How to write a summary

What should you include in the first sentence?

• author

• genre

• year

• headline (title, unit etc.)

• overall idea/topic of the text (book, article etc.)

Answer explanation

That's right. All of them. But you should also refer to the task in your introduction.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

In the main part you should...

• use a logical order (but not necessarily a chronological order of the text depending on the task)

• not include your own opinion and should not offer an interpretation

• use indirect speech and your own words

• paraphrase the original text and shrink it to 1/3 of the original length

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Should you use quotes in a summary?

• yes

• no

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Should you use paragraphs?

• Yes

• No

• Yes, indented ones.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

What kind of language should you use?

• neutral register

• informal register

• lots of "I"

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

CCSS.RL. 11-12.9

What kind of words should you rather use to produce indirect speech?

• say

• claim

• believe

• suggests

What can you use to connect sentences?

• nothing special, just form short sentences

• and/or

• linking words

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

What about the conclusion?

• there does not need to be a conclusion

• a concluding sentence is sufficient

• there needs to be whole paragraph that wraps everything up so that the text is linear

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5