Ideally, a quality summary should be able to present a variety of important information in the source text in a shorter and more concise format. If you are asked to summarize a novel, short story, academic text, or scientific article, some of the basic methods you should use are to outline the summary, define a strong opening sentence, and develop a concise but informative summary.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Creating an Outline
Step 1. Start by reviewing the content of the source text
Before compiling a summary, read and review the source text first. As you read, try to find important keywords and phrases. Also, mark and underline any sentences that feel important to you. Make sure you also take note of the main topic or idea presented by the author of the text!
If the source text you chose is long enough, try to summarize each paragraph and list all the keywords, phrases, or concepts you find; all of which can be used as your reference when compiling a summary of the text
Step 2. Record the author's main idea
Find one or two sentences that can represent the main idea of the author of the text. After that, try to include it in a short and straightforward outline. Ask yourself, “What is the author trying to convey in this text? What is the main idea or theme that he wants to present?”
If your source text is the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, try noting some of the main ideas in the novel such as “friendship,” “social status,” “wealth,” and “unrequited love.”
Step 3. Also note some supporting examples from the source text
After recording the main idea of the text, try to identify one to three examples of quotes or events that can support that idea. In addition, you can also choose a moment or sentence that sounds important.
Write down all the examples you find and give a brief explanation of the situation that occurs in each example. After that, try to start compiling a summary by referring to these examples
Part 2 of 3: Composing Strong Opening Sentences
Step 1. Include the author's name, title of the text, and date of publication of the source text
Also, include the genre of the text (such as novels, short stories, or articles) in the opening sentence of your summary. Thus, the reader can immediately understand various basic information related to the source text just by reading the sentence.
- For example, you might start your summary by writing, “In his novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald…”.
- If what you're making is a summary of the article, try writing, "In the article entitled "What Is Intersexuality?" Nancy Kerr (2001)…”
Step 2. Use a meaningful verb to report
The first sentence of your summary should contain a meaningful verb to report information, such as “state,” “claim,” “declare,” “prove,” or “assert.” In addition, you can also use other verbs such as “explain,” “discuss,” “illustrate,” “declare,” and “explain.” Using such verbs can make your opening sentence clearer and more direct.
- For example, you might write, “In his novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald presents…”
- If what you're making is a summary of the article, try writing, "In the article entitled "What Is Intersexuality?" Nancy Kerr (2001) states that…”
Step 3. Describe the author's main idea
End the opening sentence by including the main theme or idea in the source text. After that, you can provide various supporting evidence related to the main theme or idea.
- For example, you might write, "In the novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald presents the story of the tragic figure of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious billionaire, through the eyes of his neighbor Nick Carraway."
- If what you're making is a summary of the article, try writing, "In the article entitled, "What Is Intersexuality?" Nancy Kerr (2001) argues that discussions about sexuality in academic circles ignore the growing public interest in the issue of intersexuality.”
Part 3 of 3: Compiling a Quality Summary
Step 1. Answer the who, what, where, and why questions
Think about who and what is discussed in the source text. If it feels relevant, also mention the background listed in the text. In the end, determine why the author of the text discussed or brought up the related topic.
For example, if you need to summarize the novel The Great Gatsby, you will first need to name the two main characters in it, namely Jay Gatsby and his neighbor (the novel's narrator), Nick Carraway. After that, also briefly include important events that occurred, the setting of the story chosen, and why Fitzgerald chose to explore the lives of these two characters
Step 2. Include one to three sentences of supporting evidence
To keep your summary from becoming too long, limit the supporting evidence to three sentences. Supporting evidence can be in the form of events, quotes, or arguments that can support your opening sentence.
For example, if you are summarizing an article, try to include the author's main argument as supporting evidence. If you are summarizing a novel or short story, choose an event that can be used as supporting evidence
Step 3. Summarize the source text in your own words
Do not copy or paraphrase text that you need to summarize. In other words, use your own words instead of copying the original author's language or diction, especially if you're not citing direct quotes.
Remember, a summary only needs to be filled with important information in the source text. In other words, there is no need to accompany the statement with your opinion or argument. Don't worry, you can always present your arguments in separate paragraphs or sections
Step 4. Write a brief and concise summary
Ideally, a quality summary should contain a minimum of six sentences and a maximum of eight sentences. After completing the draft summary, try to read it again and make the necessary revisions so that the final result is really concise and concise. When revising a draft summary, make sure you remove repetitive or less important sentences or phrases.
