4. Summarize

1. Definition

Give a concise account of the main information in the text or the excerpt of the text and its structure.

2. Examples

Summarize the information given in the text about the Cold War.

Write a summary of the author’s position on the Cold War.

3. Description

This operator verb aims at the main information of a text. You have to filter out the less important information and consider the central arguments or contents of a text. Leave out your personal opinion and concentrate on a sober presentation of the facts. A summary should be clear and well structured.

4. Useful Vocabulary

-firstly; To begin with; ...opens the text by saying/ pointing out/ stating; starts with

-secondly; ...goes on to say/ state/ contrast/ emphasise; Furthermore, the author...

-the author ends by saying/ stating; to conclude, the author...

When you write a summary of an argumentive text these verb and noun collocations might be useful.

-the author starts from/ proceeds from/ is working from the premise that; the premise is that;

-the argumentation rests on the premise that

-he supports/ advances/ argues /supports /developes the thesis

-the author gives/ provides/ uses the argument

-he concludes; he draws /comes to /reaches /arrives at the conclusion

5. Advice

The summary of a text should reduce the number of words to about a third of the original text. Students tend to incorporate unimportant information. Therefore: “If in doubt, leave it out!” To omit unnecessary information concentrate on the six question words who, what, where, when, why and how. They will help you to find the central ideas.
Although it is true that you must not quote from the text, some key phrases like scientific terminology might be impossible to paraphrase. Just think of a paraphrase for mammal or VAT.

by Daniel Eiken