ENG 3CI

Final Summative

June 2014

How to Write a Summary

Step One: Pre-reading
Skim the article. Dont take any notes at this time just take in the bare minimum to get the basic idea
of the article.
Think of the focus of the article answer the basic questions: Who? What? When? Where? This bare
bones information can help to give meaning to your reading

Step Two: Read the piece thoroughly

In order to write an accurate summary, you must understand what you are reading and to understand
the authors purpose
Take notes and highlight as you read
Consider what is the authors main point and the man points of each section (the main points of each
section are details that support the overall main point of the article)

Step Three: Outline the Article keep with the main points of the article
What are the main points of the article dont get bogged down in the minor details
Write this in YOUR OWN WORDS
Only directly quote important sentences that cannot be reworded such as statistics or facts
Main point:

Supporting detail #1:

Supporting detail #2:

Supporting detail #3:

Supporting detail #4:

Supporting detail #5:

Step Four: Start with a clear introduction of the article

This lets your reader know the topic and author of the article
e.g. In the article, Cyberbullying: Focus on insight, not punishment, the author, Tony Volk, discusses
how little we really know about this complicated issue.

ENG 3CI

Final Summative

June 2014

Step Five: Summarize the article as a whole

Include important information only be concise it should be much shorter than the article @ the
length
Your reader needs to be reminded that this is not your own work. Use phrases like the article claims,
the author suggests etc
Your opinions and ideas should not be part of the summary
Try to get across what the author wanted us to learn or understand about this particular topic

Step Six: Conclude with a final statement

This is not a statement of your own point of view
This should include the authors purpose or main idea

Step Seven: Check for accuracy

Revisit the article as you write are you accurately writing what the author is writing
Does your summary have the same points as the article itself? Have you omitted anything important?
Have you concentrated too much on small details?

Step Eight: EDIT your writing

Does your writing flow? Does each idea make sense?
Did you include transition words to make it easier to read?
Check for spelling, grammar and punctuation

Step Nine: Cite your source

1. Authors last name
2. Authors first name
3. Document Title
4. Title of Web Site
5. Version or Edition
6. Publisher or N.p. (no
publisher)
7. Date or n.d. (no date)
8. Web
9. Date that you used this site
NOW apply the steps to our practice article use the outline in Step 3 to organize your ideas and then use
the back of this sheet to write the summary paragraph

ENG 3CI

Final Summative

June 2014

SUMMARY

Begin with an introduction:

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Conclude with a final statement:
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