Summary

– Read through the complete piece and think about its meaning. Re-read at least once more and decide what the central subject of the article is.

– List the important ideas, leaving out examples and other information. Use only essential ideas. (Look for topic sentences in paragraphs to help you find the main ideas.)

– Be careful not to alter the original meaning.

– Think about the key points and rewrite them in a few paragraphs using your own words.

– Read your paragraphs carefully. Do they make sense? Do your sentences flow logically from one point to another?

– Revise your paragraphs. Cut unnecessary words or repetitions. Write the final version.