How to handle a Summary Writing Assignment

Summary Writing : Summarizing is one of the necessary skills that a student must-have. It is because at least a week, an instructor of professor may ask you to summarize a specific reading material. There is an assumption that all students are aware of how to summarize a reading material. However, not all students have mastered the concept of how to write a summary. Some students lack the comprehension and analytical skills. It makes them encounter multiple obstacles when phrasing the author’s ideas and arguments in their own words. However, it is straightforward to write a summary.

How to do Summary Writing

Here is a simple guide on how to handle a summary assignment;

1.    Read the material

If you have been provided with the material to summarize, begin by reading it. Ensure you understand the primary ideas of the author. Jot them down since they will come in handy when you are writing the summary. The central argument of the author can easily be found in their thesis statement. Thus, take time to analyze the thesis of that material. When you identify the main idea, do not copy-paste it to your summary. Instead, try to paraphrase it in your words to avoid cases of plagiarism.

2.    Analyze the primary discussions

After discovering the thesis statement, one must go and look for the points that the author has used to support his argument. Pay close attention to the examples that the author has used to support his claims. Also, scrutinize the supporting details and determine if they are valid. After denoting them, go ahead and rephrase them in your statements and write them in your summary.

3.    Draft your ideas

After acquiring all the central views of the author, one must present them logically in their overview. Ensure that they create a flow to avoid confusing the reader. It means that you cannot write the discussions first without first indicating the thesis statement. It will confuse most readers, and they will wonder what you are talking about.

4.    Write your summary and edit it

It is effortless writing a review when one has an outline. The outline guides the student on what to write about and where each information should be presented. After writing the summary, it is essential that one goes back and polish it. Try looking for grammatical errors, transitioning mistakes, or even repletion. Similarly, try to replace a list of items with a general phrase or word.

Tips on Writing a Good Summary

Here are the secret ingredients on how to develop a brilliant summary;

1.    Come up with an enticing introductory paragraph

An introductory paragraph should contain the title of the reading material, its author, and the thesis. Look for a way to make this appealing to capture the attention of the audience.

2.    Let your summary be brief

A review is a mere yet precise description of the original reading material. Thus, do not be wordy. Be specific and accurate.

3.    Avoid vagueness

Do not be general in your summary. Instead, list all the names provided, as well as the details provided by the author.