How to Write a Summary of an Academic Article in English: Writing Tips

Summary

In this instructional video, viewers learn the art of summarizing a text effectively. The presenter emphasizes the importance of reading critically, identifying main ideas, and supporting details using highlighters. Margin notes and section division are suggested to grasp the text's structure. The presenter advises against copying sentences and instead encourages paraphrasing in one's own words. The summary should begin with the article's title, author, and main idea, followed by a clear listing of key points in paragraph form, using transitions for coherence. An example using Dr. Anthony Fauci's essay illustrates the process, highlighting the principles that guide his life and work in public health.

Takeaways

• 📚 Start by understanding the material: Read the article or book critically, focusing on grasping the main ideas and important details.
• 🔍 Highlight key points: Use two different colors to distinguish between main ideas and supporting details or examples.
• ✏️ Eliminate irrelevant content: Cross out sentences that do not contribute to the main idea to streamline the summary process.
• 📝 Make margin notes: Jot down the most important ideas or topics of each section to aid in understanding and summarizing.
• 📑 Divide the article into sections: Use lines or separators to clearly identify different parts of the article for easier summarization.
• 🚫 Avoid plagiarism: When writing the summary, paraphrase the main ideas in your own words instead of copying sentences from the original text.
• 📋 Create an outline: List the most important ideas and supporting details in your own words on a separate piece of paper to organize your summary.
• 🗣️ Imagine explaining to a friend: Use this approach to outline what you need to convey about each section of the article in your summary.
• 📝 Write an introductory sentence: Begin the summary with a sentence that includes the title, the author's name, and the main idea of the work.
• 🔗 Use transitions: Employ phrases like 'firstly,' 'next,' 'after that,' and 'finally' to list main ideas in the order they appear in the original article.
• 🔍 Check for errors: After writing the summary, review it for spelling, grammar, and punctuation to ensure clarity and correctness.

Q & A

What is the main focus of today's lesson?

The main focus of today's lesson is on how to write a summary based on something that you read.

Why is it important to read critically when preparing to write a summary?

Reading critically is important because it involves thinking about the article carefully, identifying main ideas and supporting details, and discerning which parts are relevant to include in the summary.

What is the significance of using two highlighters with different colors while reading critically?

Using two highlighters helps in distinguishing between the main ideas and the important details or examples that support those ideas, making it easier to organize the information for the summary.

Why should you not include irrelevant sentences in your summary?

Irrelevant sentences do not contribute to the main idea of the article and including them can make the summary less focused and clear.

What is the purpose of making margin notes while reading an article?

Margin notes help you to identify the most important ideas or the purpose of each section of the article, which aids in summarizing the content effectively.

How can dividing the article into different sections assist in writing a summary?

Dividing the article into sections helps in understanding the structure of the content, making it easier to identify the main ideas and important details within each section.

Why is it not acceptable to copy sentences from the article in your summary?

Copying sentences from the article is considered plagiarism and is not acceptable in a summary. A summary should be written in your own words to demonstrate understanding and avoid copyright infringement.

What is the recommended approach to writing the summary after identifying the main ideas and details?

The recommended approach is to write the main ideas and supporting details in your own words on a separate piece of paper or document, without looking at the original text, to ensure originality and understanding.

How should the summary begin according to the script?

The summary should begin with a sentence that states the title of the work, the writer's name, and the main idea or the writer's point.

What is the role of transitions in the summary paragraph?

Transitions are important in the summary paragraph to list the main ideas in a clear and organized manner, reflecting the same order as they appeared in the original article.

Why is it crucial to check your work after writing the summary?

Checking your work is crucial to ensure there are no errors in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation, and to confirm that the summary accurately reflects the original article without copying.

Can you provide an example of how to start writing a summary based on the script?

An example of starting a summary could be: 'In the article [Title], [Author's Name] discusses the most important principles that guide his life, focusing on [main idea].'