The passage provides guidance on how to write a summary. It explains that a summary should be shorter than the original text and include the main ideas. The steps for writing a summary are to underline the topic sentence, main supporting sentences, and concluding sentence. Keywords should also be circled. It is then suggested to restructure sentences to write the summary in one's own words. Examples are also provided to demonstrate summarizing a passage and properly citing sources within the text and in a reference list.

1. Section F
Spring 2014

2. What is a summary?
According to Oxford Dictionaries a
summary is a “a brief statement or
account of the main points of
something”
(oxforddictionaries.com).

3. Therefore, it should be
shorter than the original
passage, and it should
include the main ideas of the
passage

4. How to write a summary?
Before you start writing your summary:
1- Underline the Topic Sentence (usually the first
sentence that carry the main idea of the passage)
2- Underline the main supporting sentences
3- Underline the concluding sentence
4- Circle the main KEYWORDS

5. Example:
• Summarize the following passage:
Studying foreign literature is not easy, yet many students pursue it for many reasons.
Studying the literature of another country entails learning about this country’s culture
and even history. It helps the students understand the human nature in another context
and it enriches their cultural background. In addition, it gives the students the chance
to practice their analytical skills in comparing and contrasting their native literature to
the foreign one. The critical reading leads to a better understanding of one’s native
culture. In conclusion, the study of foreign literature adds a lot to one’s literary
knowledge, that it gradually moves from being a study to a hobby.

6. Example:
• Underlining main ideas:
Studying foreign literature is not easy, yet many students pursue this study for many
reasons. Studying the literature of another country entails learning about this
country’s culture and even history. It helps the students understand the human
nature in another context and enriches their cultural background. In addition, it gives
the students the chance to practice their analytical skills in comparing and
contrasting their native literature to the foreign one. The critical reading leads to a
better understanding of one’s native culture. In conclusion, the study of foreign
literature adds a lot to one’s literary knowledge, that it gradually moves from being a
study to a hobby.

7. Example:
• Circling keywords:
Studying foreign literature is not easy, yet many students pursue this study for many
reasons. Studying the literature of another country entails learning about this
country’s culture and even history. It helps the students to understand the human
nature in another context and enriches their cultural background. In addition, it gives
the students the chance to practice their analytical skills in comparing and
contrasting their native literature to the foreign one. The critical reading leads to a
better understanding of one’s native culture. In conclusion, the study of foreign
literature adds a lot to one’s literary knowledge, that it gradually moves from being a
study to a hobby.

8. What next?
• Change the structure of the main sentences by:
1. Replacing words with their synonyms
(e.g. important > significant)
2. Changing parts of speech
(e.g. It is important to study literature > Studying literature is important)
3. Combining sentences using connecting words or the other way round
(e.g. and, but, in addition, yet..)
4. Changing active structure into passive
(e.g. They study literature > Literature is studied)
5. Making a positive verb into a negative verb
(e.g. trivial > not important)
6. Changing the order of the sentence parts
(e.g. Studying literature is important to enhance analytical skills >
Because it enhances the analytical skills, it is vital to study literature)

9. Would you try
and analyze our
passage now?

10. A Model Summary
Numerous students prefer to study foreign literature
for two reasons. They learn to understand the foreign
country’s different culture and civilization, and they
understanding better their own literature. It eventually
becomes a leisure pursuit more than just a study.

11. How to refer to Sources?
• Refer to a source when you need to verify or emphasize your
perspective. This source should support your point of view and
not replace it.
• Use quotations for short references and significant words or
quotes that would be more powerful if stated verbatim. (Refer to
author + “quotation marks”)
• Use paraphrases to add variety to your reference style. To
paraphrase is to write the quotation in your own words. (Refer to
author)
• Use summaries to recapitulate a long quotation and re-writing it
in your own words briefly. (Refer to author)
• Check Chapter 3, 8 and Appendix E in your textbook.

12. How to refer to the author’s words
or ideas?
• According to Oshima and Hogue (2006), “to introduce
borrowed information … use the phrase according to or
a reporting verb such as:
assert, insist, report, suggest, claim, maintain, say, write,
declare, mention, state” (p. 43).
• Example: In his article "Michael Dell turns the PC
world inside out," Serwer (1997) describes how Michael
Dell founded Dell Computers and claims that Dell’s low-
cost, direct-sales strategy and high quality standards
account for Dell’s enormous success.

13. In-text & End-of-text
• In-text citation: Your reader needs to know right
away who said what, even if his/her words are
paraphrased or summarized.
• In MLA, write the author’s name + page number,
while in APA, write the author’s name + year of
publication +page number.
• End-of-text citations come at the end of your essay
under the title “works cited” or “references”. The
function of this list is to give your reader all the info.
needed to get back to your source.

14. Example: Citing a book
MLA APA
In-
text
According to Bruce, “….” (50).
Or
Because, ….. (Bruce, 50)
According to Bruce (2001), “…..” (p. 50).
Or
Because, ….. (Bruce, 2001, p.50).
End-
of-
text
Bruce, Dickson D. The Origins of
African American Literature, 1680-
1865. Charlottesville: University Press
of Virginia, 2001.
Bruce, D. D. (2001). The origins of African
American literature, 1680-1865.
Charlottesville: University Press of
Virginia.

15. Citing a book:
A- APA
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of book: Capital
letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.
B- MLA
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication:
Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

16. Citing a website:
A- APA:
Last Name, F. M. (date).Page title. Website Title. Retrieval date, from URL.
Smith, J. (1 Sep. 2012). The Sky is
Blue. ObviousObservations.com.Retrieved 3 Sep. 2013, from
www.obviousobservations.com/JohnSmith.
B- MLA:
Last Name, First Name. "Page Title." Website title. Sponsoring
Institution/Publisher . Last date. Retrieval date, from URL.
Smith, John. “The Sky is Blue.” ObviousObservations.com. Captain Obvious
Inc., 1 Sep. 2012. Web. 3 Sep. 2013.

17. Citing articles:
A- APA
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article.
Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages.
Harlow, H. F. (1983). Fundamentals for preparing psychology journal
articles. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology,
55, 893-896.
B- MLA
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages.
Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000:
70-71.

18. Useful Sources:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/

19. Works Cited
Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2006). Writing academic
English. White Plains, NY: Pearson/Longman.

20. Best of luck 