points may be the most critical step, so be sure to take your time and reflect on what you’ve read.

3. Condense the information

Once you’ve identified the main points, it’s time to condense that information into a concise summary.

Focus on capturing the key ideas without including unnecessary details. Use your own words to explain the content, maintaining the original meaning.

You can condense the information further by grouping similar points together, using subheadings, or removing redundant information.

4. Organize the summary

Your summary should be structured in a logical manner. You can choose to organize it chronologically, by importance, or by following the structure of the original text.

Each paragraph should focus on a specific main point.

Be sure to create a clear introduction and conclusion that provide context and a summary of the overall message.

5. Use transitional phrases

To coherence and flow in your summary, make use of transitional phrases.

These phrases serve as connectors between different ideas and help provide a smooth transition between paragraphs.

For example, phrases such as “In addition,” “Furthermore,” or “On the other hand” can be used to introduce new points, provide additional information, or present contrasting ideas.

Using these transitional phrases will help you enhance the overall structure of your summary.

They act as signposts for your readers, guiding them through the logical progression of the ideas in your summary.

6. Check for accuracy

After completing your summary, thoroughly review it to ensure an accurate representation of the original text.

Take the time to carefully examine each sentence and paragraph, checking for any misinterpretation or omission of crucial details.

Additionally, if needed, conduct fact-checking to verify the accuracy of the information presented. Taking these steps will help ensure the integrity and reliability of your summary.

7. Revise and edit

Take a moment to review and revise your summary carefully. Ensure it is crystal clear, concise, and grammatically correct.

Craft it with finesse, eliminating any unnecessary words or sentences to maintain its brevity.

While doing so, consider adding a touch more detail to enrich its content and provide a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Examples of Summaries

1. “the snowy day” by ezra jack keats.

“The Snowy Day” is a timeless children’s book written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats. The story follows a young boy named Peter who wakes up to a winter wonderland after a fresh snowfall. Excitedly, Peter ventures out into the snowy cityscape, exploring his neighborhood and engaging in various activities. From making footprints in the snow to creating snow angels and even trying to save a snowball for later, Peter’s adventures capture the joy and excitement of a snowy day. With its vivid illustrations and simple yet profound storytelling, “The Snowy Day” celebrates the beauty of winter and the wonder of childhood.

2. “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown

“Goodnight Moon” is a beloved children’s book written by Margaret Wise Brown. The story follows a young bunny as it prepares to go to sleep. Throughout the book, the bunny says goodnight to various objects in its room, such as the moon, stars, toys, and even the quiet old lady whispering “hush.” The rhyming text and gentle illustrations create a soothing atmosphere, making it a perfect bedtime story for little readers. “Goodnight Moon” has become a classic bedtime tale cherished by generations of children and their parents.

3. “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss

“Green Eggs and Ham” is a delightful children’s book by Dr. Seuss that tells the story of a persistent character named Sam-I-Am and his attempt to convince another character to try green eggs and ham. The main character, who initially refuses to try the strange dish, encounters Sam-I-Am in various locations, persistently offering him the unconventional meal. As the story progresses, Sam-I-Am presents multiple scenarios and locations where the green eggs and ham can be enjoyed. Eventually, the reluctant character agrees to try the dish and discovers that he actually enjoys it. The book teaches children about open-mindedness, trying new things, and not judging something without experiencing it firsthand.

How do you start a summary?

Here are a few examples of effective starting lines for a summary:

• “In [title], [author] explores…”
• “This [genre] [title] delves into…”
• “With [topic] as its focus, [title]…”
• “From the mind of [author], [title] takes readers on a journey…”
• “Set in [setting], [title] follows the story of…”

Crafting the perfect opening line for a summary can differ based on the content and target audience. However you do it, try to encapsulate the essential elements and captivate the reader right from the start.

How short should a summary be?

A summary should be concise and succinct, capturing the main ideas without unnecessary details. It should aim to provide a clear and objective overview of the content.

Keep in mind that the length of a summary may vary depending on the specific requirements or context. Generally, a summary should be no more than one-third to one-fourth the length of the original text.

This ensures brevity while effectively conveying the essential information through numbered lists, bullet points, and contrast.

Summarizing is more than just rephrasing a piece of writing. It is a critical skill that requires attention to detail, an understanding of the material, and concise writing.

Following these simple steps will help you write a summary that is both informative and engaging.

Summarizing effectively takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t perfect.

Keep reading and summarizing, and soon you’ll find that it becomes a natural and useful tool in your skillset.

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10 Best Tips For Writing A Good Summary

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Mastering the Art of Summary Writing

Musharrat Abir

It doesn’t matter which class you are in; if you are a student in the primary and high schools of Bangladesh, you will definitely have to write a summary in your English 1st paper exam. Despite our extensive experience in summary writing, many of us still struggle to receive a satisfactory score on this question. When it comes to the board exams, not achieving a competitive score in summary writing can have a significant negative impact on your total result. Failing to attain a high score in summary writing could potentially prevent you from securing an A+ in English 1st paper, which is already quite challenging to achieve in board examinations like SSC and HSC.

What is a Summary?

