1. Summary [Summary.pptx]
References
Ballenger, B. The Curious Researcher. (7/E)
Buckley. Checkmate. 348.
Reinking et al. Strategies … , 6th Can. ed. 30 – 31, 100, ]

2. What is a summary?
Brief restatement in own words of content of paper or essay
Focus on central idea
Includes main points and their order
May include some important examples
NO personal opinion

3. What is a summary?
If you are summarizing an academic paper, you should keep your summary in an academic tone.
It is always necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.
Summaries are shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.
From: Purdue OWL

4. When to use a summary
Represent the ideas of a writer in condensed form, in your own words.
Academic examples:
Abstract - Precedes an essay
-Gives an overview of what follows
Literature review
- Summarizes relevant studies
Annotated bibliography
- Provides brief summaries of related works

5. Characteristics of a Summary
1) BREVITY
Be concise: say everything that needs to be said in as few words as possible
2) COMPLETENESS
Being brief does not mean leaving anything out. Make sure you are including all important points!
3) OBJECTIVITY
Do not include any opinions or personal feelings. Include only the ideas of the author you are summarizing.

6. Characteristics of a Summary
From page 23 in Becoming an Active Reader
Be SPACE conscious: a summary should represent 20 per cent of the original length
Specific
Precise
Accurate
Clear
Efficient

7. Why write a summary? Aid to understanding
Promote good writing habits, including:
Clarity
Coherence
Accuracy
Helpful to readers
Required in college level courses
To avoid plagiarism

8. Why write a summary? (cont’d)
To provide variety (from quotations)
When original is too lengthy to quote
Sharpen writing skills
Shape of argument
Central idea
Location of key examples
Use as model

9. How do I write a summary? (1 – 3/9)
Read carefully for structure and purpose.
Write author’s main thesis in own words.
Reread original, marking text to:
Divide into sections
Locate main ideas
Note that the idea is to differentiate between key and supporting ideas.

10. How do I write a summary? (4 – 9/9)
4. Write one-sentence summaries of each stage of thought.
5. Write a concluding sentence.
6. Write a first draft, combining above sentences.
7. Check against original for accuracy.
8. Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.
9. Revise for style, mechanics, grammar, and logic (links).
10. Note: Include author’s name and title of essay in first sentence.

11. Alternate writing strategies
Reading strategies
Outline method
- Identify main ideas and sup-points.
- Make an outline.
- Write summary from outline, adding transitions as needed.
Section summary method
- Break text into sections.
- Summarize each section in one or two sentences.
- Combine section summaries, adding transitions as needed.

12. More tips Read essay over at least twice.
To identify main idea, ask how it supports the thesis.
Look for topic sentences.
Put parentheses () around unneeded detail and examples.
Do not assume every paragraph contains a topic sentence.

13. An Essential Component!
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS include the author’s name and the title of the work you are summarizing in the first sentence.
For example, if you were summarizing the text Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, your summary would begin something like this:
1) In Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams, he states that… OR
2) In his famous and influential work the Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud argues that …

14. Assignment
“Group minds” by Doris Lessing For your interest - Waiting room conditioning