A well-written summary is succinct, accurate, objective, and coherent. It is brief and sticks to the main ideas of the original text without including unnecessary details. The summary only includes information expressed in the original and is written from a detached point of view without personal perspective. The summary presents the key points in a logical manner and easy to read flow using linking words.

1. Summary Writing
Features of a Well-Written Summary

2. What is a summary?
A summary is a shortened version of a
piece of writing.

3. What are the features of a well-written summary?
1. They are SUCCINCT
The word ‘succinct’ means brief and to the point.
To achieve this:
● Stick to giving the main ideas only
● Keep your writing simple. Do not use long and complicated
sentences and phrases
● Be direct

4. What are the features of a well-written summary?
2. They are ACCURATE
A summary must feature the main points that are expressed in the original.
To achieve this:
● Read carefully to identify the meaning of what you are summarising
● Do not include any information that is not available in the original
passage

5. What are the features of a well-written summary?
3. They are OBJECTIVE
Summaries must be written from a detached point-of-view. Your intention is
to give the original author’s main ideas, not your own.
To achieve this:
● Do not include your perspective of the topic
● Write in your own words, not the words of the passage
● Write your summary in the third-person point-of-view

6. What are the features of a well-written summary?
4. They are COHERENT
Summaries must be easy to read. This is because they are mostly used to
give people a clear idea about an extended piece of information. For this
reason, the summary must be understandable and the information must flow
well.
To achieve this:
● Use link words and transitional phrases
● Present the points in a logical manner