Now, what is a summary? So, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, a summary is a short , clear description that gives the main facts or ideas about something. A summary is a concise version of a longer text, speech, or document that captures the main ideas, key points, and essential information. The purpose of a summary is to provide readers or listeners with a brief and clear overview of the original content, allowing them to grasp the most important elements without having to go through the entire source material.

What is the purpose of summary writing?

Other than getting a good mark on summary writing, the purpose of a summary is to quickly give the reader or listener an idea of what this material is saying . A summary serves as a concise and focused overview of a longer text, speech, or document. It distills the key points and core message, aiding in retention, decision-making, and as a reference point. 

When to Write a Summary

We have summary writing in our English first paper exams. Sometimes we have to write a summary of a familiar story or poem, while at other times it’s on a completely unknown topic. Regardless of the topic, if you know how to write a proper summary, you’ll definitely excel! Since summaries are commonly written in various contexts, here are some common situations and places where summaries are needed:

01. Academic Papers: Summaries can be found in academic articles, research papers, and theses, often as abstracts, to provide a concise overview of the study’s purpose, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

02. Academic Summarization Tests: In standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, or IELTS, students are asked to provide summaries of reading passages to demonstrate their reading comprehension.

03. Project Proposals: Summaries are often required in project proposals, where the proposal’s main points and objectives are briefly outlined.

04. Academic Presentations : In academic presentations, speakers often include a summary slide or section at the beginning or end of their presentation to highlight key takeaways.

05. Education: Teachers may ask students to write summaries as assignments to assess their comprehension of lesson materials.

06. Scientific Abstracts: Scientific research papers include abstracts that provide a concise summary of the study’s goals, methods, results, and conclusions.

The list is not exhaustive, and there are many other purposes of summary writing out there!

English for Everyday

• প্রাত্যহিক জীবনে ইংরেজি ভাষার ব্যবহার
• ইংরেজিতে প্রশ্ন ও উত্তর দেওয়ার কৌশল
• ইংরেজিতে সাবলীলভাবে কথা বলার আত্নবিশ্বাস
• অফিসে ব্যবহার করার জন্য Professional Practice

Qualities of a Summary Writing

While writing a summary, there are a few qualities of a summary that you need to keep in mind:

01. Accuracy: Summaries must correctly reflect the main ideas without changing the meaning. So, read the text thoroughly and present the ideas correctly.

02. Conciseness: Keep it short and to the point. Capture the main ideas without adding extra details or repeating stuff.

03. Objectivity : Be neutral. Don’t put your personal opinions or interpretations into the summary.

04. Clarity: Make it easy to understand. Use simple and precise language to convey the main points clearly.

05. Comprehensiveness: Cover all the important parts of the original text without going into too much detail.

06. Structure: Organize your summary logically. It should flow smoothly, just like an organized closet.

07. No New Info: Don’t add new ideas or information that were not present in the original text.

08. Readability: Write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested.

Now, let’s discuss one of the most crucial aspects of summary writing: its length . As a general guideline, a summary should typically be about one-fourth the length of the original work, which may range from 1 to 3 pages. Suppose the original text is a 20-line lesson about the history of Bangladesh. In that case, the summary should condense these 20 lines into about 5 lines, highlighting critical historical events, significant leaders, and their contributions to the struggle for independence. This concise version aids students in understanding the essential information from the text.

Things you should include in a Summary Writing

In a summary writing, you should include the following key elements:

Main Idea: Clearly convey the main idea or thesis of the original text. This is the central point that the author is trying to make.

Key Points: Summarize the most important points, arguments, or findings from the original text. These are the supporting details that help to explain and support the main idea.

Key Examples: If the original text includes illustrative examples, statistics, or anecdotes, include a few of the most relevant ones to support the key points.

Key Terms: Use terms or phrases from the original text if they are essential to understanding the topic. This ensures accuracy and clarity.

Context: Provide a brief context or background information if it’s necessary to understand the main idea and key points.

Tone: Consider the author’s tone (e.g., formal, informal, neutral) and try to reflect it appropriately in your summary.

Conciseness: Keep the summary concise, avoiding unnecessary details, examples, or repetition. The goal is to capture the essence of the text in a compact form.

Avoid Personal Opinions: A summary should be objective and not include your personal opinions or analysis of the text.

Citations: If required, include proper citations to credit the source, especially in academic or research summaries.

Structure: Organize the summary logically, typically in the same order as the original text, to make it clear and easy to follow.

Difference between a Summary and an Analysis  

Difference between Summarising and Paraphrasing

Summary Writing Format

Here’s a clear and structured step-by-step format to help you master the art of writing a summary:

Step 1: Read the text carefully

While writing a summary in English , you should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. First, scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape. Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read. Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passage. For example, if you are reading a summary on Cox’s Bazar, first skim through the whole thing.

Step 2: Break the text down into sections

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections. For instance, you might explore topics like the location of Cox’s Bazar, its attractions, and the reasons for its fame.

Step 3: Identify the key points in each section and mark important lines

Now it’s time to go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article? Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

Step 4: Write the summary

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words. It’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two. The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points. A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author, and the main point of the text as you see it. A summary is written in your own words. 

