Summarizing is restating the important points from a text in a shorter, more concise version.
When to do it
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After reading the text
Reading intention
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Condense information
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Organize information
Outcome
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Makes review easier
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Gives a good general understanding of the text
How to Do It
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Look for main ideas
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List relevant supporting elements
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Rephrase in your own words
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Look for Main Ideas
Read the text and ask yourself the question: what is it really about?
Identify the main points or ideas and condense them as a series of short sentences.
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List Relevant Supporting Elements
Ask yourself if the supporting elements are necessary to convey the main ideas. If you are unsure of the relevance of a text element, note it down for now and discard it if it turns out to be non-essential later on.
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Rephrase in Your Own Words
Do not quote the text directly: use your own words. Being able to rephrase with your own words means you have understood what you read.
Example 1: Frankenstein (Shelley, 1818)
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Main ideas |
Relevant supporting elements |
Rephrase |
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Driven by his obsession with giving life, a scientist manages to create a living being. Disgusted with what he has done, he rejects the monstrosity, pushing the lonely creature to demand the making of a companion. The scientist agrees, but then changes his mind, leading the monster to bring death and destruction to the scientist’s world. Realizing he is responsible for his own troubles, the scientist vows to destroy his creation. |
Example 2: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (Darwin, 1859)
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Main ideas |
Relevant supporting elements |
Rephrase |
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The book puts forward the theory of natural selection in the living world. Through observations and use of scientific methodology, Darwin proposes that living things are connected to their environment and other living things. These connections force a competition for survival prompting adaptability and variations in living things. |
To learn more about a strategy, click its name.
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Get an overview of the text. |
Quickly search & find information |
Ask yourself questions |
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Create mental pictures |
Relate to the text |
Read between the lines |
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Summarizing |
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Write down notes & comments |
Understand challenging words |
Sum up main idea & key elements |
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Explore sources to come up with new perspectives |
Form an opinion on the quality of the text |
Look at the structure and techniques used |