Summarizing
GETTING TO THE MAIN IDEA
COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010
Summary
 A brief restatement of a source’s main
idea(s).
 Significantly shorter than the source.
Types of Summary
 Constructed
 Follows original sentence by sentence
 Condenses Ideas
 Overview
 Restatement of ideas based on memory
 Captures purpose and intention of
original
Writing a Summary
 Include information about what you
are summarizing: title and author.
 Focus on main idea or thesis.
 Include vital secondary ideas or
support rarely.
Writing a Summary, cont’d
 Style
 Direct
 Objective
 Active
 Ideas
 Combine ideas
 Maintain balance
Checklist
 Reread the source to make sure you
understand it.
 Write the summary in your own words.
 Add appropriate documentation.
 Refer to the author by last name.