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What is a book summary?
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Jul 13, 2023 · Learn how to write a book summary that helps you remember, connect, and improve your writing. Follow three steps: take notes while reading, rewrite the main takeaways in your own words, and summarize overtime.
- Overview
- Taking Notes
- Drafting and Editing
- Reading Carefully
Writing a summary of a book is a great way for you to absorb what you’re reading. It also gives you a quick reference you can use to remember the main points of the book anytime you need it. To write a good summary, read the book carefully while taking notes on important ideas, plot twists, and main characters. You can then use your notes to draft ...
Annotate the text as you read.
Annotating as you read will help you find important passages easily while you are writing the summary. Circle, highlight, or note anything that’s confusing, important, surprising, or interesting. You can also mark repetition, inconsistencies, and connections between passages.
If the book belongs to you, feel free to highlight passages and write in it. If the book doesn’t belong to you, use sticky notes to mark the passages instead.
Keep a notebook next to you while you read so you can jot down your thoughts. Taking notes as you read will allow you to record things correctly. This will create less work for you than if you try to go back and check on details later.
It might be a good idea to keep several different pieces of paper next to you for notes. One can be for general impressions and quick thoughts, another can be for lists of characters and events, and one more for recording the book’s major themes and ideas.
You can also take notes to keep track of words you don’t recognize. Use a dictionary to look these up as you go, and then write down the definitions.
Check if there are length requirements for your summary.
If you’re writing your summary for a school assignment, there will probably be a limit to how much or little you can write. Make your summary as close to that limit as possible. Too short will make it seem like you didn’t read the book, and too long could mean that you’re not really writing a summary.
For example, if your word limit is 200, write between about 190 and 200 words.
Even if you’re writing a summary for your own use, consider keeping it on the short side. Having a summary under 500 words gives you a quick and easy reference tool.
Write the summary in chronological order.
A summary should present the events in the sequence that they happened. Avoid jumping around between different parts of the book. Begin at the beginning and end at the ending to maintain the integrity of the original story.
Find a quiet place to read without distractions.
Pick a spot away from the TV. Turn your phone on silent and put it aside so it doesn’t tempt you. Focus just on the book, and enjoy the time you’re about to spend reading.
You should also make sure you’re near a lamp or a window so you don’t strain your eyes while reading.
Read the book in small blocks.
To keep yourself from getting overwhelmed, read in 20-minute sessions. If you really enjoy the book, you can read for an hour or two at a time. This will allow you to process the book slowly.
Set aside enough time if you’re on a deadline.
- 1.1M
- Read the Work. Summaries are often perceived as a workaround for reading the work itself. That's not a great strategy under most circumstances because you tend to lose a lot of the details and nuance of a work, but it's particularly impractical to do so when writing about the work.
- Take Notes. As you read the work, simultaneously take notes. If you own the book, it might be helpful to add your notes to the margins or highlight passages that are particularly relevant or capture a key idea.
- Identify the Author's Thesis Statement, Objective, or Main Point. In some works, such as a journal article, a writer will provide a thesis statement.
- Note Other Important Elements. If something stands out to you about the work and seems to play an important role in the text's overall narrative or structure, make a note about it.
Feb 6, 2024 · Learn how to write a book summary that captures the essence of a book in a concise and compelling way. Follow the step-by-step guide, see the examples, and get the bonus tips on how to write a summary of a book.
Nov 23, 2020 · Learn how to write a summary of an article or other source in five steps. Find out what key points to identify, how to paraphrase, and how to check your summary.
- What is a summary?A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words. Want to make your life super...
- How long is a summary?A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depe...
- What kinds of assignments involve writing a summary?You might have to write a summary of a source: As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material For your own use, to keep notes o...
- How can I summarize a source without plagiarizing?To avoid plagiarism when summarizing an article or other source, follow these two rules: Write the summary entirely in your own words by paraphr...
- What’s the difference between an abstract and a summary?An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarize...
Mar 22, 2024 · How to Summarize a Book: Expert Advice and Guided Tips. Lindsay Kramer. Updated on March 22, 2024 Students Writing Tips. Book summaries play a crucial role in guiding our reading choices.
Jun 7, 2021 · How to Write a Summary: 4 Tips for Writing a Good Summary. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read. With a great summary, you can condense a range of information, giving readers an aggregation of the most important parts of what they’re about to read (or in some cases, see).
