03 Handout 1

SH1635
Identifying the Main Idea and Summarizing

I. Summarizing
a. Summary
§ According to merriamwebster.com, summarizing is the method using few words to give
the most important information about something. It is also done quickly in a way that
does not follow the normal process.
§ Is a strategy in which readers sort through the information presented in a text in order
to pull out and paraphrase the essential ideas. It requires readers to determine what is
important, to condense this information, and to state it in their own words (Harvey &
Goudvis, 2007).
§ A summary is a series of brief, concise statements, in your own words, of the main idea
and the significant supporting details. The first sentence should state the main idea or
thesis; subsequent sentences should incorporate the significant details. Minor details
and material irrelevant to the learner’s purpose should be omitted. The summary should
be written in paragraph form and should always be shorter than the material being
summarized. It should not contain anything that is not in the original, and it must be
written in your own words (Smith and Morris, 2011).
i. Rules in Summarizing
1. Divide…and conquer
Skim the text you are going to summarize and divide it into sections. Focus on any
headings and subheadings. Also, look at any bold-faced terms and make sure you
understand them before you read.
2. Read
Read straight through. At this point, you don’t need to stop to look up anything that
gives you trouble—just get a feel for the author’s tone, style, and main idea.
3. Reread
Underline topic sentences and key facts. Label areas that you want to refer to as you
write your summary. Also, label areas that should be avoided because the details—
though they may be interesting—are too specific. Identify areas that you do not
understand and try to clarify those points.
4. One sentence at a time
You should now have a firm grasp on the text you will be summarizing. Write down
the main idea of each section in one well-developed sentence. Make sure that what
you include in your sentences are key points, not minor details.
5. Write a thesis statement
This is the key to any well-written summary. Review the sentences you wrote in
step 4. From them, you should be able to create a thesis statement that clearly
communicates what the entire text was trying to achieve. If you find that you are
not able to do this step, then you should go back and make sure your sentences
actually addressed key points.
6. Ready to write
At this point, your first draft is virtually done. You can use the thesis statement as
the introductory sentence of your summary, and your other sentences can make up
the body. Make sure that they are in order. Add some transition words
03 Handout 1 *Property of STI

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SH1635
(then, however, also, moreover) that help with the overall structure and flow of the
summary. Once you are actually putting pen to paper, remember these tips:
§ Write in the present tense.
§ Make sure to include the author and title of the work.
§ Be concise: a summary should not be equal in length to the original text.
§ If you must use the words of the author, cite them.
§ Don't put your own opinions, ideas, or interpretations into the summary. The
purpose of writing a summary is to accurately represent what the author wanted
to say, not to provide a critique.
7. Check for accuracy
Reread your summary and make certain that you have accurately represented the
author’s ideas and key points. Make sure that you have correctly cited anything
directly quoted from the text. Also, check to make sure that your text does not
contain your own commentary on the piece.
8. Revise
Once you are certain that your summary is accurate, you should (as with any piece
of writing) revise it for style, grammar, and punctuation. If you have time, give your
summary to someone else to read. This person should be able to understand the
main text based on your summary alone. If he or she does not, you may have focused
too much on one area of the piece and not enough on the author’s main idea.
ii. Assessing the efficiency of written summaries

These are the questions that should be asked after writing a summary:
1. Does the summary accurately present the gist of the reading passage?
2. Is the main idea stated in the first sentence of the summary?
3. Are all of the major supporting details represented?
4. Is any non-essential or repetitive information included?
5. Are appropriate transitional words or phrases used?
6. Is the summary written in paragraph form?
7. Does the summary read smoothly, and is the information clear and balanced
(doesn’t over-emphasize one part of the passage)?
II. Identifying Main Idea

a. Topic vs. Main Idea
§ It is very important to recognize the difference between the topic of a reading selection
and the main idea. The topic of a selection is the subject matter, what it is about. It is
usually expressed in a word or phrase. The main idea refers to a complete statement,
the point the writer is making about the topic.
b. Main Idea
§ It is an important information that tells more about the overall idea of paragraph or
section of a text.
§ The most important or central thought of a paragraph or a larger section of text, which
tells the reader what the text is about.
§ The main idea of a passage is the core of the material, the particular point the author is
trying to convey. The main idea of a passage can be stated in one sentence that

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SH1635
condenses specific ideas or details in the passage into a general, all-inclusive statement
of the author’s message.
§ The main idea is called a topic sentence in a paragraph, thesis statement in an essay or
article, and theme in a literary piece.
c. Where are useful places to look for the main idea?

§ In the beginning of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
Supporting Detail # 1
§ In the middle of the paragraph
Detail
Detail
Topic
Sentence
Detail
Detail
§ At the end of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
References:
Harvey & Goudvis, (2007). “Summarizing,” Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from
http://www.ohiorc.org/literacy_k5/strategy/strategy_each.aspx?id=000002
How to Write a Summary - How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from
http://www.enotes.com/topics/how-write-summary#how-to-how-write-summary
Main idea. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/main-idea
Main idea (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from http://lsa.colorado.edu/essence/mainidea.html
Main idea. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from
https://www.pearsonhighered.com/samplechapter/0205734367_ch04.pdf
Main Idea. (n.d.). Retrieved on July 4, 2016 from https://www.saddleback.edu/uploads/la/rl/powerpoints/main%20idea.pdf
Summarizing (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from http://departments.kings.edu/carts/fys/Summarizing.docx
Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 30, 2016 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summary

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SH1635

Identifying the Main Idea and Summarizing

03 Handout 1 *Property of STI

ii. Assessing the efficiency of written summaries

II. Identifying Main Idea

03 Handout 1 *Property of STI

c. Where are useful places to look for the main idea?

§ In the middle of the paragraph

§ At the end of the paragraph

03 Handout 1 *Property of STI

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