Useful Phrases for Summarizing and Abstracting

Introducing the main theme of the text:

· the text (book, article, paper, chapter, excerpt, passage, etc) is

about… / deals with… / focuses on … / develops the theory (idea, method,

etc)…

· the text solves the problem of …

· the aim (objective, purpose, task) of the text is to determine (test,

establish, describe, explain, etc)…

· the text was intended to establish…

· the basic topic is…

Introducing the key ideas, facts and arguments:

· the main idea of … is …

· the main facts of the text are…

· the author considers (describes, gives a description of, explores,

discusses, studies, investigates, examines, determines, finds, establishes,

assesses, evaluates, offers, suggests, provides, states, emphasizes, ana-

lyzes, summarizes)

· the author performs detailed (careful, thorough, extensive, accu-

rate, comprehensive, brief, short, preliminary, etc) analysis of (on)…

· the author thinks (believes) that…

· the author takes unto account…

outlines

gives full coverage of

comments on…

draws one’s attention to…

reminds that…

notes that…

expresses the view that…

argues that…

voices concern about…

is sure that…

· as visualized by the author

· according to the author…/ in the author’s opinion

Comparing

· The author makes/gives a comparison of … with…

· The author makes/gives a comparison between … and…

· In comparison with …

· In contrast to …

Balancing Arguments

· On the one hand … on the other hand…

· On balance…

· To weigh up…

· To take into account…

· One way or the other…

· For and against

· Pros and cons …

· Either way…

Linking Ideas

· To this should be added the fact that…

· It should be mentioned that…

· It led to…

· Thus we have an opportunity to observe

· In addition to …

· On top of that…

· To begin (to start) with

· The author thinks it is right for the following reasons…