A good summary begins by identifying the title and author of whatever is being summarized. The beginning should also include a statement of the author's main idea or central position on whatever issue he or she is writing about.

I expect students to use the following formula for the first sentence of any summary they write for my class:

In "Title," author verb that main point.

You present the title in the introductory clause. Then you present the author (use the full name, as given in the original source). You should choose an action verb that you feel describes what the author is trying to do in the essay (argues, defends, complains, supports, states, points out, etc. -- there are many choices). And then you present in your won words the central argument, that is, what the author wants to have happen.

I have five rules for you to follow:

Use the formula for the first sentence.

Use your own words; don't quote.

Use the present tense.

Write 1/2 to a full page. If you type, double-space.

Be objective; separate your opinion from the summary.

Some notes:

After the first sentence, you may refer to the author by his or her last name. You don't need Mr. or Ms.

Don't quote because translating the author's ideas into your own words demonstrates whether or not you have understood the reading.

Use the present tense because even if the author is deceased, the essay continues to exist in the present time.

The length will be determined in part by the length of the original. Try to include the author's supporting arguments without going overboard and making your summary as long as the original.  In general, you don't need to summarize any examples the author provides.

You don't have to evaluate the essay. Your job is to communicate that author's ideas to an audience that hasn't read the essay. If you want to respond with your opinion, fine, but I want it separated because I won't be grading that part.  Make a new paragraph for your opinion.

An example: Open your textbook, Dialogues, to page 43. Read Froma Harrop's essay.

Here is my summary of it:

In "Stop Babysitting College Students," Froma Harrop complains that colleges' attempts to control student drinking remove responsibility from the students and place it on the institutions. Harrop acknowledges that alcohol can be abused, but she notes that more college-age people die in other types of accidents than alcohol poisoning or alcohol-related incidents. Harrop wants to relieve colleges of police duty. If students drink and cause problems, the real police should be called. She says this would be a major step toward treating college students like the adults they claim to be.

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