A good summary has three basic characteristics: conciseness, accuracy, and objectivity.
When it comes to summarizing an article, book, or any piece of content, it can be a challenging task to capture the main points of the message in a short length of writing.
However, if done effectively, a good summary can communicate the most important ideas and information in a clear and concise manner.
Here are ten summary writing tips that talks about the qualities of a well-written summary:
1. Accuracy
A summary should accurately reflect the main ideas and important details of the original text without distorting or misrepresenting the information.
This means that you need to read the text thoroughly, analyze the key themes and concepts, and ensure that you present them accurately.
Avoid making assumptions or drawing conclusions that are not supported by the original text.
2. Conciseness
A good summary should be brief, capturing the main ideas of the original text without unnecessary details or repetition.
This means that you need to identify the core themes of the text and present them in as few words as possible.
A concise summary helps readers to quickly understand the key points of the text without getting bogged down by irrelevant details.
Remember, less is always more when it comes to summarizing!
3. Objectivity
A good summary presents information objectively, without personal bias or interpretation.
It focuses on presenting the facts and main ideas rather than adding personal opinions.
When summarizing, avoid using loaded language or expressing your own opinions. Instead, strive to present the key ideas of the text in a clear and factual manner.
4. Clarity
A summary should be clear and easy to understand, using simple and precise language that effectively communicates the key points of the original content.
Clarity is important because readers should be able to quickly grasp the meaning of the summarized text clearly and without confusion.
Use short sentences, avoid jargon or technical terms, and make sure your summary flows logically and coherently.
5. Comprehensiveness
While being concise, a good summary should cover all the essential elements of the original content, ensuring that the reader gains a complete understanding of the main points.
This means that you need to identify the major themes, arguments, and evidence presented in the text and include them in your summary.
A comprehensive summary helps to provide readers with a clear understanding of the main ideas of the text.
6. Structure
A well-structured summary is like a well-organized closet. It follows a logical order, organizing the main ideas in a coherent and systematic manner.
A summary may use headings or subheadings to emphasize the key topics.
One way to ensure your summary has a clear structure is to create an outline before you begin writing.
This will help keep your ideas organized and ensure you don’t miss any important points.
7. No new information
A key characteristic of a good summary is that it should not introduce any new information or ideas that were not present in the original text.
It only includes the significant points from the source material.
One way to ensure your summary contains no new information is to ask yourself if the details you’ve included are essential to understanding the main ideas of the text.
If not, it may be best to leave them out.
8. Avoidance of personal interpretation
A good summary should avoid personal interpretation or analysis of the original text.
It focuses on summarizing the content rather than providing subjective opinions.
This is not to say that you should not have an opinion about the text – it simply means that your summary should stick to the facts.
To ensure you are not adding your own interpretation to the text, double-check your summary for any subjective words or phrases.
9. Retention of the author’s tone
While condensing the information, a good summary maintains the tone and style of the original text as much as possible, capturing the author’s voice.
This is important for summarizing texts such as personal narratives or memoirs, where the writer’s unique style and tone are part of the story.
One way to capture the author’s voice is to pay attention to their use of language and tone.
Where appropriate, include quotes or paraphrased passages that reflect the author’s style.
10. Readability
A readable and engaging summary should be written in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and encourages them to continue reading.
To improve the readability of your summary, try to use clear, concise language.
Avoid using jargon or technical terms that the reader may not understand.
And remember, the goal of a summary is to make the information accessible, so don’t be afraid to use bullet points or lists to break up longer sections of text.
Summary writing tips and examples
Example 1: Domestic dogs and human health
Summarized: The article “Domestic dogs and human health: An overview” by Deborah L. Wells explores the relationship between domestic dogs and human well-being.
The paper highlights the value of dogs for physical health, discussing how they can help prevent illness, aid in recovery, and even act as an early warning system for certain ailments like cancer, seizures, and hypoglycemia.
Additionally, the article examines the impact of dogs on human’s psychological health, noting their ability to assist the disabled and serve as therapists in institutional settings such as hospitals, residential homes, and prisons. The article also acknowledges weaknesses in existing research but suggests that dogs can have both prophylactic and therapeutic benefits for people.
Example 2: What kinds of dogs are used in clinical research?
This article discusses the types of dogs that are used in clinical and experimental research. Dogs are often used as models in research because they share physiological similarities with humans.
The study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of dogs used in veterinary research and assess the validity of clinical trials in different veterinary medicine specialties. The researchers conducted a literature search and analyzed 150 clinical studies published between 2007 and 2019.
They found that Beagle dogs represented a small proportion of dogs used in research, with only 1.9% of dogs being Beagles. The most frequently used breeds were German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers.
However, the study also revealed reporting deficits, with missing information about breed, sex, age, weight, and neuter status in a significant number of articles. The authors emphasize the need for improved documentation and reporting of animal signalment in veterinary research.
The purpose of a good summary is to capture the main points of the original text while being concise, clear, accurate, and objective.
It should answer basic questions about the original text, such as “Who did what, where, and when?” or “What is the main idea of the text?”
Use these tips to create better summaries. By knowing what the main qualities of a great summary are, you can become an effective summarizer and communicate complex information concisely and accurately in a way your readers will love and appreciate.
