How can you summarize an article or book?

1 Choose a source

The first step is to choose a source that is relevant, reliable, and suitable for your purpose and audience. You should read the source carefully and critically, taking notes of the main points, evidence, and conclusions. You should also identify the author's thesis, purpose, and tone, as well as the structure and organization of the source. These elements will help you to create an outline for your summary.

2 Create an outline

The second step is to create an outline for your summary, based on the notes and elements you identified in the first step. An outline is a skeleton of your summary, showing the main sections, subheadings, and key points. You can use different formats for your outline, such as bullet points, numbers, letters, or diagrams. The outline should follow the logical order and hierarchy of the source, but it should also be concise and clear. You should avoid including too many details, examples, quotes, or opinions in your outline.

3 Write the introduction

The third step is to write the introduction for your summary, using the outline as a guide. The introduction should provide the basic information about the source, such as the title, author, publication date, and genre. It should also state the author's thesis, purpose, and tone, and give a brief overview of the main points and arguments. The introduction should be clear and engaging, but it should not reveal too much or give your own opinion.

4 Write the body paragraphs

The fourth step is to write the body paragraphs for your summary, using the outline as a guide. The body paragraphs should cover the main sections and subheadings of the source, following the same order and structure. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that summarizes the main idea of the section or subheading, and then explain and support it with relevant details and evidence from the source. You should use your own words as much as possible, but you can also quote or paraphrase the author when necessary. You should also use transition words and phrases to connect and organize your paragraphs.

5 Write the conclusion

The fifth step is to write the conclusion for your summary, using the outline as a guide. The conclusion should restate the main points and arguments of the source, and synthesize them into a coherent and concise summary. It should also restate the author's thesis, purpose, and tone, and evaluate how well they achieved their goals. The conclusion should not introduce any new information or opinions, but it should leave a lasting impression on the reader.

6 Revise and edit

The sixth and final step is to revise and edit your summary, checking for accuracy, clarity, coherence, and conciseness. You should compare your summary with the source, and make sure that you have captured the main ideas and arguments, without distorting or misrepresenting them. You should also check your summary for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors, and correct them accordingly. You should also ask for feedback from others, and improve your summary based on their suggestions.