SUMMARY REPORTS3rd Trimester Junior English

PURPOSE OF A SUMMARY REPORT

A summary is a condensed version of a longer document.

WHEN WRITING A SUMMARY…Keep the general information

leave out all specifics except the most important details

Separate general information from specific Prior to writing, make judgments

about what information is important enough to keep

base the length on the needs and expectations of the audience

TO WRITE A SUMMARY…

Include the thesis, or the main point, of the original in your first sentence.

Make it clear what you are summarizing early in the summary. If there is an author/title introduce it in the first

sentence. Decide if your audience needs a few details

or only the main ideas. For longer summaries, pick out only those details

that are especially important. For short summaries, leave out all details.

TO WRITE A SUMMARY

Write in present tense. Be sure to paraphrase, not copy word for

word. Provide adequate transitions to keep the

summary from sounding choppy. End on the same idea as the original.

WHEN WRITING A SUMMARY DO NOT…

DO NOT include too many details.

DO NOT give an opinion about the information in the summary. A summary should be an objective

presentation of what you read or what happened.

FORMAT

Your summary must include: A heading (title) centered at the top of the

page. One sentence thesis statement that functions

as the “intro paragraph” and describes what will be summarized.

Body paragraphs with only the basic information that relates to your thesis statement. Paragraphs may be short (4-5 sentences) as long

as they contain the essential info.