Vocabulary Flashcards: Writing a Summary (Academic Writing)

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering key concepts and strategies for writing a summary from the provided notes.

Summary

A concise distillation of a text's essential ideas into a short form, typically two paragraphs or less, aimed at reproducing the key points with precise language.

Previewing

A pre-reading technique that sets goals, orients you to the text, and helps identify which parts to focus on before reading.

Skimming

A quick, broad reading to understand the overall structure and main ideas, guiding where to read more carefully.

Scanning

A focused reading aimed at locating a specific fact, figure, or topic within the text.

Thesis

The central claim or main argument of the text that a summary should convey.

Author

The writer of the text; consider their background, the publication context, and the intended audience.

Title

The name of the work; including it in the opening sentence helps orient readers.

Audience

The intended readers of the text; influences what details are emphasized and the tone used.

Purpose

The author's goal for writing the text; guides what to include or omit in a summary.

Omit

Exclude minor details and non-central ideas that do not affect the main argument.

Include author and title

In the first sentence of a summary, mention the text's author and title to ground the summary.

First sentence thesis

The opening sentence should state or introduce the author's thesis to frame the summary.

Subsections

Divisions within longer articles; maintain these sections in the summary to preserve structure.

Avoid opinions

A summary should present only the author's ideas, not the reader's personal responses.

Paraphrase

Restating ideas in your own words to condense and clarify the text.

Drafting without looking back

Write the first draft without re-reading the source to reduce plagiarism and focus on core ideas.