Summaries Unit 4

A summary is

a brief composition that states the main ideas of a longer piece of writing.

Summaries differ according to their purpose and the type of writing being summarized. Summarize a nonfiction according to the following steps:

a. Read the selection. *Skim the selection rapidly, noticing the main ideas, divisions, and any terms in bold type or italics. *Read the entire selection carefully.

Summaries differ according to their purpose and the type of writing being summarized. Summarize a nonfiction according to the following steps:

b. Go through the selection again, jotting down the main ideas and important details. *The first and last sentences of each paragraph are usually topic sentences or summarizing sentences. *The last paragraph often lists all the main points contained in the preceding paragraphs. *Key words or phrases (such as a primary cause or another major reason) can point you to the main ideas. *Omit all examples, illustrations, and minor details. *Make sure your ideas are in the same order as in the original selection and that you have not added any ideas of your own.

Summaries differ according to their purpose and the type of writing being summarized. Summarize a nonfiction selection according to the following steps:

c. Write the summary in your own words. *Put the original selection out of sight. *Referring to your list of ideas, write the summary in your own words. *Do not begin by saying "This article was about the theory of eolution." Write as if you are the author of the original article: "The theory of evolution has never been...."

Summarize differ according to their purpose and the type of writing being summarized. Summarize a nonfiction selection according to the following steps:

d. Proofread your summary. *Did you include all the main ideas? *Did you omit all examples, illustrations, and minor details? *Are your ideas in the same order as the original? * Did you write in your own words? * Are there any grammatical or mechanical errors?

A summary

should be no longer than one third the length of the original.

In a work of fiction,

you will not find topic sentences or summarizing sentences as you do in nonfiction. Look instead for the major characters, conflicts, and events in the story.