Summarising

What is a Summary?

A summary is an overview of a text. The main idea is given, but details, examples and formalities are left out. Used with longer texts, the main aim of summarising is to reduce or condense a text to it's most important ideas. Summarising is a useful skill for making notes from readings and in lectures, writing an abstract/synopsis and incorporating material in assignments.

How to Summarise

The amount of detail you include in a summary will vary according to the length of the original text, how much information you need and how selective you are:
• Start by reading a short text and highlighting the main points as you read.
• Reread the text and make notes of the main points, leaving out examples, evidence etc.
• Without the text, rewrite your notes in your own words;restate the main idea at the beginning plus all major points.

When to Summarise

Summarise long sections of work, like a long paragraph, page or chapter.
• To outline the main points of someone else's work in your own words, without the details or examples.
• To include an author's ideas using fewer words than the original text.
• To briefly give examples of several differing points of view on a topic.
• To support claims in, or provide evidence for, your writing.

Summarising
• does not match the source word for word
• involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, but including only the main point(s)
• presents a broad overview, so is usually much shorter than the original text
• must be attributed to the original source

Source: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/sumpara.html#sumpara4

More information: http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/media/KSSP/c10_summarise_hair.pdf