Summarizing


 * **Summarizing means finding the main ideas of a text, along with the key supporting ideas, and presenting them to your audience.**
 * **A summary tends to contain broad concepts and ideas, but very few specific facts/statistics.**
 * **A summary should be objective; it does not include the words “I” or “me”! (You may use these words when you respond to a text, but not when you summarize a text.)**
 * //How do you write a summary?//**

You don’t necessarily have to understand every single word, just those that relate to the main point. Read it again. Underline words, phrases, or even sentences that you feel contain main and supporting points; not every detail, just those that seem important. look for topic sentences (often the first sentence of each paragraph). Look for words like //major, main, larges, above all//, etc. Helpful Hint: If you want to avoid repeating reporting words like “said” or “wrote”. Consider using some of the verbs below.
 * (1) Read carefully. Determine the general idea and the author’s purpose.**
 * (2) Find the main point and the key supporting points.**
 * How do you find these important pieces?** Try looking near the beginning of the text and
 * (3) Paraphrase key points.** Combine the paraphrasing.

predicted suggested demonstrated reported investigated recommended hypothesized stated noted showed found claimed asserted observed assumed discussed presented explained maintained examined alleged revealed presumed implied, proposed affirmed argued suggested ||
 * described distinguished indicated included


 * SAMPLE SUMMARY for "****How Your Birth Order Influences Your Life Adjustment"**

Lucille Forer asserts that an individual’s birth order plays an important role in how he sees himself, how others see him, and how he behaves. Specifically, Forer says that the older child tends to feel more competent and responsible than the other children, partly because the parents expect him to be. The middle child may feel competent, but also feels able to rely on his parents or older siblings, while the youngest child probably feels less competent, and depends on others to take care of him. Having no siblings, the only child will be independent, feeling that he has no choice but to be competent.