A summary is a short statement that tells the most important ideas from a text. It leaves out extra details and focuses only on the main points.
A summary should be shorter than the original text and written in your own words.
To write a summary, focus on the main idea and the key details that support it. Leave out repeated information and small details.
Do not copy sentences word-for-word. Instead, explain the text in a clear and simple way.
The main idea is what the text is mostly about. It can often be found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, but sometimes it is hidden in the details.
Ask yourself: “What is the author mostly trying to tell me?” That is usually the main idea.
Writers use summaries to explain what they have read or to share information quickly. Summaries help readers remember the most important parts without rereading the whole text.
A good summary is always clear, short, and true to the original text.
After writing a summary, reread it to make sure it makes sense, covers the main idea, and leaves out unnecessary details.
Summaries should not include personal opinions or extra examples—only the key information from the text.