Summarizing an Article

How to Summarize an Article

1. Survey the article. Examine the title, any headings, illustrations, or any information about the author that may help you focus your reading.
2. Read the entire article carefully. Identify the central idea, major subordinate ideas, and their relationship to each other.
3. Notice any compact summaries the author uses at key points of the development. It may help to jot down notes or underline the thesis and topic sentences.
4. Compress the main point of the article into a comprehensive sentence, and incorporate major supporting points in subordinate phrases and clauses.
5. Explain how the author develops and supports the thesis. Follow the chronological order of the article, but condense the author's presentation.
6. Consider any special terms the author uses and determine whether or not those terms need definition in the summary.
7. Omit extraneous material such as deliberate repetitions for emphasis, figures of speech, narratives, or examples that are not essential to the central idea and the way it is supported.
8. Whether or not you agree with the author, do not include your own opinion, but give a faithful, accurate account of facts and opinions stated in the article.
9. Since you represent the author's presentation, avoid such phrases as:
   • the author said
   • in the author's opinion
10. Except in special cases, avoid quoting or paraphrasing the article.
11. See the Troy University, Montgomery Campus handout The Précis for suggestions on how to help evaluate the article you summarize.

References:

• Dunbar, Georgia, Clement Dunbar, and Louise E. Rorabacher "Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary." Assignments in Exposition 12th ed. New York: 1997. 151-179.
• Purdue On-Line Writing Lab "Differences in Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summary." Retrieved February 2004.