Here are some key points to keep in mind for summary writing

• Introduction: Start with a brief introduction that includes the title of the original text, the author (if known), and a sentence summarizing the general topic or purpose of the text.
• Main Points: In the body of your summary, cover the main points or key ideas presented in the original text. Each main point should be presented in a separate paragraph. 
• Conciseness: Be concise and avoid including unnecessary details or examples. Focus on the most critical information.
• Use of your own words: Paraphrase the information from the original text using your own words. Avoid direct quotations.
• Order: Maintain the order of the original text as much as possible to preserve the logical flow of ideas.
• Length: Ensure your summary writing is of an appropriate length, depending on the guidelines provided. For IELTS, aim for around 150 words.
• Cohesion: Use linking words and phrases (e.g., “Firstly,” “In addition,” “Moreover”) to create cohesion between your sentences and paragraphs.
• No Personal Opinions: A summary should be objective and not include your personal opinions or interpretations.
• Conclusion: End your summary with a concluding sentence that reiterates the main theme or message of the original text.
• Proofreading: After writing your summary, proofread it carefully to correct any grammatical or spelling errors.

Step 5: Check the summary against the article

After writing the summary, it’s essential to review it against the original article. Make sure your summary accurately reflects the main points and doesn’t misrepresent the information. This step helps ensure the integrity of your summary.

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• IELTS Reading, Listening, Speaking ও Writing, প্রতিটি মডিউলের নিয়ম-কানুনসহ খুঁটিনাটি বিষয়াদি।

Examples of  Summary Writing

To better grasp the art of writing summaries, here’s an example :

“In the article “Why Promoting a Reading Culture Could Promote Wellbeing,” Natalie Clarkson discusses how a workplace that encourages reading leads to greater satisfaction and higher productivity. Reading a book helps employees lower stress levels by allowing the reader to escape into imagination. The satisfaction that a reading culture offers also translates to less stress in the workplace, which maintains high levels of productivity. When employees are happier, they are more likely to stay with an organization and work more effectively as part of a team. All of these benefits make a workplace reading culture a positive influence on employee well-being 

(Clarkson, Natalie. (2015) Why promoting a reading culture could promote well-being.)

• The opening line introduces the genre, title, author, and an overview of the article.
• The summary uses an objective tone without opinion.
• The author ends the summary with a closing line.
• The closing line restates the main points of the article, avoiding smaller details.

To understand the difference between a poorly written and a well-written summary, here’s a summary writing example to illustrate the distinction.

The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the way we access and share information. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and computers, people have unprecedented access to vast amounts of data at their fingertips. The internet serves as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and entertainment. Social media platforms have created new avenues for connecting people across the globe. However, this digital age also brings concerns about data privacy and security, as personal information is increasingly stored and shared online. Striking a balance between the convenience and risks of the digital world remains a critical challenge in the 21st century.

Poorly Written Summary

Digital technology has changed how we get and share information, and it’s easy with smartphones and computers. The internet has a lot of knowledge and fun. Social media lets us connect globally, but it’s not always safe.

Well Written Summary

The digital age, characterized by the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and computers, has transformed information access and sharing. The internet provides an immense resource for knowledge and entertainment, while social media platforms facilitate global connections. However, the convenience of this digital world must be balanced with concerns about data privacy and security. Achieving this equilibrium stands as a significant challenge in the 21st century.

DOs & DON’Ts of Summary Writing 

Here are some DOs & DON’Ts of summary writing:

• Take note of the main theme.
• Pick out important supporting details .
• Write a chapter outline. 
• Be objective. 
• Brevity and clarity 
• Avoid details not included in the main text.
• Avoid first and second person point of view.
• Do not interject.
• Make it elaborate enough for a Summary Writing

These guidelines will help you create effective and well-crafted summaries.

Reporting Verbs in Summary Writing 

Reporting verbs convey your stance toward the information source. Your stance can be ‘positive,’ ‘negative,’ or ‘neutral.’ If you disagree with the author, you’d use a negative reporting verb to express your disagreement. However, in Summary Writing, you do not provide your point of view.

Tools for Summary Writing 

• Text Summarizer | Quillbot AI
• AI Summarizing Tool  
• Free Text Summarizer 
• Summary Writing App for Academic Writing 
• AI Summarizing Tool | Grammarly

English Grammar Fundamentals

• ইংরেজি গ্রামারের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বেসিক রুলস
• প্রয়োজন অনুযায়ী গ্রামারের ব্যবহার
• উদাহরণের মাধ্যমে প্রতিটি রুলস এর সহজ ব্যাখ্যা
• ১৭টি ভিডিও লেসন ও সার্টিফিকেট

Summary Writing Checklist

Practice makes everything perfect, right? So, here are some ideas for practicing summary writing.

Firstly, Find an article in the newspaper, on the Internet, or in your book that is interesting to you and write a summary using the guidelines. Then, u se the checklist below to edit your summary.  If you marked no , then go back to your summary and fix it.  Put a check in the Fixed box.

Frequently Asked Questions on Summary Writing

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on summary writing:

How can I make my summary more engaging?

