Summary Writing

First step in making a summary of a given passage is to understand the original extract clearly. There are certain principles to bear in mind while writing a summary; selection, order,conciseness,clearness,smoothness and unity.
1 Selection :
It mainly lies in separating the essential from what is superfluous. During each reading, one can go on marking the salient points of the given passage then they can be afterwards paraphrased in one’s own words.
2 Order:
A summary must also possess order. It must present a clear unbroken sequence of ideas. Do not change the order of events or reasoning in the original passage.
3 Conciseness:
It is the chief quality of a summary, in fact its very soul. Avoid using a clause where a phrase would suffice; or aphrase where one word would be enough.
4 Clearness:
One must avoid all vague expressions and phrases and be very careful about missing the essential points. Failure to be clear means that you have not understood the original passage.
5 Smoothness:
Various parts of the summarymust neatly fit in with one another.Sometimes the use of links ‘but’, ‘and’ might take your Passage smooth.
6 Unity :
The summary must have unity, in other words, it must be an organic whole, not a mere sum of various parts.Select yourideas carefully,join them properly, make them clear and concise and above all knit them together, indivisibly. When the summary has unity it is a complete literary form, independent of the passage from which it is derived it should be a miniature model essay, with a beginning, a middle and an end.
*Exclude In your summary you must omit*
1. All repetition of ideas, which the original writer might have resorted to forthe sake of emphasis.
2. All illustrative comparisons employed in the original for the sake of literary ornament.
3. All round-about expressions.
4. All examples given in the original to expand or clear some abstract or vague ideas.
5. Any irrelevant ideas used for blowing up the size of the passage.
        *A few don’ts*
1. Do not use the words or phrases employed in the original passage.
2. Do not imitate the construction of the original sentences.
3. Do not introduce any ideas of your own. 4. Do not be irrelevant.
5. Do not materially exceed the limit of words indicated by the examiner.
6. Do not use telegraphic expressions.
7. Do not use phrases like, ‘In my opinion’, The writer says’ etc.

*HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY*
Remember:
1.Give suitable Title .
2. Do not rewrite the original piece.
3. Keep your summary short.
4. Use your own wording.
5. Refer to the central and main ideas of theoriginal piece.
6. Read with who, what, when, where, why and how questions in mind.
7. Do not put in your opinion of the issue. or topic discussed in the original piece.