Summarization Techniques

Summarizing

• Summarizing is using few words to describe something important quickly and unconventionally
• Summarizing is a strategy for readers to extract and rephrase essential ideas from a text
• Summarization condenses information and restates it in one's own words

Key points of a Summary

• A summary consists of brief, clear statements, in the reader's own words, that capture the main idea and key supporting details
• The opening sentence should present the central theme or thesis, while subsequent sentences should emphasize significant details
• It should omit minor details or information irrelevant to the learner's objective
• Summaries should be written in paragraph form, should be shorter than the original material, contain nothing not in the original, and use your own wording

Rules of Summarizing

• Divide and conquer: skim and divide the text, focusing on headings, subheadings, and bold terms
• Read straight through the summarized text to grasp the author's tone, style, and main idea without pausing for difficulties
• Reread the summarized text while underlining topic sentences and key facts, label areas for summary inclusion or exclusion based on specificity and clarify areas of confusion
• Summarize each section's main idea in one well-developed sentence, focusing on key points rather than minor details
• Write a thesis statement by reviewing the sentences from step 4 to create a clear communication of the text's purpose; revisit previous steps if necessary
• Write ready to write, utilize the thesis statement as the introduction and supporting sentences as the body while using transition words to improve structure and flow

Other Tips for Summarization

• Write in the present tense
• Mention the author and work title
• Ensure conciseness, avoiding summaries equal in length to the original text
• Cite any direct quotes from the original author
• Refrain from including personal opinions, ideas, or interpretations as the aim is accurate representation, not critique

Accuracy and Revision

• To ensure accuracy, reread the summary to confirm correct representation of the author's ideas and key points, along with proper citation of direct quotes, while excluding personal commentary
• Revise the summary for style, grammar, and punctuation, seeking external review to ensure the main text is understandable based solely on the summary, indicating appropriate focus on the author's main idea

Assessing Written Summaries

• Accurately presents the gist of the reading passage
• States the main idea in the first sentence
• Represents all major supporting details
• Excludes nonessential or repetitive information
• Uses appropriate transitional words or phrases
• Is written in paragraph form
• Reads smoothly, with clear, balanced information

Identifying Main Idea

• Differentiate between the topic and the main idea to understand a reading selection, where the topic is the subject matter and the main idea is the writer's statement about the topic
• The main idea conveys the overall message of a paragraph or section, central to the text, articulated in a single sentence condensing specific details into an all-inclusive statement of the author's message

Expressing Main Ideas

• A main idea is expressed as a "topic sentence" in a paragraph, a "thesis statement" in an essay or article, and a "theme" in a literary piece

Locating Main Ideas

• Look in the beginning, middle, or the end of a paragraph