✂️ How to Write a Summary · Lesson 5 of 6
Writing and cutting the summary
Draft from the outline, link the ideas, then trim to length.
Draft from the outline
Turn each outline line into one sentence. Start with the framing sentence (author, title, reporting verb, main idea), then one sentence per key point, then the conclusion. Use the summary builder to generate a first draft from your outline, then rewrite it in your own voice.
Linking words
| Adding | also, in addition, furthermore |
|---|---|
| Sequence | first, next, then, finally |
| Contrast | however, although, in contrast |
| Cause/result | because, therefore, as a result |
| Author reminders | Smith also notes that…, the author concludes… |
Cut to length
- Delete examples you added that weren’t key
- Combine sentences that share a subject
- Replace phrases with words: “due to the fact that” → “because”
- Delete repeated ideas
- Check the word count against the target (often 10–25% of the source)
Final checklist
| Main idea | In the first sentence |
|---|---|
| Key points | All there, none of the minor details |
| Neutral | No “I think”, no evaluation |
| Own words | No copied phrases; quotes marked |
| Citation | In-text citation and reference entry |
Tip
💡 Read the summary aloud to someone who hasn’t read the source. If they can tell you the main idea, you’re done.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Write a full summary of an article from your outline
- Add linking words between the key points
- Cut it by 20%
- Run the final checklist and add the citation
✏️ Summary & outline builder: main idea → key points → summary draft
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in How to Write a Summary
- 📝 1. What a summary is — and isn’tShort, accurate, neutral and in your own words
- 🎯 2. Finding the main ideaThe thesis, topic sentences and the one-sentence test
- 🗂️ 3. Key points and an outlineChoose 3–5 key points, drop the details, and order them
- 🔄 4. Paraphrasing without plagiarismChange the words and the structure — and still cite
- ✏️ 5. Writing and cutting the summaryDraft from the outline, link the ideas, then trim to length
- 🔬 6. Summarizing research articlesAbstracts, annotated bibliographies and literature reviews