Writing a summary might not seem very hard from the first sight. Though it has some peculiarities and rules to follow. Once you get your assignment, read the given article thoroughly.
Make sure you understand the idea author bears in his article.
First, do not make any notes or marks. Just go deep into the given passage looking for what the writer is saying only. Outline the main subject described. Find and highlight the points author used to support his idea. After getting the idea, write down the point that is made about the subject in one sentence. You will have to keep to this thesis throughout the whole summary.
Now, begin to write your summary.
Start with the author's name and title of the article. State the main idea of the essay. While writing your summary, try to be concise and specific at the same time. Avoid unnecessary details. Conclude with a final sentence which explains the significance of an article. Make sure you conclude from the writer's point of view, not from your own.
After you have completed your work, read it and check for containing all the important details. Does your summary contain the same idea as writer presented? Have you dropped anything important?
It is important that your summary should be no more than one-fourth of the original. If it exceeds the limit, cut out non-essential details. Delete extra words, not ideas.
There is an effective way to know if your summary is of any good. Ask anyone to read it critically. If a person can understand what the article is about by reading your summary, you made a pretty good work. If not, weigh the remarks and make changes.
Remember, summary is not about expressing your opinion, it is about summarizing the writer's idea.