Ans: To make your summary more engaging, consider incorporating compelling anecdotes or real-world examples, using descriptive language to vividly convey key points, and concluding with a thought-provoking statement or question that encourages further reflection.

What point of view should you use in summary W riting ? 

In summary writing, you should use the third-person point of view. Using the third person maintains an objective and formal tone and keeps the focus on the content being summarized rather than the summarizer’s perspective.

How do I avoid plagiarism in a summary?

To avoid plagiarism, rephrase the content in your own words rather than copying verbatim. Properly cite the source when necessary.

Can I include direct quotations in a summary?

It’s best to avoid direct quotations in a summary. Summarizing involves expressing ideas in your own words. However, if a direct quote is essential, use it sparingly and provide proper citation.

What tense should I use in summary writing?

Summaries are often written in the present tense to make them more immediate and engaging. However, consistency with the original text’s tense is also important.

How can I make my summary more concise?

To make a summary more concise, focus on the most important information, remove unnecessary details, and use clear and concise language.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid in summary writing?

Common mistakes include adding new information not present in the original text, expressing personal opinions, and failing to accurately represent the source’s main ideas.

At first, summary writing might seem challenging. However, the more you practice following our provided guidelines, the better you will become at mastering summary writing!

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কন্টেন্ট সমূহ, 📖 related blog, 5 reasons why you keep failing that test.

Okay, maybe not failing, but we all know the ever familiar ‘you-studied-for-months-and-still-did-worse-than-the-friend-who-never-saw-the-syllabus’ situation. We’ve all been through it time and again, so really, what are we doing wrong? And how do we get out of this? It’s possible. And it’s possible to get out of this in 10 minutes. (Because we’re all goldfishes and anything more than 10 minutes is like the script of The Lord of the Rings).

Subject-Verb Agreement With The Batman

See what the Batman has to say on subject – verb agreement

এসএসসি পরীক্ষা: ব্যবসায় শিক্ষা শাখা- শেষ সময়ে প্রস্তুত তো?

পুরোটা পড়ার সময় নেই ? ব্লগটি একবার শুনে নাও ! তুমি যেহেতু এখন এই লেখাটি পড়ছ তাহলে ধরে নেয়া যেতে পারে যে তুমি ব্যবসা শিক্ষা শাখার একজন এসএসসি ক্যান্ডিডেট। তাই প্রথমেই তোমার জীবনের একটি অন্যতম পরীক্ষার জন্য অনেক শুভ কামনা। পরীক্ষার শুরু হওয়ার আগের একদম শেষ সময়টায় আমাদের একটা কমন প্রবলেম হয় সেটা হচ্ছে আমরা …

এসএসসি পরীক্ষা: ব্যবসায় শিক্ষা শাখা- শেষ সময়ে প্রস্তুত তো? Read More »

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Top 10 Management Summary Examples with Templates and Samples

Ananya Bhaduri

Starting and sustaining a business needs the collaboration, experience, and enthusiasm of multiple team members. Creating a solid business plan is one of the most important steps in launching a new venture, with the development of financial highlights, departments, and overall goals crucial to its success. Suppose you're an entrepreneur starting an entirely new venture or perhaps you’re interested in starting a career as a business manager. It can be helpful to understand what a management summary is and its role in starting and maintaining a business.

Explore these particular project management executive summary templates to measure organizational success.

The Management Summary Templates presents an overview of the company's structure, personnel, and external resources. It also explains how the business is run and organized. It is an essential part of a business plan that demonstrates the expertise of the team and the resources behind the company.

Each of these Slide Team PPT templates is 100% customizable and editable. You can get both a structure in the form of content-ready slides and the editing capability means the presentation can be easily tailored to specific audiences.

Let’s explore them!

Template 1- Management Summary Template

This PPT slide gives you an executive summary that can be compiled for business activities. In this slide, a definition of the structure of the business is given, and it provides clarity where internal and external resources are concerned. This template delivers a significant part of the introduction, goals, and objectives. The second part offers the implementation and enforcement of the strategies along with the organization's core values. In the last part, you will get the company's mission and vision dealing with the company's management summary. This slide will provide you clarity and consciousness and by providing a comprehensive overview, this will help you to distill complex information into a format that is easier to understand.

Download now

Template 2- Project Management Executive Summary Template

Use this lucid presentation to understand the project management executive summary. This slide provides an overview of the project of updates and advances in the billing system of a business. It highlights the team's key stakeholders, in scope, out-of-scope, and project deliverables. You can also get summary information of a project for developing an automated system to track performance and reduce deviations. It includes business needs, project scope, deliverables, risks & issues, assumptions, and financial highlights of the project. Apart from this, you can grab this slide to get an overview of an application development project for HRM to retain, maintain, and hire high-quality human resources. You can use our project management executive summary template to present your new project ideas and it will bring clarity to cross-functional collaborators and team leadership as well.

Template 3- Management Summary Success Strategy Executive Improvements Accomplishments Template

Grab this template to highlight the significant points of your company. This slide shines a light on the company's overview, problems faced, solutions, financial highlights, keys to success, and market strategy. It also provides detailed information about products and services, mission, goals, and targets, including customer, internal business processes, employees & learning, root cause analysis, project results, etc. Use this template as a tool to highlight your company’s progress and growth in an impactful way.

