A summary should be a condensed version that is around 1/3 to 1/4 the length of the original text. It accurately captures the main ideas and important information from the text without including unnecessary details or the author's opinions. An effective summary is written in the writer's own words and does not copy verbatim from the original text. The writer must fully understand the original text before producing the summary.

1. Writing an Effective Summary
What is a summary?What is a summary?
A summary is aA summary is a condensedcondensed (much shorter)(much shorter)
version of the text.version of the text.
Therefore, the summary should be relativelyTherefore, the summary should be relatively
short and to the point (1/3-1/4 of the originalshort and to the point (1/3-1/4 of the original
text).text).
A summary is NOT a paraphrase of the text.A summary is NOT a paraphrase of the text.

2. Writing an Effective Summary
An effective summary isAn effective summary is accurateaccurate..
Therefore, you must read the textTherefore, you must read the text closelyclosely andand
gain a true understanding of the text before writinggain a true understanding of the text before writing
your summary.your summary.
Your summary should accurately represent theYour summary should accurately represent the
meaning of the text.meaning of the text.

3. Writing an Effective Summary
An effective summary includesAn effective summary includes
important informationimportant information..
The summary must include theThe summary must include the main ideasmain ideas of theof the
text. You do not need to include specific detailstext. You do not need to include specific details
from the text, but include enough information sofrom the text, but include enough information so
that the reader understands the author’sthat the reader understands the author’s
ideas/information presented.ideas/information presented.
Again, you must have a clear understanding ofAgain, you must have a clear understanding of
the text before writing your summary.the text before writing your summary.

4. Writing an Effective Summary
An effective summary isAn effective summary is objectiveobjective..
 The summary should only includeThe summary should only include factsfacts
and information found in the text.and information found in the text.
Do NOT include your ownDo NOT include your own opinionsopinions oror
personal judgmentspersonal judgments about the information inabout the information in
the text.the text.

5. Writing an Effective Summary
An effective summary is NOT a copy ofAn effective summary is NOT a copy of
the text.the text.
This means you need to write the summary usingThis means you need to write the summary using
your own wordsyour own words..
Do NOT copy the text word-for-word.Do NOT copy the text word-for-word.
Figure out how to reword what is stated in the textFigure out how to reword what is stated in the text
withoutwithout changing the meaning of the text.changing the meaning of the text.

6. Writing an Effective Summary
An effective summaryAn effective summary
•is accurateis accurate
•includes important informationincludes important information
•is objectiveis objective
•is NOT a copy of the textis NOT a copy of the text

7. Steps in Summary Writing
1.Read the passage twice.
2.Try to understand the passage - Ask yourself questions:
What is the author trying to say in this paragraph?
3.Identify the main idea:
•You should have identified the main idea through the
process of asking questions.
•Pick out the topic sentence in the paragraph.
•Leave out the examples that support the key sentence.
•Remove redundant words and phrases from key
sentences.

8. Writing an Effective Summary
4.Re-express the key points in your own words.
5.Write your first draft. EDIT your first draft.
6.Count and shorten if need be.
7.Write your final draft and pick out any errors.
8.Count and write down total number of words.