School of Language Studies and Academics

Writing a summary

Definition of a summary:

a brief account giving the main points of something

Summary. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/summary

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School of Language Studies and Academics

Step # 1

Read the whole article to get an understanding of its main ideas

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School of Language Studies and Academics

Step # 2 Underline the main idea in each paragraph.

Underline some supporting details.

Leave out examples.

Leave out repetitive words.

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School of Language Studies and Academics

Step # 3 (First Draft)

Begin your paragraph with a sentence that tells the name of the article, who wrote it, where it is published and the main idea of the whole article.

Then, using the information that you have underlined in each paragraph, continue your paragraph, making each idea into a sentence or two.

Remember the criteria for a good paragraph.

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School of Language Studies and Academics

Step # 4 (Final Draft)

Revise the paragraph Move sentences around if possible. Combine sentences using subordination

(because etc.) and/or coordination (and, but, etc.).

Change wording without changing the meaning.

Aim to make the paragraph shorter.

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School of Language Studies and Academics

The article, “Heavy Exercise May Produce Asthma-Like symptoms Even in Healthy Children, Study Finds,” published by the American Thoracic Society (2010, May 18) informs readers about this unusual health occurrence.