Template 4- Agile Sprint Defect Management Summary Report Template

Use this PPT template to highlight summary dashboards for sprint defects for project management. It includes agile defect management, defects by project, bug fix time, defects by type, defects by status, defects by reporter, etc. This template will help you to focus on reducing the future sprint. To download this template, click on the link below.

Template 5- Project Management Plan Assessment with Status and Summary Template

Deploy this slide to make the project management plan assessment with status and summary. It showcases the project plan brief analysis with status and summary. It also includes work done, risks, mitigation strategy, summary, and projected date to complete the project on time. Use our template to understand the framework and format for presenting information about the project's status.

Template 6- Help Desk Ticket Management Summary Report Template

Get this template that illustrates the summary report on help desk ticket management. It includes ticket summary, ticket status priority, attachment created by, date created, etc. The table structure of this summary report helps you to understand this better. To summarize key support metrics and optimize future support strategy you can grab our template.

Template 7- Project charter management one-page summary Template

Grab this one-page summary template to manage your project. It shows the project definition, project charter, project schedule, project planner activities & roles, and project responsibilities. Use this template to present a high-level overview of your project.

Template 8- One-page summary for real estate asset management plan template

Use our real estate asset management plan template that illustrates the matter in a crisp and digestible format. It includes a strategy for real estate management, including executive summary, market analysis, strategy, management team, objectives, mission, and key to success. This template is useful to mitigate risks and promote valuable improvements.

Template 9- Construction Project Management one page Summary Template

Grab this one-page summary that contains the construction project management plan. In this template, you can get the project planner milestone tracker to analyze which milestones are achieved and pending. It also includes a project timesheet and resource planner to achieve the project within constraints. This template helps you to enhance data management and audience comprehension by offering a significant project overview. To use this template, click on the link below.

Template 10- Portfolio management dashboard with budget summary Template

Use our portfolio management dashboard PPT template to analyze the budget summary of your company. This slide highlights the portfolio summary, budget, budget allocation, and cost. All these sub-topics are described as a pie chart and tables, which will help you analyze the summary at a glance. This template acts as a tool to manage your project portfolio by providing an overview of your project’s current status, progress and financial situation.

To wrap it up, as project managers or business managers, you can use these management summary templates and slides to represent significant aspects and summaries of your projects. We provide a visual representation that offers a clear roadmap for achieving the project milestone .

Once you achieve the milestones of your project, you’ll have a clear idea about the goals and the track of the project.

Click here to learn more about the project status summary.

FAQs on Management summary

What is a management summary in a report.

A management summary is a set of paperwork that illustrates multiple elements of a business model and strategy, including its budget, management hierarchy, revenue goals, and personnel. A management summary is essential for a venture, new or old, to operate smoothly and efficiently, as it outlines the exact structure and goals of that project. It's typical for a management summary to include a breakdown of each vital member of the business and a description of their role in the company. It may even have their respective salaries as well.

Why is management summary critical?

Management summaries are an essential element of business organization because they assign responsibilities to individual people, teams, or departments. This helps to eliminate miscommunication, which can often result in work errors or delays in project completion. Also, management summaries can make it easier for a business team to stay on track with their schedule, as they often include a detailed business plan explaining the procedures necessary for the venture to succeed. Budget information can help ensure that every step of the plan remains within the means of the project, reducing the risk of overspending.

What are the five functions of management summary?

The five functions of management are a general theory of business administration that provides a framework for effective management. They are   planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling.

• Planning  involves defining a goal and determining the best course of action.
• Organizing  is arranging the resources and activities to achieve the goal.
• Staffing  is selecting and developing the human resources for the organization.
• Directing  is leading and motivating the subordinates to perform their tasks.
• Controlling  is monitoring and evaluating the performance and taking corrective actions if needed.

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English that goes straight to the heart

Summary Writing Examples With Answers

The summary is a brief account of the chief points of a passage. There is a great difference between the summary and the precis or the substance. The precis is the central idea of a passage.

In this post, we have added the top 10 Summary Writing Examples With Answers.

Daily Test - Attempt Now

• First, read the passage thoroughly to understand its meaning and retain its main points.
• If one reading does not enable you to understand its meaning, read it again.
• Don’t worry if you come across unfamiliar words.
• Try to figure out their meaning from the context.

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 1

King Mahala was fond of gold more than anything else in the world. He treasured his royal crown because it was made of that precious metal. If he loved anything good or half as good, it was a little girl who played around her father’s feet so happily. But the more Mahala loved his daughter, the more he desired wealth. He thought the foolish man that he was, the best thing he could possibly do for his beloved child was to bestow upon him the great pile of yellow shiny coins that had been collected since the creation of the world.

So he gave all his thoughts and all his time to this one cause. If ever he looked for a moment at the golden clouds of sunset, he wished they were gold and that they could be safely squeezed into his strong box. (144 Words)

Chief Points:

(i) King Mahala was very fond of gold. (ii) He loved gold for his daughter to whom he wanted to give all the gold in the world. (iii) He even wished the gold-coloured clouds of the sunset to be true gold.

