Tips for when you have the article in front of you:

• Read, reread, label and underline.
• Divide the article into sections that encompass one thought. Label each section.
• Underline main ideas.
• Write one sentence summaries for each section you labeled, preferably on a separate sheet of paper for added clarity.
• Write one sentence that summarizes the reason the article was written.
• Write a first draft linking the reason and the one sentence summaries. Change phrases, repetitions, remove extraneous details.
• Check your summary against the original and make whatever changes necessary to optimize accuracy and completeness.
• Revise your summary. Add transitions, phrases from the lexical phrase handout.
• Check spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Read your summary out loud.

Tips for when you write a summary from an audio recording:

• It may be helpful to listen once without taking notes.
• Listen carefully to figures.
• Jot down the main ideas sequentially. As above, write one sentence summaries of the main ideas.
• Write one sentence that summarizes the reason the article was written.
• Write a first draft linking the reason and the one sentence summaries. Change phrases, repetitions, remove extraneous details.
• Make sure you know which phrases need to be put in your own words.
• Revise your summary. Add transitions, phrases from the lexical phrase handout.
• Check spelling, grammar and punctuation.

General tips:

• Pay attention to the word length - 150 words
• Summaries are only one paragraph long.
• Always state the source, title and date of the article, unless informed otherwise.
• Always state the reason for the article. Without the reason, your summary is only half done.
• Summaries are objective. This is not the place to give your personal opinion.
• Rephrase, rephrase, rephrase. This is one of the main ways to show you have understood the article.
• Summaries do not have to be chronological. But, often the easiest way to write an accurate summary is by following the chronology of the text.
• You can use phrases such as 'the journalist shows us that...', 'in this article we see...' However, these types of phrases add to the word length without actually giving much substance.

created by: Heidi Gautschi