How to write a summary English 124

Read, Re-Read, Re-Re-Read! Spend at least half an hour reading and re-reading before writing the summary.

…and then read again. Make sure you understand the article before you start writing. That doesn’t mean you know all the words - just the ideas.

Don’t Look…! Don't look at the article while you are writing the summary. Put it away. Write from your head.

…except to check! When you start writing, you can look at the article to check facts or names

No Names, Quotations But unless they are very important, don’t use names or quotations

Learn New Words… Know the meanings of some of the new words

…but don’t use them Don't use new words in the summary

Use simple English Use English your 16-year old brother or sister could understand. Don’t be fancy.

Change the Order You don’t have to follow the order of the article. Change it if you like.

Keywords Write headings or keywords for each paragraph.

Use Paragraphs Use paragraphs, even in a short summary. Group your keywords together to make new paragraphs. Don’t write one sentence for every paragraph in the article. It won’t work.

Synonyms Have synonyms for the words you will use most –employee, worker, candidate, applicant, job-seeker, potential employee, interviewee