Title: King Mahala’s Obsession with Gold

Summary: King Mahala was fond of gold and treasured his royal crown, but the more he loved his daughter, the more he desired wealth. He decided to bestow upon her a pile of yellow shiny coins that had been collected since the creation of the world. (45 Words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 2

Original Passage: Exercise in nature is very beneficial for both physical and mental health. In addition to the general benefits of exercise, such as improving cardiovascular health and increasing muscle strength, outdoor activities also provide an opportunity to experience the beauty and tranquillity of nature. It can increase feelings of well-being and reduce stress and anxiety. It is important to embrace the benefits of outdoor exercise and incorporate it into your regular routine. (141 words)

Title: The Benefits of Outdoor Exercise

Summary: Outdoor exercise has benefits for physical and mental health, including increasing well-being and reducing stress and anxiety. It is important to include outdoor exercise in your routine. (56 words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 3

Original Passage: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and went to a wood, where he built a hut and lived there. His only clothing was a piece of cloth that he wore around his waist. But luckily, mice were plentiful in the wood; So he had to keep a cat. Cats need milk; So he had to rear a cow. Cows needed tending, so a cowboy was hired.

The boy needed room to stay. So a house was built for him. A maid had to be employed to look after the house. A few more houses had to be built to provide company for the maids, and people were invited to stay in them. Thus, a small town sprung up in the lovely woods. (136 words)

Title – The Birth of a Town

Summary: Answer 1: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and went to a wood, where he built a hut and lived there. He had to keep mice, cats, cows, and a cowboy. A house was built for him, a maid was employed to look after him, and a few more houses were built to provide company for the maids. Eventually, a small town sprung up in the woods. (68 words)

Summary: Answer 2: A man in the east left all worldly thoughts and built a hut in a wood, where he had to keep mice, cats, cows, and a cowboy. A house was built for him, a maid was employed, and people were invited to stay. (43 Words)

Also, Read How to Write a Summary?

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 4

Original Passage: All the great things that have been done on earth have not been done for gold. The Lord Jesus did not come down and die on the cross for gold. The Spartans sought no reward when they fought and died at Thermopylae. The wise Socrates demands no salary from his countrymen but lives all day poor and barefoot only to make them good and noble. And even in our own time, there are heroes who do noble things but not for gold.

Our discoverers did not go out to enrich themselves when they set out on one terrible frozen sea after another: even the women who went to labour in Oriental hospitals did not impoverish themselves that they might become rich in great works. (136 words)

Title – Great Deeds Done For More than Gold

Summary: Answer 1: The great things that have been done on earth have not been done for gold, such as the Lord Jesus, the Spartans, Socrates, the wise Socrates, the discoverers, and the women who went to labour in Oriental hospitals. (38 words)

Summary: Answer 2: The great things that have been done on earth have not been done for gold. Jesus did not come down and die on the cross for gold, the Spartans sought no reward when they fought and died at Thermopylae, Socrates lived poor and barefoot to make people good and noble, and our discoverers did not go out to enrich themselves. Even women who went to labour in Oriental hospitals did not impoverish themselves to become rich in great works.(79 Words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 5

Original Passage: Nelson, in childhood, did not have a strong body. Yet he gave evidence of that stout heart and nobility which have so distinguished him throughout his illustrious career. One day he strayed from his grandmother’s house with a cow. Dinner time passed; He was missing and could not be found. The family’s apprehension became great, for they feared that he might be taken away by the gipsies.

After much searching, he was found sitting huddled on the banks of a river which he could not cross. “I wonder, child,” said the old woman, seeing her, “that hunger and fear did not drive you home”, fear! Grandmother,” answered the future hero, “I was never afraid; What is it?” (137 words)

Title – Nelson’s Heroic Spirit

Summary: Nelson strayed from his grandmother’s house and was feared taken away by the gipsies. After much searching, he was found huddled on the banks of a river. His grandmother asked him why he was never afraid, and he replied that hunger and fear did not drive him home. (48 words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 6

Original Passage: From the moment we are born, we cannot be alone; We stand in constant need of support from all around us, body and soul and spirit; We need clothes that other men make; Houses, which other men build, food, which other men produce; We earn our living by working for others, others earn their living by working for us.

As children we need our parents to be our comforters and take care of others: we cannot live a day without our peers; We need teachers to educate: books and masters to teach us trades; And when we learn it and settle ourselves in life, we need laws made by other men who died hundreds of years before we were born, to secure for us our rights and property, to secure our comfort in our station; And we need friends to comfort us in our sorrows and share our joys. (161 words)

Title – We can not live alone

Summary: We need support from all around us from the moment we are born. We need clothes, houses, food, and teachers to educate us, laws to secure our rights and property, and friends to comfort us in our sorrows and share our joys. We earn our living by working for others, and we need our parents to be our comforters and take care of others. (64 words)

Also, Read Summary Essay

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 7

Original Passage: One night a holy man, Abu Ben Adhem by name, suddenly woke up from a deep dream of peace and saw in his moonlit room an angel writing something in a book of gold. He did not feel at all frightened. The peaceful face of the angel made Abu bold and he said to the angel, “What are you writing?” The angel looked up and replied in a kind and sweet tone, “I am taking down the names of those who love God.” “And is my name one among them?” Asked Abu. But the angel replied, ” No, it is not.” “I pray thee then,” said Abu, “To write me down as one who loves his fellowmen.”

