Summarizing

Summarizing means telling the main points of something in a short way. When you summarize, you leave out small details and focus on what matters most. It is like shrinking a whole book into a few sentences. Summarizing helps you remember and understand what you read.

How to Summarize

First, read the whole passage carefully. Then ask yourself what is this mostly about. Pick out the most important ideas and key details. Put them together in your own words. A good summary is much shorter than the original text.

Tips for Good Summaries

Do not copy the author's exact words. Use your own words instead. Leave out small details that are not important. Keep events in the right order. Make sure your summary makes sense to someone who has not read the original.

Fun Facts

• Movie trailers are like summaries of the whole film.
• The back cover of a book usually has a summary of the story.
• News anchors summarize events from around the world every day.

Did You Know?

Being able to summarize is one of the best ways to show that you truly understand something you have read.