How to Identify and Summarize Key Points of an Article

Summarizing an article effectively is a crucial skill that involves identifying its main points and capturing its essence concisely. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to break down an article and write a summary that reflects its central themes accurately.

Identifying the Main Points

Break Down the Article

Divide the article into sections, treating each section as a mini-text with its own key idea. This method helps in understanding how each section contributes to the overall main point of the article.

Focus on the Beginning and Ending

Authors often place the main point at the beginning or the end of the article. For example, in newspaper articles, the main point is usually in the lead sentence, while in scholarly articles, it can be found in the abstract, introduction, or the discussion section.

Use Topic Sentences

Identify the topic sentences in each paragraph, as these sentences summarize the main idea of the paragraph. By combining these topic sentences, you can better understand the main point of the entire article.

Determining the Central Idea

Ask Questions

When reading the article, ask yourself questions such as:

• What is the author trying to tell me?
• What are the words the author uses?
• How is the topic introduced and concluded?
• What references to other research does the author make?

Identify the Author’s Goal

Understand what the author is trying to achieve, whether it is to inform, persuade, or entertain, and how they achieve this goal. This understanding assists in identifying the main points and supporting arguments of the article.

Writing the Summary

Outline the Main Points and Supporting Arguments

Create an outline of the article’s main points and supporting arguments. This outline should capture the central theme or argument and the key details that support it.

Write in Your Own Words

Write the summary in your own words, avoiding verbatim copying from the original article. Start with a shortened version of the article’s thesis statement or a brief statement of the author’s position, followed by the most important supporting arguments.

Tips for Effective Summarization

Avoid Irrelevant Details

Stick to the main idea and supporting evidence. Omit details that are not crucial to understanding the article’s central point.

Avoid Plagiarism

Cite the original article’s title and author. Use tools like plagiarism checkers to ensure you are not repeating the original text verbatim.

Avoid Oversimplification

Ensure your summary is a concise overview rather than a simplified version of the article. It should capture the key points clearly without omitting important details.

Use Bulleted Lists

Taking notes in bulleted lists can help you organize the main points and supporting arguments effectively.

By following these steps and tips, you can create a clear and effective summary that highlights the key points of an article.