Supplying a Summary

You know you have understood what you have read when you are able to summarise it in your own words. Summaries are based on the word SOME, as they only contain some of the words and ideas in the original text:
 
Short and sweet - should be much shorter in length than the original text.
Own words  - you can use some of their words but not in the same order and mostly use your own.
Main ideas and/or
Events - include some details if needed, but mostly stick to the main points being made.           
 
What you include in a summary depends on the text type. For example:
· Imaginative texts eg. narratives, plays - include the main characters, the complications and the solutions, as they will have been the main ideas and events in the story.
· Persuasive texts eg. expositions, discussions, debates - include the main idea of the whole text as well as the main idea you find in each paragraph, as those ideas will back up the main idea of the whole text.
· Informative texts eg. reports, procedures, explanations. Include the main idea of the whole text as well as the main idea or information you find in each paragraph. You may find you need to include some facts and details to make the main ideas clear, but try to stick to the main points as much as possible.