How do you write a summary of a text?
The summary of a text should give the potential reader an initial overview and concentrate on the essentials. Regardless of whether it is a scientific abstract or the summary of a narrative: How to write a text summary always follows the same basic rules.
Functions and principles of summarizing a text
the summary of a text should provide an overview of the text in a short time. This can help the reader decide whether reading the entire text is of any use. You can also use a text summary to recall a text that you have read a long time ago.
- When summarizing a text, make sure that you do not falsify or evaluate the author's point of view. The text summary must be neutral and not contain your own opinion.
- Concentrate on the essentials. To do this, you must have studied the text intensively and understood it. You can do without the incidental when summarizing a text.
- Remember that your text summary itself must also be clear, factual, legible and correct.
- How you write the text summary also depends on the previous knowledge of your potential readers. Be careful not to assume knowledge that your readers may not have.
- You write a text summary in your own words. Verbatim quotations are possible, but use them sparingly.
Writing an informative text - this is how the introduction succeeds
Every piece of text that you write that contains information for the reader ...
How to write a text summary
- First, read the text through at least twice, marking important passages the second time. If you have not understood certain terms and contexts, clarify these questions.
- Then write down key words for the text, separating the essential from the inessential. When making this assessment, note the focus of the entire text.
- The summary of a text is divided into an introduction, a main part and often also a final part. Start with the introduction, name the title of the text, the author, if applicable the source, place and time of the plot, main characters and possibly the genre. A sentence that already gives an overview of the text is also appropriate.
- Finally the main part follows. This is where the actual text summary is written. Use your key points as a guide. Form meaningful paragraphs and write in the present tense. If the original text follows a fixed time schedule, then also use it as a guide in the summary.
- Finally, in the final part, you can point out special features of the text, such as the background to its creation.
How helpful do you find this article?
