The document defines summarizing as reducing a text to one-third or one-quarter of its original size while clearly stating the author's main ideas and meaning. It also explains that to summarize involves stating a work's thesis and main ideas briefly and accurately. The document provides techniques for summarizing academic texts, including using the 5W's and 1H questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how.

1. ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
Cyra Mae Ladiao-Garcia

2. Techniques in
Summarizing
Academic Texts

3. DEFINE SUMMARY
•Buckley (2004), in her popular writing text Fit to
Print, defines summarizing as reducing text to
one-third or one-quarter its original size,
clearly articulating the author’s meaning, and
retaining main ideas.

4. •Diane Hacker (2008), in A Canadian Writer’s
Reference, explains that summarizing
involves stating a work’s thesis and main
ideas “simply, briefly, and accurately” (p.
62).

6. INSTRUCTIONS: Write the summary using the 5W’s and 1H Technique