A summary is a condensed form of a written or spoken article reducing it to its main points. You can have a summary of a text or a summary of a film/video clip.

The purpose of a summary is not to replace the original text but to allow the reader to make an informed decision about whether or not to read the full version. The reader can turn to the original text if he or she wants to know more (names, technical details etc.)

A summary of a written or recorded text consists of the following components:

• the source (where the original is to be found)
• a statement of the overall or global idea or ideas
• what the reader will read about if he or she reads/hears the whole text (the main sections)
• optional: information about the style or comprehensibility of the material

There are four important features of a summary:

• It should be accurate
• It should be brief
• It should contain the most important details, and only the most important details
• It should be in your own words

What are the key components in this summary?

This news report, entitled ‘Asking the Right Questions’, appeared on CNN on 15 May 2019. As the title suggests, the report focuses on the fact that the formulation of our questions in dealing with clients and in project development has a profound effect on the ultimate outcome. The report presents personal, poignant examples from real life to demonstrate three main points: answering clients’ questions, correlating development questions, and, above all, valuing our own questions. ( 74 words)

Stating the source

1. If the source is a magazine article, write:

• the name of the author or authors (if available)
• the title of the article in single inverted commas
• the name of the magazine in italics or underlined
• the day, month and year of publication

e.g ‘Mechanics for the layman’, was published in the Motor Enthusiast of 14 June 2019.

2. If the source is a book, write:

• the name of the author or authors
• the title of the book in italics or underlined
• the place and year of publication in brackets and separated by a comma

e.g. David Jones, Introduction to Mechanics (London, 2001) provides a clear introduction to the fundamentals behind the area of mechanics.

3. If the source is an online text, write:

• the name of the author or authors (if available)
• the ‘title of the text’ in single inverted commas
• the website URL
• the day, month and year of access

e.g. John Davies, ‘How to get going in mechanics’, www.engineeringfordummies.com, accessed on 14 August 2018

4. If the source is a film clip, write:

• the author or distributor of the clip (if known)
• the title of a clip or excerpt in single inverted commas / the title of an independent video / DVD in italics or underlined
• the day, month and year of (first?) transmission (if broadcast) / the place and year of release in brackets and separated by a comma (if available)
• the web link under which the video is available (optional)

e.g. ‘Introduction to Mechanics’ was first broadcast on BBC 1 on 31 May 2020 and is available online at www.bbc.co.uk/science/intromech1.

Remember: The source needs to be incorporated into the first sentence of the summary.

Example source sentences

From a text (paper):

• This article, entitled ‘Teaching computers to listen’, appeared in The Times on 20 July 2017.
• According to the article entitled ‘Seeing c’, published in The Economist of 4 March 2017, scientists believe they have found a way of processing optical signals in a computer.
• This article, published in The Economist of 4 March 2020 and entitled ‘Hair today, describes a new attempt to resolve a paradox in the scientific understanding of black holes.

From a text (online):

• • This article, entitled ‘Teaching computers to listen’, appeared in Wired Out on 20 July 2018, online at http://www.wiredout.com/wored/5.07/geek.

From the television:

• This news report, entitled ‘Asking the right questions’, appeared on CNN on 15 May 2020.

From an online video:

• • The documentary, entitled Signs of success and shown online at www.bbc.co.uk, is about linguistic research into a spontaneously emerging sign language developed and used by deaf children in Nicaragua.

From a DVD:

• The video clip entitled ‘Sustainability’ is from a promotional film called The fascination of automobiles, which was supplied by the BMW corporation.

Writing titles

To quote a source you need a title. As we have said, a stand-alone title (book) will be written in italics or underlined, the title of an article or any other element contained in a larger publication will be written in single inverted commas.

Note the use of capitals in titles. There are two main styles:

1. Capitalize the first word and all important words (i.e. all words that are not purely functional):

Introduction to Mechanics

This can be tricky because it is difficult even for native speakers to decide which words are purely functional (like ‘to’) and which are not (like ‘mechanics’)

2. Capitalize the first word and leave the other words in small case:

Introduction to mechanics

This solution has the virtue of simplicity and is becoming increasingly popular (look at the titles in this script).

As a general rule, use the style as you find it in the source.

Key language

Introductory sentences

• This text/article is basically about …
• What this text/article is basically about is …
• In this article the author presents …
• The main idea discussed in this text/article is …
• The main focus of this text/article is …

Sometimes there is more than one global idea:

• This text/article focuses on two / three main points. First, … . Second, … . Third,
• This text / article is two-fold / three-fold. The first section deals with … . The second section discusses … . The third…

Main points

What the reader will read about if he or she reads the whole article

State what each section is about. Do not state actual facts or details or statistics. If a reader wants to know the detailed facts, he or she can read/listen to the whole text. Rather, your summary should let the reader know what they will read about if they read the article. Use linking words or phrases to organise your summary, and so that it flows smoothly.

• As the title suggests, …
• The author states that …
• The author mentions that …
• The author offers us ….
• The author outlines …
• The author explains …
• He / She goes on to say that …
• He / She believes that …
• He / She discusses …

Vocabulary and Linking words:

Linking words or phrases help the reader or listener of a summary follow your thoughts more easily. Using linking words and phrases force you to organise your thoughts and present them in writing or orally so that they flow logically.

• Then,
• It is interesting to note that …
• In addition,
• Furthermore,
• Moreover,
• However,
• Therefore,
• As a result (of that),
• In the first part,
• In conclusion,
• The author / He / She concludes that …
• Finally,