Writing a Summary

Writing a Summary

A summary is a brief and general explanation of a text in your own words (1 paragraph). It answers the question: Who and what is the text mainly about? It usually contains 1-3 specific details or examples from the text. (See below)

A paraphrase is a restatement of specific evidence or ideas in a text using many of the same key words without directly quoting the text; synonyms often replace original words. This is helpful when providing evidence or explaining terms.

Ex. The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unnecessary police searches (Majerol 6).

A quotation is someone else’s words written down exactly as it was said or written. This requires quotation marks and context, who you are quoting and what the source is. This is used when the language of the quotation is most effective and persuasive, to build credibility, or to highlight the speaker.

Ex. Veronica Majerol shows readers that “Though the Fourth Amendment protects Americans from ‘unreasonable searches and seizures,’ there are no restrictions on police - or anyone else - recording you in public” (6).  

Task: Write a summary of the article you read and annotated.

• Write 1 paragraph; state the most important main ideas in chronological order from beginning to end of the article; state central idea (the author’s thesis/overall main idea of article) at the end of the paragraph
• Include title and author
• Include the most important evidence (1-3); you may paraphrase or directly quote
• Possible sentence starters:
• According to…, or Based on...
• The author states/shows/explains/reports/informs/demonstrates…
• The author wants the readers to know…
• Most importantly...
• The article is mainly about…
• The central idea of the text is…
• This is shown in…

Sample Summary:

The article “Should Police Wear Body Cameras” by Veronica Majerol shows that as a result of increasing incidents of civilian deaths at the hands of police officers, there has been a push for the use of body cameras so that people can know what officers are really doing. Many officers and governments are in favor of this and believe that these devices can “help de-escalate tense situations and make both officers and civilians behave better”(7). The main concerns over this practice are regarding privacy; while the 4th Amendment protects Americans against unnecessary searches and sieges, it is unclear whether body cameras go against our rights. Regardless, the central idea is that these devices may help ensure and reinforce that police are being fair and professional.

Name: ______________________________  Class: ______ Writing a Summary Rubric

	1: Limited	2: Basic	3: Satisfactory	4: Excellent
1. Slowly and carefully read and annotate the text.
2. Write a 1-paragraph summary: 1st sentence: introduce title, author, and main topic. 2nd-4th sentences (middle): explain 2-3 most important evidence from the text; quote and/or paraphrase from different parts of the text Concluding sentence: What is the central idea/theme of the article? What is the message or purpose of the text? This should not simply restate the first sentence.
3. The writing is clear, accurate, academic, and grammatically correct.