Writing Styles: Summary

Writing Styles: Writing a Summary

When writing the summary there are three main requirements:

1. The summary should cover the original as a whole.

2. The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.

    3. The summary should be a condensed version of the material, presented in your own words.

* * Also do not include anything that does not appear in the original. Do not include your own comments or evaluation, and be sure to identify your source.

Here are some hints for summarising a text:

·         Read the original text thoroughly to make sure you understand its overall meaning.

·         Be aware that sometimes you might have to ‘read between the lines’ to pick up ‘hidden’ information.

·         Use a dictionary or ask someone who knows to help you find the meaning of any unfamiliar words.

·         Underline or highlight the main points of the text, ignoring any unnecessary facts, descriptions or opinions. Make a note of the most important details - you could even draw a diagram or use pictures if this helps.

·         Link together the key points using sentences or paragraphs, as appropriate. If images provide additional meaning then these can also be included in your summary.

·         Use headings or sub-headings if the text you’re shortening is long.

·         Read your draft to make sure you haven’t lost the overall point of the original information. Make amendments to your draft, as necessary.

Remember:

·         A written summary should be a brief, ‘easy to read’ version of a longer piece of writing.

·         A summary must contain the main points of the original text and should be written in your own words. Don’t just copy out chunks of the original version.

·         Write your summary using correct grammar, punctuation and sentences.

·         A summary does not need to contain information, descriptions or opinions that do not support the general meaning of the text.

Example summary:

In his paper “Global Implications of Patent Law Variation,” Koji Suzuki (1991) states that lack of consistency in the world’s patent laws is a serious problem. In most of the world, patent ownership is given to the inventor that is first to file for a patent. However, the United States maintains a first-to-invent policy. In view of this, patent ownership can change depending on the country. Multiple patent ownership can result in economic problems; however, most striking is the international tension it causes. The fact that the United States does not recognise patent ownership in other countries, in violation of the Paris Convention on Industrial Properties, has prompted the World Intellectual Properties Organisation (WIPO) to push the United States to review its existing patent law principles.