The Angel wrote and vanished. The next night the angel came again with a great light which awaked Abu Ben Adhem: and he showed Abu the names of those who had been blessed by the love of God. And behold! the name of Abu was at the top of the list. (166 words)

Title – Abu Ben Adhem and the Angel / The Importance of Loving Your Fellowmen

Summary: Abu Ben Adhem woke up from a deep dream and saw an angel writing in a book of gold. He asked the angel to write his name down as one who loves his fellowmen, and the next night the angel showed him the names of those blessed by God, with his name at the top of the list. (58 words)

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Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 8

Original Passage: We call beautiful anything that gives us pleasure and that depends on things outside of us. Perhaps most people think the sea is beautiful only when it is blue. If one has been in Italy as a child and has grown up beside the grey North Sea, he will think that grey seas are ugly: and nothing can be so beautiful as the blue Mediterranean.

But suppose a Scotsman who loves Scotland should go to Italy. He might find the blue sea too uninteresting after a while. When he goes home and sees the grey sea again, he will see the sea as beautiful. We are made in different ways, and grey can be as beautiful as blue, just as a baby’s cry can be sweeter to someone’s ears than the best notes of the greatest singer of all time. Nothing is beautiful or ugly in itself, but thinking makes it so. (172 words)

Title – The Subjectivity of Beauty

Summary: Nothing in this world is beautiful or ugly. Things look beautiful or ugly according to our own idea of ​​beauty. The same thing may look different to people raised in different environments. Generally, most people consider beautiful a thing that gives pleasure. But it depends on our perspective. (56 words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 9

Original Passage: Humans first appeared on earth a million and a half years ago. He was little more than an animal then. Still, early humans had some advantages over animals. He had a large brain, an erect body with fast-moving hands. He invented a language to communicate with his colleagues.

This ability to speak was of the highest value because it allowed men to share ideas and plan together: speech enabled the transmission of ideas from generation to generation. These special advantages put humans far ahead of all other living creatures. Since that distant time, when he first made his appearance, man has achieved a lot. (110 words)

Title – The Emergence of Humanity / From Animal to Human

Summary:Answer 1: Humans first appeared a million and a half years ago and had some advantages over animals, such as a large brain, an erect body, and the ability to speak. This enabled them to share ideas and plan together, making them far ahead of all other living creatures. Since then, they have achieved a lot. (54 words)

Summary:Answer 2: Humans first appeared a million and a half years ago, with a large brain, erect body, and language that enabled them to share ideas and plan.(26 Words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 10

Original Passage: Charity is a universal duty, which is in every man’s power to be sometimes exercised since every assistance given to another from a right motive is an act of charity; and is seldom in such infirmity that he cannot benefit his neighbour in any case. He who cannot relieve the poor can instruct the ignorant, and he who cannot minister to the sick can restore the wicked.

He who can give little help himself may undertake the duty of alms by inciting the greed of others and recommending petitions that he cannot grant, to those who have more power to give. The widow who puts her mite into her treasury and the poor man who brings a cup of cold water to the thirsty will not lose their reward. (143 words)

Title – Every Act of Assistance is Charity

Summary: Charity, a universal duty, must be practiced by all, and can be practiced easily by each according to his ability. Besides money, any help in word or deed, such as nursing, teaching or reforming the wicked, is charity. Failure to do something personally can affect others. (47 words)

Also, Read Examples of Précis Writing

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 11

Original Passage: Religion seems to me to be based primarily and mainly on fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and the desire to feel that you have a kind of big brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and conflicts. Fear is the basis of the whole thing – fear of the mysterious, fear of failure, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty and therefore, it is not surprising that cruelty and religion go together.

For fear in this world is the foundation of these two things, that we now understand certain things, and can master them with the help of science, which has forced its way step by step against Christianity: against the churches, and against all the opposition of the old doctrines.

Science can help us overcome this terrible fear that mankind has lived in for generations. Science can no longer teach us to look for allies in the sky but to look below at our own efforts to make this earth a habitable place. (186 words)

Title – The Role of Science Overcoming Fear

Summary: Religion is based on fear, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, and fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and science can help us overcome this fear by teaching us to look for allies in the sky and look below at our own efforts to make the earth a habitable place. (54 words)

Summary Writing Examples With Answers # 12

Original Passage: Mankind in general is not sufficiently acquainted with the import of the word justice. It is generally considered to include the performance of duties that society’s laws may mandate. This, I allow, is sometimes the import of the word, and in this sense, justice is distinguished from equity. But justice is still broader and unites all the virtues that can be shown. Justice may be defined as a virtue that urges us to give to every person what is his due.

