How to Organize a Summary

How to Organize a Summary:

1. Moving from general to specific is a good idea. The first sentence
should provide the author and title of the original article, as well as a
concise restatement of the main idea. That is, in a single sentence,
tell your reader what the article is called, who wrote it, and what the
author is trying to say. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
2. Then, in your own words, describe the major supporting points and
types of evidence. Include one or two key examples or details, if you
think they are important for conveying the meaning of the original
article.
3. Remind your reader frequently that these ideas are someone else’s,
not yours, by using author tags throughout your summary. Author tags
refer back to the original author (Smith says ___, according to Smith,
___, Smith points out that____, Smith believes that___, Smith argues
that___).