SUMMARY WRITING

Summary Writing
Summary is a short restatement of a document

its major findings and conclusions. It is

generally placed after the text to help the reader
understand and review the text.

Abstract is also a short restatement of a

document placed before the text to provide an

overview of the text.

Executive summary is a brief overview of a

longer technical report.

Summary Writing (Contd)

Readers need summary
to find out the gist of a write up without reading
it.
to find out if the text is relevant to their needs.
to get an overview before digesting the details.
to understand and review the text after reading
it.

Summary Writing (Contd)

2 Strategies for summary writing
Proportional reduction (Reduces the text into
summary as per the division of sections).
Main points followed by support points.

Before writing summary

Read the text minutely
Decide how much detail to include

Process of Summarizing
Read to find out
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Main idea
Main divisions of the document
Purpose of the document
Key statements
Key words or terms

Characteristics of Good
Summary
1. Verbs preferably in active voice and in
present tense
2. No unfamiliar words, terms, symbols or
abbreviations
3. No evaluative comments
4. Main points first and support later