A summary is a brief review of the main ideas and key supporting details of a text. The purpose of summarizing is to prove understanding of what was read. A summary should be much shorter than the original text and only include enough information to convey the overall meaning. Paraphrasing differs in that it rewords the entire passage in one's own words while still giving credit, and can include direct quotes. To summarize effectively, one should read carefully and answer the questions of who, what, when, where, why and how, then write a concise paragraph using only the key ideas and details without opinions or direct quotes.

1. Summarizing Information English I NCVPS

2. What Does This Mean? A summary is a brief review of the main ideas and key supporting details of whatever text you’re reading. It might help to go back and review your PowerPoint Presentation on main ideas and supporting details before moving on.

3. What’s the Point? The point of summarizing properly is to prove or demonstrate that you understand what you’re reading. Your goal is to include only enough information to convey the gist of the text. A summary should always be much shorter than the original.

4. How is this different from Paraphrasing? Great Question! Paraphrasing puts an entire passage or speech or text into your own words, and credit is always given to the original speaker or writer. It’s not uncommon to include direct quotes in a paraphrase.

5. Summarizing v/s Paraphrasing Summarizing is focusing only on the main ideas ~ the key phrases and words ~ and any important supporting details. Very rarely, ideally never, will you use direct quotes. While paraphrasing is a more condensed version of the original, a summary is a super concise, to-the-point piece of writing.

6. To Summarize. . . . . .tell me what I need to know, but KEEP IT BRIEF. (We just summarized four slides worth of information into 10 words which clearly convey the main idea of summarizing. Isn’t that amazing?!?!)

7. How Do I Do This? Read carefully through the text. While you’re doing this, try to answer these simple questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How

8. For fictional pieces, think of these questions in this manner: What is the setting of the story? Who are the main characters? What are the main conflicts? How are these conflicts resolved?

9. So Far So Good! Next, looking at the text, write down ONLY key words or phrases that help to convey the main idea, or the answers to the questions of who, what, etc. Do not include your own ideas and opinions. Do not include any direct quotations.

10. Finish it up Now take these main ideas, supporting information and /or answers to our key questions of who, what, etc. and write a brief paragraph. This brief paragraph should demonstrate that you clearly understand what you’re reading.

11. Remember. . . Keep it Real but Keep it Brief!!!