The Process of Writing a Good Summary

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The Process of Writing a Good Summary
 by Jilani Warsi and Cary Lane

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Title (name) of the reading passage: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic (general subject) of the reading passage: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Author (writer) of the reading passage: _______________________________________________________________________________________________


Central Idea

(Write down the most important point of the entire reading passage)


Major Details

(Write down the significant points that support the author’s central idea)


Minor Details

(Write down the specific examples/statistics/anecdotes that support the major details)

1.

1.


2.


3.


4. (if there)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Paraphrase the central idea

(Write the author’s central idea using YOUR OWN WORDS. Be sure to refer to the author in this sentence)

Paraphrase the major details

(Write the major details using YOUR OWN WORDS. Be sure to refer to the author in each of these sentences)

(There is no need to paraphrase the minor details – they do not belong in the final summary)


1.





2.





3.





4. (if needed)


Now, let’s put the pieces together:

Sentence #1 of final summary: Write the author’s name, the reading’s title, and the paraphrased central idea in one sentence (do not begin your sentence with “According to,” or, “In”):

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


Sentence #2 of final summary: Write the first paraphrased major detail (use a transitional device to fluidly connect your first sentence with this sentence):

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


Sentence #3 of final summary: Write the second paraphrased major detail (use a transitional device to fluidly connect your second sentence with this sentence):

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


Sentence #4 of final summary: Write the third paraphrased major detail (use a transitional device to fluidly connect your third sentence with this sentence):

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


Sentence #5 of final summary (if needed): Write the fourth paraphrased major detail (use a final transitional device to fluidly connect your fourth sentence with this sentence):

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


CHECKLIST:

Sentence #1 of the summary: Did I write the author’s name, the reading’s title, and the paraphrased central idea in one sentence without beginning the summary with “According to,” or, “In”)?          YES      NO

Sentence #2 of the summary: Did I begin the second sentence with an appropriate transitional device?            YES      NO

Sentence #2 of the summary: Did I refer back to the author in my paraphrase?           YES      NO

Sentence #2 of the summary: Did I use appropriate “reporting” verbs in my paraphrase (such as, “The author explains…”, or “the author argues…”, or “the author informs.”                 YES      NO

Sentence #3 of the summary: Did I begin the second sentence with an appropriate transitional device?            YES      NO

Sentence #3 of the summary: Did I refer back to the author in my paraphrase?           YES      NO

Sentence #3 of the summary: Did I use appropriate “reporting” verbs in my paraphrase (such as, “The author explains…”, or “the author argues…”, or “the author informs.”  YES      NO

Sentence #4 of the summary: Did I begin the second sentence with an appropriate transitional device?            YES      NO

Sentence #4 of the summary: Did I refer back to the author in my paraphrase?           YES      NO

Sentence #4 of the summary: Did I use appropriate “reporting” verbs in my paraphrase (such as, “The author explains…”, or “the author argues…”, or “the author informs.”  YES      NO

Sentence #5 of the summary: Did I begin the second sentence with an appropriate transitional device?            YES      NO

Sentence #5 of the summary: Did I refer back to the author in my paraphrase?           YES      NO


Sentence #5 of the summary: Did I use appropriate “reporting” verbs in my paraphrase (such as, “The author explains…”, or “the author argues…”, or “the author informs.”  YES      NO

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