What is a summary and why do we write one?
A summary is a short version of a text. It says the main idea and the most important points, and nothing else. It is shorter than the original, usually one quarter to one third of its length.
We summarise to understand a text better, to remember it, and to tell other people about it quickly. You cannot summarise what you have not understood, so summarising is also a way to check your own understanding.
Find the main idea and the key points
The main idea (or main theme) is the one big thing the writer wants you to remember. Ask: "If I could keep only one sentence, which would it be?" It is often near the start (the first lines of a paragraph) or at the end (the conclusion).
Key points are the facts or reasons that support the main idea. Look for key words: words that repeat, words in headings, and words that show structure such as "because", "however", "first", "as a result".
Text structure helps. In a story look for who, what, where, why. In an argument look for claim and reasons. In a science text look for cause and effect.
What to leave out
Leave out: examples (one example is enough, or none), repeated ideas, small details, direct quotes, and your own opinion. A summary reports what the writer said, not what you think.
Keep the order of ideas or restructure them so that the summary reads smoothly. Do not copy whole sentences.
Paraphrase: say it in your own words
To paraphrase is to say the same meaning in different words. Three tricks: use a synonym, change the sentence order, and join two short ideas into one sentence. If you cannot paraphrase a sentence, you have probably not understood it yet.
Summaries can be written or spoken. For a spoken summary, use even simpler sentences and say the main idea first: "The text is about ... The writer says ... because ...".
Synthesis: one summary from several texts
To synthesise means to build one new idea from two or more sources. First summarise each text separately. Then ask: What do they agree on? Where do they differ? Why? Finally write a short text that joins them, naming the source of each idea.
Try it
- Pick a news article or a textbook page (about 300 words).
- Underline the main idea in gold and 3 key details in blue. Cross out examples.
- Cover the text. Write 3 sentences from memory. That forces your own words.
- Count the words. Is it about one third of the original?
Key formulas and definitions
- Summary = main idea + key points, in your own words
- Length ≈ 1/4 to 1/3 of the original (check your task)
- Keep: main idea, key details. Drop: examples, repeats, opinions
- GIST: Gold first, Ignore examples, Short sentences, Tell in your own words
- Synthesis = summary of A + summary of B + what they share / how they differ
Worked examples
1. A text has 240 words. Your teacher asks for a summary of one third of the length. How many words?
240 ÷ 3 = 80 words. You can write between about 70 and 80 words.
2. Text: "Bees are important. They carry pollen from flower to flower. For example, an apple tree needs bees to make apples. Many farmers keep hives. Bees are important because without them many crops would fail." Write a one-sentence summary.
Bees are important because they carry pollen, and without them many crops would fail. (The apple example and the repeat were dropped.)
3. Paraphrase: "The old bridge was closed because it was dangerous."
Nobody could use the ancient bridge any more, as it was unsafe. (Synonyms: old → ancient, closed → nobody could use, dangerous → unsafe.)
4. Text A says homework helps children revise. Text B says too much homework makes children tired. Write a synthesis sentence.
Both texts agree that homework affects learning, but A says it helps revision, while B warns that too much of it causes tiredness. So the amount matters.
Common mistakes
- Copying sentences from the text. Always change words and sentence order.
- Adding your own opinion. A summary only reports what the writer said.
- Keeping examples and small details while forgetting the main idea.
- Making the summary almost as long as the text. Check the word limit.