How do you summarise?

10 steps to summarising

  1. Skim the text and note any headings or subheadings.
  2. Divide the text into sections.
  3. Read the text carefully. Use a dictionary and thesaurus; find synonyms, if necessary. Read difficult texts more than once.
  4. Pay special attention to the first and last paragraphs. Identify the main ideas or arguments.
  5. Identify the main idea (called 'the topic sentence') in each paragraph. This is frequently the first sentence in the paragraph.
  6. Identify the supporting ideas for the main concepts.
  7. Try to write one or two sentences for each paragraph. Include the main ideas (usually a paraphrase of the topic sentence) and the main supporting ideas (also paraphrased).
  8. *Revise, proof-read and rewrite in order to polish your summary.
  9. Cite your source; use an in-text reference.
  10. Add the full bibliographic details of your source to the 'References' list at the end of your document.

* Revising means: Read back over your writing to check that the meaning is clear.
  Proof-reading means: Check spelling, the structure of your sentences, punctuation, verb tenses, grammatical processes etc.
  Rewriting means: Write a more advanced version,that is a 'good' copy.

(UNE, n.d.)

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