http://www.shss.montclair.edu/english/furr/fcsummary.html
([.composition]summary)
How to Write A Summary of an Article or Chapter
I will give you several assignments which involve writing
summaries. They aim
- to give you guided practice in understanding the kind of
language used by researchers in academic publications;
- to get you used to the idea of separating what YOU think
from what SOMEONE ELSE thinks, and making a clear distinction between
them. The "someone else" here is the author of the research article.
- to get you used to PICKING OUT THE MAIN POINTS of any
article, and concentrating on them.
A summary is much shorter than the original article or chapter.
Therefore, you have to leave some material out. You should summarize
the MAIN IDEAS, and leave out those that are not so important.
I will be able to tell whether you have understood the
article according to what you leave out, and what you put in.
FORMAT.
- For the FIRST SENTENCE of your summary, you should COMPLETE
THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE:
"In this article the author, [put the name of the author here],
is trying to prove that...".
Complete this sentence.
The word "that" forces you to compose a THESIS STATEMENT for the
article.
- In the rest of your summary, you should summarize the EVIDENCE
which the author uses to PROVE his/her THESIS STATEMENT.
Total length: 2 1/2 single-spaced "screens" on Alpha, or 800
words (the equivalent of 3 double-spaced, typed pages).
BACK to Homework section of Freshman
Composition Home Page.
Email me if you have
any problems.
http://www.shss.montclair.edu/english/furr/fcsummary.html |
furrg@alpha.montclair.edu | last modified 23 Jan 97