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Using Sources in a Paper: Summarizing

What Is a Summary?

A summary is an overview of the essential points of the source material, including the main idea and the most important supporting details. A summary is always considerably shorter than the original material.

When to Summarize

Summaries are used primarily for:

  • Providing a broad overview of a subject
  • Providing background information
  • Recapitulating material from a single source for review and/or analysis
  • Recapitulating material from multiple sources for comparison or contrast

How to Summarize

When writing a summary, remember to:

  • Give credit to your source using the citation style required by your instructor
  • Read the material carefully and make sure you understand it
  • Put the main point in your own words
  • Paraphrase the most important supporting details (e.g., case studies, expert opinions, results of clinical studies, etc.)
  • Include exact information such as names, dates, places, etc., as needed
  • Incorporate brief direct quotes when necessary for conciseness or style

See "How to Summarize" for more information on writing a summary.