How to Write a Summary Paragraph: 10 Steps

Table of contents:

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

A summary paragraph is intended to provide the reader with the main information of a longer text. You can write a summary paragraph on a short story or novel, or even on an academic paper or article. It begins by analyzing the text to be summarized; then write a good opening sentence; finally, develop a summary paragraph that is short but explanatory.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Organizing the Summary Paragraph

Step 1. Take notes on the text to be summarized

First, read and analyze the original text. Mark the keywords and the most important phrases or points. Highlight or underline any sentences that seem meaningful to you. Identify the main idea or theme of the text and the topical sentence (a sentence that contains the main topic or concept of a text).

If the original text is very long, briefly summarize each paragraph in the margin of the text, including key words, phrases and important points. You will use all of these notations in your summary paragraph

Step 2. Outline the main idea of the text

Summarize the main idea or ideas from the original text in two or three lines. Try to be short and get straight to the point. Ask yourself, "What is the author trying to say? What is the main concept or theme?"

For example, if the text to be summarized were F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the topics to list would be: "friendship", "social status", "wealth" and "unrequited love"

Step 3. Extract examples from the text to support the main idea

Once you understand the main theme, find one to three examples in the text that support it. They can be quotes, scenes or even crucial passages or moments.

List the supporting examples and briefly summarize them by noting what happens in each example. You can refer to these examples in the summary paragraph

Part 2 of 3: Write a Good Opening Phrase

Step 1. Indicate the author, title and publication date

The first sentence of a summary paragraph should always include the author, title and publication date of the original text. You should also specify what kind of text it is (a novel, a short story, an article…). This will allow the reader to immediately have basic information about the text.

For example, you might start like this: "In the novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald …"
If you're summarizing an article, you might start like this: "In your article" What is Intersexuality? ", Nancy Kerr (2001)…"

Step 2. Use declarative verbs

In the first sentence of the summary paragraph you should use a declarative verb, such as "affirm", "support", "assert", "declare" or "insist". You can also use verbs like "explain", "treat", "illustrate", "present" and "express". This way the introduction will be clear and concise.

For example, you could write: "In the novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald introduces …"
In the case of the article, you could write: "In her article" What is Intersexuality? "Nancy Kerr (2001) argues that …"

Step 3. Describe the main idea of the text

Conclude the opening sentence by presenting the fundamental theme of the text. You can then insert the various points that support it into the rest of the summary.

For example, you could write: "In the novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald presents the tragic figure of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby through the eyes of his neighbor, Nick Carraway."
In the case of the article, you could write: "In her article" What is Intersex? ", Nancy Kerr (2001) argues that the debate on sexuality within the academic setting ignores the growing public interest in intersex.."

Part 3 of 3: Developing a Good Summary Paragraph

Step 1. Answer the questions "Who?

Thing? Where is it? When? Keep in mind who and what the text is about; mention, if relevant, where it is set; finally, it determines why the author addresses that theme.

For example, if you were summarizing The Great Gatsby, you would have to write about the two protagonists of the novel (Jay Gatsby and his neighbor and narrator, Nick Carraway). You should also briefly focus on what happens in the novel, where it is set, and why Fitzgerald explores the lives of these two characters

Step 2. Write two or three sentences to support the opening sentence

Do not go beyond the three points, so as not to make the paragraph too long. Use events, quotes or text points.

For example, if you need to summarize an article, you can use the author's key arguments as supporting points. If you need to summarize a novel or short story, you can use key events from the story

Step 3. Use your own words to summarize the text

Do not copy or paraphrase the original text. Try to use your own words, avoiding using the same linguistic register and the same words as the text (unless you are quoting it).

Keep in mind that a summary paragraph should only provide essential information. There is no need to express your personal opinion; you can do it in a different paragraph of your work

Step 4. Try to be short and concise

A summary paragraph should not exceed six or eight sentences. Once you've finished your draft, reread and proofread it to make sure the paragraph is short and concise, eliminating any sentences that seem redundant or repetitive.

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