How to Write a Summary: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Great Summary
A summary of a literary work isn't just a plain-old synopsis. It's a valuable study tool, a foundational element of all kinds of essays, a common testing mechanism, and one of the basics of literary analysis.
Whether you're in high school or college, developing a deep understanding of how and when to summarize a book or text is a valuable skill. Doing so might require a little more knowledge and effort than you'd think.
That's why we're covering all aspects of summaries, from study tools to plot summaries, below.
Contents
What Is a Summary?
When to Write a Summary
Your Step-by-Step Guide for How to Write a Summary
How to Write a Plot Summary
How to Summarize an Article or Essay
FAQs: How to Write a Book Summary
What Is a Summary?
A summary is a brief overview of a text (or movie, speech, podcast, etcetera) that succinctly and comprehensively covers the main ideas or plot points.
Sounds simple, right? Well, there are a lot of unique characteristics that differentiate summaries from other commentary, such as analyses, book reviews, or outlines.
Summaries are:
In your own words. It's important that you don't just copy and paste the writer's words (in fact, that's plagiarizing). Writing the key points of a work in your own words indicates your comprehension and absorption of the material.
Objective. While a summary should be in your own words, it shouldn't contain your opinions. Instead, you should gather the main points and intentions of the writer and present them impartially. (If you include your opinions, your summary instead becomes an analysis or review.)
More than paraphrasing. Many students fall into the trap of simply paraphrasing—plainly restating the ideas or events of the work—and calling it a summary. (Is our definition starting to sound contradictory? We told you defining a summary wasn't exactly easy!) Rather than recounting the events or ideas in a work chronologically or in the order they're presented, instead consider the broad scope of how they all contribute to the narrative or argument.
Short. There are no strict rules regarding the length of a summary, only that it is concise. The length of a summary is largely dependent on the length of the text it summarizes: longer texts, longer summaries. It also depends on the assignment or objective. However, most summaries are about one to two paragraphs in length.
Comprehensive. Yes, it's another seemingly contradictory descriptor, but an important one. Summaries are comprehensive, meaning they cover all of the main plot points or ideas in a work (so summaries inherently contain "spoilers"). You should present those ideas in a way that condenses them into an inclusive, but not exhaustive, recounting in order to keep the summary short.
Straightforward (even if the text isn't). A good summary should be easy to comprehend, presenting the reader with a simple but all-encompassing understanding of the work at hand. With complex texts, summaries can be particularly useful because they distill big, complicated ideas into a bite-sized package.
When to Write a Summary
Like so many elements of literary analysis, summaries are misunderstood. We've already explained why they aren't as simple as most people think, but neither are their uses.
Summary writing is a useful skill in a variety of circumstances, both in and outside the English and Language Arts classrooms.
Readers, writers, teachers, and students can use summaries:
As a study tactic. The ability to summarize a book or text indicates that you've absorbed and understand the material. Plus, writing down notes (as in a summary) is a great way to retain material. Try summarizing at the end of a book chapter, after each section of an article, or periodically in textbooks. Doing so will help you digest the material you've just read, confirming you understood and retained the information therein. Stopping frequently to summarize is most effective because you're less likely to forget important plot points or ideas.
As an assignment. Teachers and professors often ask students to summarize a text as a test to confirm they read and understood the material. Before heading into class—especially if you have a test or quiz scheduled—try practicing summarizing the text. Write down your summary (rather than practicing it out loud or in your head) so that you can review your ideas and ensure you're presenting them succinctly and sensibly.
As part of an essay. If you're referencing a book or article in your own paper, you might need to summarize the source as the foundation for your argument. In this case, your summary should be particularly short so the reader doesn't lose sight of your own argument and intention. Introduce the name of the work and its author, then use one sentence (two at most) to describe their objective and how it relates to your own.
As part of a review. Summaries are very useful in an academic setting, but they have their place outside of it too. Whether you're on a book review site or just sharing a recommendation with a friend, being able to succinctly write a book summary (with or without spoilers) will help others to make their own judgements of a book.
