Guidelines to Summarizing and Abstracting

Summaries

A summary (рус. реферат) is a shortened version of a text giving the

most important information of the original. Summaries may be given

either orally or in writing. A good summary should meet the following

requirements:

1. It compresses the original text to about one third or one fourth of

its length and gives a comprehensive coverage of all essential items of

information.

2. It is preferably given in the summarizer’s own words.

3. It is neutral and does not evaluate the source text.

4. The introductory part of the summary contains the name of the

author of the original, its title, and the subject.

5. The summary contains enough supporting detail and transition

devices to show the author’s line of argumentation and the logical rela-

tionship of the ideas.

Steps in Summarizing

1. Skim the original text and identify the author’s purpose and the

main idea of the text.

2. Try to divide the text into logically complete parts. If it has sub-

headings, think about the idea that each section (or paragraph) con-

tains.

3. Read the text again and take notes of the most important informa-

tion in each section; you may also draw up an outline of the text.

4. Try to give a one-sentence summary of each section or item of the

outline in your own words; avoid evaluation or comments. Use the words

and phrases synonymous to those used by the author of the original text.

5. Think about most essential details that may be added to support

the main points.

6. Formulate the introductory part of the summary including the

name of the author, the title and the subject of the text.

7. Add appropriate transition words and phrases to show the logical

connection between the parts of the summary.

8. If you prepare a summary in writing, go through the resulting text

again and edit it.