Writing > Summary > Rules & Methods

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Summary Writing

Procedures: How to prepare for a summary

Dos

• 1. Understand the text.
• 2. Underline the sentences which are important for the summary.
• 3. Divide the text into paragraphs.
• 4. Find headings for the different paragraphs.
• 5. Write down key-words (not more than 20) which are important for the summary.
• 6. Learn the vocabulary and the structures you need for the summary
• 7. If necessary transform direct speech into reported speech - only if there is an important idea or fact in it.
• 8. Write the summary in your own words using conjunctions, relative clauses or participle constructions.

Don’ts

• 1. Don't start before you have finished reading and understanding the text.
• 2. Don't panic at all - if you know what to write you will find that you can write it down quickly.
• 3. Be accurate, never change the meaning of the original.