A summary focuses on the main ideas and excludes examples or supporting information.

A typical summary activity (which may not be word for word) will include the following instructions:

Read the following passage carefully. Write a summary on*:

- point 1

- point 2

Your summary should be in continuous writing and should not be longer than 150 words. Credit will be given for the use of own words** but care must be taken not to change the original meaning.

Depending on the activity, a different upper word limit may be stated.

How to Write a Summary - 5 Steps

Step 1: Read the question and take note of the requirements.* Make sure you completely understand this. This will help you decide which key points to note later.

Step 2: Read the passage carefully and check for any new or difficult vocabulary. Try not to skip any words or sentences. They may end up being important.

Step 3: Mark sentences with key points by underlining or highlighting. This will give you a clear overview of what you plan to include in your summary. It helps to avoid repeating or omitting key points.

Step 4: Write your summary by paraphrasing** your marked sentences. Here, your writing skills will be tested. Most students end up simply copying and pasting part or parts of their marked sentences. This usually result in grammatical errors and issues with sentence structure. Remember to remove most of the unnecessary details.

Step 5: Check your summary for accuracy. Do a word count and proofread your summary. Make any minor but necessary changes. Make sure that your summary did not change the writer’s original meaning or add new information.

The next section will deal with Step 4. Paraphrasing techniques.

Back to List of Summaries Page