Summary of summary techniques


1 Use your own words as far as possible, but try to ensure that you retain the exact meaning of the
original.

2 Keep, as far as possible, to the arrangement of ideas of the original passage.

3 Include only the points made in the passage; do not introduce any ideas of your own.

4 Leave out negative statements, or make them positive.

5 Do not write questions, but turn them into statements if they are relevant.

6 Do not include spoken words or quotations, but report the idea contained in them if it is
relevant.

7 Do not include repetitions of ideas or phrases, and be as concise as possible in your wording.

8 Leave out examples, comparisons and details if they merely illustrate a point which is being made
and do not contribute anything new to the main argument of the passage.

9 Try to find generalisations for the ideas contained in lists of words and phrases.

10 Use linking words and constructions, such as ‘nevertheless’, ‘consequently’, ‘despite’,
‘because’, ‘although’, ‘however’, ‘therefore’, ‘thus’, ‘since’, and participles (‘-ing’ verbs), to
provide balance and continuity