Writing a summary is a handy way to learn something. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to write a summary. 1. Read the text thoroughly once. Pay attention to the titles, headings, and (if any) images. 2. If there are headings, determine the main point for each heading. The headings represent the different parts of a text. Pay attention to the bold, underlined, and italicized words in a text. If there are different paragraphs, you need to determine the important information for each paragraph. Often, the most important information is in the first and/or last sentence of a paragraph. 3. Write down in your own words what you have read for each heading. Think about the key words and phrases you looked up in step 2. Tell yourself why something is important. This way, you know if you understand the material well. Note: Use short sentences/keywords. 4. Consider the coherence between the headings. This way, the text becomes a logical story. 5. At the end, check if you have included all the important information. You can do this by reading the original text again. Tip: Create a short summary: This way, you really capture the essence and can easily review it later.
Dunlosky, J. Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J. Nathan, M. J. & Willingham. D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychology Science Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58. doi:10.1177/1529100612453266