Writing a Summary of an Article

 

A summary must recount the key points of the article.  That means you have to capture the key idea of a paragraph (or sometimes of two or three paragraphs, as the idea is developed, shaped).  The article will be centered on a topic, but there will be several related themes that need to be briefly described and clarified.  When summarizing an article, be careful to accurately represent what the author has said – this is not where you should offer your opinion on the topic.  Also, be sure to write in your own words; do not quote the author.  Here are some suggested guidelines from Washington State University:

 

1. Read the article to be summarized and be sure you understand it.

 

2. Outline the article. Note the major points.

 

3. Write a first draft of the summary without looking at the article.

 

4. Always use paraphrase when writing a summary. If you feel you must copy a phrase from the original be sure it is a very important phrase that is necessary and cannot be paraphrased. In this case put "quotation marks" around the phrase

(but avoid quotes in this Global Business essay assignment).

 

5.Target your first draft for approximately 1/4 the length of the original.

 

The features of a summary:

 

1. Start your summary with a clear identification of the type of work, title, author, and main point in the present tense.

 

Example: In the article "Four Kinds of Reading," the author, Donald Hall, explains his opinion about different types of reading.

 

2. Check with your outline and your original to make sure you have covered the important points.

 

3. Never put any of your own ideas, opinions, or interpretations into the summary. This means you have to be very careful of your word choice.

 

4. Write using "summarizing language." Periodically remind your reader that this is a summary by using phrases such as the article claims, the author suggests, etc.

 

5. Write a complete bibliographic citation at the beginning of your summary. A complete bibliographic citation includes as a minimum, the title of the work, the author, the source. Use APA format.


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