A summary is a shortened version of someone else's writing or thoughts.

   

   Summaries vary in length and amount of details depending on a teacher's requirements, the
   length of the original source (article, book, passage) and the purpose of the summary;
   however, all summaries must:

   

   ·        be shorter than the original source (article, book, passage) approximately one third
   the length of the original source;

   ·        include the main idea of the original source in your own words;

   ·        include major details (also known as supporting ideas) in your own words;

   ·        should not include your knowledge, ideas or opinion unless your teacher requests it.

   ·        identify the author, title of article, title of publication, where published,
   publisher, year of publication, and page information, at the top of the page of your summary
   (or in-text.)

   

   

   Taken from:

   http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/main/summary.htm