Summarizing

1. A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text’s title, author, and main thesis or topic.
2. A summary contains the main thesis (or main point of the text) in your own words.
3. The summary is written in your own words. Avoid using quotations from the original text.
4. A summary is always shorter than the original text (usually 10% to 15% of the length of the original).
5. A summary should contain all the major points of the original text but should ignore the details, examples, illustrations or explanations.
6. A summary must contain only the ideas of the original text. Do not include any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments in the summary.

Exercise taken from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/98238709/Form-Three-Summary-Writing-Exercise