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Zanichelli: Performer Heritage -  volume 1 page 349

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Linkers and connectors list

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Linkers and connectors

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English grammar - CONNECTORS and LINKERS - gramática inglesa

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Writing a summary is a great way to process the information you read, whether it's an article or a book. If you're assigned a summary in school, the best way to approach it is by reviewing the piece you're summarizing. Read it thoroughly and take notes on the major points you want to include in your summary. When you get to writing your summary, rely on your memory first to make sure the summary is in your own words. Then, revise it to ensure that your writing is clear and the grammar, punctuation, and spelling are all perfect.

Reviewing the Piece

1. Read the piece thoroughly. You should read it without making any kind of marks. Instead, focus on really understanding what the author is trying to say. This might mean that you need to read one sentence or paragraph more than once. You might also want to reread the whole piece. That's fine.

2. Write down what you think the main point of the piece is. This will help you start to put the piece's arguments in your own words. You can also ask yourself what point or points or themes come up throughout the entire piece. The title can also give you a tip as to the main point of the piece.

The author might also state their thesis more plainly by saying something like "my argument is...." or I believe...

In a fiction piece, the author will more likely emphasize themes. So if you notice that love - discussions or descriptions of it, for example - come up a lot, one of the main points of the piece is probably love.

Writing The Summary in Your Own Words

Work from memory to write the main point of each section. Without looking at your notes, write a first draft that includes the main point of each section in your own words. A summary shouldn't just repeat what the original author said, so using your own words is very important.

If you absolutely must use the original author's words, put them in quotation marks. This tells your reader those words aren't yours. Not doing this is academic plagiarism, and it can get you in a lot of trouble.

Make sure you format the quote correctly!

Revising Your Draft into a Coherent Summary

1. Reread the draft you wrote from memory against your notes. Take your notes out and compare them to your from-memory draft. If there's anything major you forgot to include, put it in your second draft.

2. Present the summary in chronological order. Rather than jumping around to different parts of the story or article, you should explain what happened in the sequence that it happened. This is especially important for summarizing works of fiction.

3. Check for grammatical and spelling errors. Once you've finished revising the arguments in your draft, check the little things. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Look for any additional or missing punctuation and correct that as well.

Don't use spell-checker for spelling errors. It will catch if you spell something wrong, but not if you use the wrong spelling of a word. For example, it won't catch that you used "there" when you meant "their."

4. Check your length. Once you've added anything you might have forgotten to your summary, check how long it is. If you're summarizing something for a school assignment, be sure to stick to the parameters or guidelines provided by your instructor.

Generally, a summary should be around one quarter the length of the original piece. So if the original piece is 4 pages long, your summary should be no more than 1 page.

5. Ask someone else to read your work. Another person may see an argument or point in a completely different light than you have, giving you a new feel for the work and yours.

Not only should they be comparing your work for accuracy, ask them to read it for flow and summation. They should be able understand what happened in the article or story by reading your summary alone. Don't hesitate to ask for criticism; then weigh those criticisms and make valid changes.

Community Q&A

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Can I use persuasive speech in a summary?

Alexander Peterman is a Private Tutor in Florida. He received his MA in Education from the University of Florida in 2017.

Because a summary should be an shortened, objective version of a written work, I would avoid your own persuasive speech in a summary. Remember that this was someone else's work, not your own! Save persuasive writing for an analysis, not a summary.

How would I write a summary of a short story?

Alexander Peterman is a Private Tutor in Florida. He received his MA in Education from the University of Florida in 2017.

I would focus on the main themes and try to retell what the story is about the story in a shortened version. Focus on retelling it from the author's perspective, not your own -- and stay in chronological order.

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This article was co-authored by Alexander Peterman, MA. Alexander Peterman is a Private Tutor in Florida. He received his MA in Education from the University of Florida in 2017. This article has been viewed 1,720,963 times.

Before you write a summary, read the piece you're summarizing, then make notes on what you think the main point and major supporting arguments are. When you're ready to draft your summary, start with the author and title, then use your own words to write what you think the author's main point is in each section. Be sure to focus on what the author thinks and feels rather than what you do! Finally, reread your summary and check it for good spelling, punctuation, and grammar. For more suggestions from our reviewer about polishing your summary and improving transitions, read on!

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,720,963 times.

"I went over wikiHow's notes on writing summaries before my final exams in University. Quite honestly, not only did these notes help me gain more knowledge, but reminded me of the information I had learned throughout the semester. Thanks, guys!" ..." more

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Writing a summary is a great way to process the information you read, whether it's an article or a book. If you're assigned a summary in school, the best way to approach it is by reviewing the piece you're summarizing. Read it thoroughly...

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