What is a Summary?
A summary is a shortened or rewritten version of an original text. The most important points of the text are identified and summarized in your own words. Writing a summary can help you better understand what you read, whether a book or an article.
The main purpose of writing the summary is to:
- Give the reader a clear objective of the text.
- Give the reader a quick overview of the important details.
- Demonstrate that you’ve understood the material.
- Give readers important details or information in a concise way, without injecting personal opinions.
Moreover, the summary can be in the form of an abstract, description, or synopsis. The length and complexity of the original text and your purpose in using a summary will determine how much detail you should include when writing a summarized version.
A short paragraph or even just one sentence can suffice for some people, but others may need more to get their point across effectively without boring the readership.
How to Write a Summary?
The perfect summary is not an easy task. It takes knowledge of both supporting arguments and main ideas to be well versed in writing them correctly.
Here are some steps that you will follow and create a well-written summary.
1. Read the Text
When reading the original text, it is important to focus on understanding what was written rather than taking notes. This will help you become familiar with both tone and style of writing for your summary to understand and represent them accurately when summarized.
2. Know the Main Idea
After reading the original text, take some time to absorb what you have just read. Identify at least one major point that stands out and understands how authors use sequence in events. Keep these 5 W's (what, who, when why & where) in your mind.
3. Take Notes
Now, it is time for you to read the story again. This time, you should pay attention to the main points that will be in your summary. These include topic sentences, plot points, important quotes, and major events. If there are any parts of the story that are confusing to you, make sure to write them down so that you can ask someone about them later.
4. Organize Notes
The organization is key when writing, so take your time and find a way to organize the notes. With an organized outline in place, it will be easier for you to write everything down neatly without any confusion.
5. Write Thesis Statement
The summary should have a strong thesis statement. The thesis statement should identify the text's main idea for writing a summary. This is often written in the introductory paragraph to demonstrate your understanding of the original text.
6. Start Writing
Summaries are often used as an opportunity to condense long pieces of writing. They can serve many different purposes, but in general, they provide a quick recap on the key points from whatever you’re reading or watching.
You can use the thesis statement as your first sentence in the summary, and other points will go into the body paragraphs. Keep in mind that your summary should have an effective flow of information. You can use transition words to help maintain this rhythm and make it easy for readers.
7. Proofreading
When you are done with the writing, it is important to edit your work. Reread and make changes along the way until an effective summary remains. Ask someone else for feedback if necessary to come up with this perfect piece of content- one that will wow readers from the start until the finish.
Summary Writing Examples
The summary writing process can be overwhelming, but it's not as difficult to understand if you consider the examples given below.
With the help of these guidelines, you will easily write a good summary without any issues. However, if you need professional assistance in writing a summary, consult SharkPapers.com.
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