In this extended sense of the word, it refers to the practice of every virtue that determines reason or should be expected of society. Our duty to our Creator, to each other and to ourselves is fully answered if we give them what we owe them. Thus, properly speaking, justice is the only virtue in which all the rest have their root. (150 words)

Title – The Importance of Justice

Summary: Justice, generally understood, means the fulfillment of duties sanctioned by society and in this sense, it differs from equity. But justice in a broader sense refers to the virtue of giving everyone what they deserve. It includes one’s duty to God and society and all other virtues. (47 words)

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Summary Writing

• Updated on  
• Nov 1, 2021

If you are asked to highlight the gist of the play ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare , would you rather write the whole story of Shakespeare’s longest play, (29,551 words) or just jot down the main elements and call it a day? This is exactly what summary writing is. It involves retaining the essential information out of a comprehensive piece of writing. Summary writing is an important form of writing skills that will come in handy for students throughout their academic journey and even in competitive exams such as Bank exams , MBA exams , etc. This article provides you with the nitty-gritty of Summary Writing, tips to compose a good summary and more!

This Blog Includes:

What is summary writing, uses of summary writing, find the main idea, simplify the text, create a descriptive outline, write the summary, review your summary, qualities of a good summary, tips for a good summary.

Precis vs Summary: How are the Different?

In the simplest terms, summary writing is the brief overview of a written material that highlights its main ideas. The word “summary” comes from the Latin word, “summa” meaning “totality, gist”. A well-written and effective summary provides the key points to the reader in condensed form that gives them a quick glance of what the passage intends to portray. 

While writing a summary, you should keep in mind that it should give an accurate description of the content in your own words, without incorporating your own ideas and opinions. A summary should be written in concise form, without amending the crux of the theme and subject matter. 

Also Check Out:

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• Message Writing: Class 6, 7, 8, Format, Questions, Topics

Summary Writing is very useful in developing certain skills that will be essential not only during school but also in future professional lives. It plays an essential role in the following aspects:

• Critical Thinking Skills- Summary Writing compels the students to analyse and pick out the main ideas of the text and decide what key points should be included in the summary and what is irrelevant.
• Writing skills – Drafting a summary involves writing in your own words, using your own vocabulary with correct grammar. This provides the students with a chance to practice their writing abilities and improve their writing skills.

It enables the students with the skill to take an extensive text and consolidate it into a shorter version that highlights only the main ideas, for a more concise understanding of the text. Following are some areas where Summary Writing can prove to be essential:

• Assignments that involve summarizing a text can be given to students to ensure that they got a good grasp on the details of the text.
• Teachers can formulate a lesson plan that begins with a summary of a chapter to provide students with the basic ideas and points before beginning the lecture. 
• It can be used to give a gist of the description of a movie’s plot, or a brief synopsis of a novel.
• Summary writing is also used to give an abstract of in-depth scientific reports and researches to give the gist of its content. 

How to Compose a Summary?

As already mentioned above several times, the most important thing to keep in mind while writing a summary is that it should be ‘a short and condensed version of a text, giving accurate description of the main points and ideas.’ Let us take a look at the steps needed in composing an effective summary:

In order to write a summary that demonstrates all the relevant points of the text, it is necessary to understand the main narrative of the passage. You should re-read the text several times to ensure that you haven’t missed any crucial details. This will allow you to highlight the major points that you want to communicate to the readers.

Break down the text into smaller divisions that point to the common topic. This will simplify the text and ensure that you can easily find the key points and do not overlook important details. Then, start by jotting down the sentences from each paragraph or section that supports the main thesis of the text.

While perusing through the text, try to highlight the key ideas that elaborate on the main ideas of the subject matter. Creating an outline will help you in composing a summary in a linear structure, without jumbling up irrelevant information.

After forming a rough outline of the text, start writing down your summary, keeping in mind that it should be concise. Combine all the main points and supporting sentences into a coherent whole. Summary should usually be 10-15% of the main text, so make sure to stay within the word limit. Keep the following points in mind while writing a summary;

• It should have an introduction, the main body and a conclusion.
• Add a suitable title for your summary that correlates with the content. 
• Always use third person while writing a summary.
• Use correct grammar and appropriate past tense.

Re-reading the final draft of your summary is a crucial step. Go through your summary several times to check for any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Make sure your sentences transition smoothly and flow in a way that the main idea of the text is easily conveyed. Rewrite paragraphs to make your writing clear and concise, and eliminate repetitious and complicated points. The final version of the summary should convey the exact same message of the text in a condensed manner.

The following are some attributes that describe a good summary;

• Accurate and fair
• Concise and Clear
• Objective and Independent
• Transitory and well-connected
• Comprehensive and coherent 

There are certain pointers that can enhance your summary writing. Keep the following things in mind while writing a Summary;

• It should be conveyed in such a way that the readers can get a clear picture and understand the material accurately.
• It should be a brief and condensed version of the original. It should be shorter than the source. Eliminate redundancies and only add relevant information to keep your paragraph clear and concise.
• It should be written objectively and in your own words. It should only contain the original author’s viewpoint. Do not add your own personal opinion. 

These were all essential aspects that must be kept in mind while writing a summary. Regular practice will surely help you ace your summary writing. If you are looking for creative writing courses , reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu who will find the best course that can equip you with the knowledge and skills. Sign up for a free session.

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