A summary is a brief statement of the main points of an essay or story. To write a good summary, you need to follow certain rules.
1- A summary should be one paragraph in length.
2- A summary should have a topic sentence that states the main idea of the essay you are reading. It should also include the author’s first and last name.
3- A summary should include all the important supporting points of the essay or story. It should not include small details.
4- A summary should have a conclusion sentence that restates the topic sentence.
5- A summary should be written primarily in simple present tense.
6- A summary can use some language from the original essay, but it should be primarily in your own words.
7- A Summary should clearly explain what the essay or story is about. Anyone who reads the summary should be able to say what the essay or story is about and what the main points are without actually reading the essay.
5 Steps to writing a summary
1. Read it until you understand it. Take notes.
2. Identify the author’s most important points.
3. Write your summary from your notes.
4. Check your summary against the original.
5. Revise and edit your summary for errors.