1. GETTING TO THE MAIN IDEA COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010
Summarizing
GETTING TO THE MAIN IDEA
COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010

2. Summary A brief restatement of a source’s main idea(s).
Significantly shorter than the source.

3. Types of Summary Constructed Overview
Follows original sentence by sentence
Condenses Ideas
Overview
Restatement of ideas based on memory
Captures purpose and intention of original

4. Writing a Summary
Include information about what you are summarizing: title and author.
Focus on main idea or thesis.
Include vital secondary ideas or support rarely.

5. Writing a Summary, cont’d
Style
Direct
Objective
Active
Ideas
Combine ideas
Maintain balance

6. Checklist Reread the source to make sure you understand it.
Write the summary in your own words.
Add appropriate documentation.
Refer to the author by last name.