Seven Steps to Summary Writing

Task: Write a summary of the article you received in class today.

Summary writing is an essential skill to develop. It allows you to briefly re-tell the key ideas of texts that
you read. It also demonstrates that you understand a text and can effectively communicate that
understanding to your reader. Your summary should be to a the length of the original text.

Summary writing is an exercise in balance, as you do not want to include too much information, but you
want to be sure to include enough to convey the jist of the text to the reader. There are NO personal
opinions or ideas included in a summary. You are simply summarizing someone elses ideas, using
your own words.

Follow the steps below to write a summary:

Step 1: Read the Text
Read the entire text without taking any notes

The aim here is the gain an understanding of the authors main ideas

Step 2: Actively Re- Read the Text a Second Time
Read the entire text again, but this time, divide the text into sections or segments of ideas. A
segment may be one paragraph, or more than one. Be sure your sections contain information that
is related.

If you are able to write on the text, you may want to highlight or underline the authors main ideas
or you may want to make notes in the margins about information that is important or not
important (too specific, too much detail, interesting but not important)

If you cannot write on the text, use a separate piece of paper to record the authors main ideas and
supporting points for each section

Step 3: One- Sentence Summaries
On a separate piece of paper, write the main idea of each section into one or two well developed
sentences.

These sentences need to be in your own words

Be sure that your sentences include only main ideas and supporting points- not too much detail
here!

Step 4: Figure out the Thesis Statement
Re- read your sentence summaries and figure out what message or central idea the text
attempting to convey.

Put this message or central idea in your own words- this is the thesis statement for your
summary

Note: In some texts, the author will state the thesis directly. If this is the case, you still have to re-
write this statement into your own words.
In news magazine articles, the thesis is often suggested through the title and sub-title of the
article. Again, you have to re-write this statement into your own words.

Step 5: Write your Rough Copy
Use the thesis statement you have created as your introductory (topic) sentence

Use the other sentences you have created to form the body of your summary

Add transition words to create logical and natural sequence of ideas

Your conclusion could explain what the reader (not you or I) can learn from reading the text

It is crucial that you DO NOT add in any of your own personal opinions or ideas to the summary

Step 6: Read, Edit and Revise Your Summary
Read your draft to make sure you have accurately included the authors main and supporting ideas

Edit your summary to make sure:
o you have written your ideas in a clear manner
o you have used proper spelling, grammar and punctuation
o you have included transition words
o you have left out any personal opinions or ideas

One of the best ways to edit your work is to read it aloud, word- for- word, as you have written
it.

Step 7: Write a Polished Good Copy
For our purposes, your summary will follow MLA format

It must be typed and double- spaced, in size 12 font (use Times New Roman or Arial)

Read it over once more, before you hand it in!


Sample MLA format:
Student Smith Smith, 1

ENG 3CI/4CI

Ms Storkey

Date


This is one of the best-looking
assignments I have ever submitted. I am
typing it in a readable 12-point font, Im
double-spacing, and Im leaving adequate
margins so that my teacher can provide
feedback!
I hope that my teacher will be happy
with my efforts. I know Im proud of the
way it looks!