writng a synopsis

1. Writing a
Synopsis

2. A synopsis is a brief summary which gives readers an
overview of the main points.
A synopsis is a neutral summary, objectively capturing
the main points, rather than your own perspective or
critique, and it focusses directly on the text you’re
summarizing rather than being a wider discussion of a
topic, as an essay might be.

3. A synopsis aims to give the reader a full, if brief,
account of the whole text so that they can follow its main
points without having to read it themselves.
It’s not a ‘trailer’ designed to tempt your audience to
read the text itself, so you don’t have to worry about
‘hooking’ them in with hints and high points or ‘spoiling
the ending’ - give the whole text equal coverage,
including the conclusions.

4. Guidelines in writing a Good Plot summary
or Synopsis
1. The time and place should be indicated at the
beginning of the Synopsis.
2. A brief description of the main characters should be
give as they appear in the story.
3. The synopsis should begin at the opening of the
story and told in the same order as the play, and
end at the play’s conclusion.
4. Dramatic scenes that propel the story forward,
including climatic scenes should be described
within the synopsis.

5. Guidelines in writing a Good Plot summary
or Synopsis
5. The synopsis must be no longer than 250
words long.
6. The story must be told in the present
tense and in the third person.
7. When telling the story, dialogue should be
related in an informal way.

6. Plot summary/ Synopsis of “Sorry Wrong
number” by Lucille Fletcher
Sorry, Wrong Number is a play written by
Lucille Fletcher in 1952. The main character is
Mrs. Stevenson, an invalid, who has been
attempting to get in touch with her husband,
who is working late. However, the line is busy,
and she ends up overhearing a phone
conversation between a killer named George and
his boss. They are discussing the specifics of a
pending murder of a woman at 11:15 p.m. that
same night.

7. Mrs. Stevenson attempts to get the call
traced. The operator urges her to contact the
police, which she does. The police can only
say they will check into things. Mrs.
Stevenson then learns that her husband will
not be home that evening. She realizes that
she is the intended murder victim. She
desperately tries to get back in touch with the
police, but she is too late. The murderer is
already in the house and listening in on the
call. Just before she is connected to the police,
Mrs. Stevenson is murdered.