Strategies and Techniques in Summarizing

Definition of a Summary

A shorter form of any long composition that precisely condenses key ideas.

Benefits of Summarizing

Improves memory and teaches you to discern important ideas while ignoring irrelevant information.

What is NOT Summarizing (Scope)

Writing down everything, or writing incoherent and irrelevant ideas.

What is NOT Summarizing (Length and Content)

Writing unstated ideas, or making a summary as long as or longer than the original text.

Finding the Main Idea

Look at titles, headings, and the first, middle, or last sentence of a text.

Separating General Ideas from Details

Skim the text first for context, and look for linking phrases like 'for example' or 'specifically'.

Identifying Key Words via Proper Nouns

Look for capitalized proper nouns; important or unfamiliar ones are usually explained in the text.

Identifying Key Words via Repetition

Repeated words signal significant terms that give meaning to a text.

Initial Guidelines in Summarizing

Clarify your purpose, read the text twice, highlight key ideas, and list them.

Drafting Guidelines in Summarizing

Never copy a single sentence and refrain from adding your own comments.

Finalizing Guidelines in Summarizing

Edit the draft, compare your output, record details, and format your summary properly.

Role of Summarizing

Tests reading comprehension by requiring a short, clear summary of main ideas.

Central Idea

The single topic that connects different parts and sentences of a coherent text.

Skimming for Context

Reading fast to understand the overall idea before distinguishing general concepts from details.

Significance Markers

Words like 'important', 'notable', or 'essential' that tell you an idea is crucial.

Combining Sentences

A specific step in summarizing where you merge your listed key ideas together.

General Guidelines in Summarizing

1. Clarify your purpose

2. Read the text twice

3. Highlight key ideas

4. Write the key ideas

5. Identify the connections of the key ideas

6. List your ideas

7. Combine the sentences

8. Never copy a single sentence

9. Refrain from adding comments

10. Edit the draft

11. Compare your output

12. Record the details

13. Format your summary properly