To summarize a paragraph: 1. Read it actively by circling repeated words and underlining the main idea. Then cross out unnecessary details. 2. Write a 3 sentence summary. The first sentence should connect the key ideas. One or two supporting sentences can add concise details or descriptions. Compare the summary to the original paragraph and avoid adding new information.

1. To summarize a paragraph you
should :

2. 1. Read Actively

3. 1.Read Actively
A- Read the paragraph once without
highlighting or circling any of its text. This will
give you a general idea of the subject and
the author's purpose without getting too
bogged down in details and descriptions.
Pay attention to the author's purpose for
writing the paragraph. For example, the
author of an American history textbook wrote
to inform readers, but the author of a travel
brochure might have written to convince
readers to make a trip.

4. 1.Read Actively
B- Re-read the paragraph while
looking for words and phrases that the
author repeats. For example, a
paragraph in a history textbook on the
Emancipation Proclamation might
repeat the words "slavery" or "Lincoln,"
in reference to President Abraham
Lincoln. Circle repeated words and
phrases.

5. 1.Read Actively
C- Underline the paragraph's first
sentence, which often contains the
paragraph's main idea. A paragraph
about Lincoln might begin with the
phrase, "President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation on January
1, 1863, as the nation approached its
third year of civil war."

6. 1.Read Actively
D- Cross out unnecessary information in
the paragraph. Unnecessary information
includes literary descriptions, such as "the
first-time visitor to the Greek isles will see
sparkling aquamarine seas, craggy hills and
beaches of every possible color." It also
includes statistics, including "73 percent of
Americans in a blind-tasting study preferred
brand X peanut butter." Cross out the
information with a line that is thin enough for
you to read the words beneath the line.

7. 2. Write the Summary

8. 2. Write the Summary
A- Write one sentence that
describes, in your words, how the key
words you circled are connected to
each other. For example, in a
paragraph on Lincoln, that sentence
might be, "President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to
end slavery." Use neutral, unbiased
language.

9. 2. Write the Summary
B- Add one or two supporting
sentences. These sentences might
summarize in concise words detail or
description in the paragraph, such as
"The Greek islands are beautiful" or
"Most people prefer brand X peanut
butter."

10. 2. Write the Summary
C- Compare your summary to the
original paragraph. Avoid adding
information or opinions that are not in
the original paragraph. For example,
the author may have wonderful
statements about Greece, but avoid
writing statements such as, "I would
love to visit Greece someday" in your
paragraph.

11. 2. Write the Summary
D- Compare your paragraph's first
sentence with the first sentence of the
original paragraph. They should not be
exactly the same, but they should
convey similar points.

12. 2. Write the Summary
E- Read your summary aloud and
correct any mistakes.
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