SUMMARIZING

Group 10

1. Devina Anjani Salsabila B.A.U (1612300048)

2. Adelia Karamoy (1612300059)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITAS 17 AGUSTUS 1945

SURABAYA
 2024
1. Introduction

Summarizing is the retelling of the important parts of a passage in a much shorter form.
Summarizing helps improve both your reading and writing skills. To summarize, you must read a
passage closely, finding the main ideas and supporting ideas. In this paper we will discuss about
the definition, the steps, and the example of summarizing.

2. Discussion

2.1 Definition of Summarizing

Summarizing is the process of condensing a large amount of text into a concise and
clear version that captures the essential ideas and key information from the original text.
Effective summarization requires a deep understanding of the content, the ability to
identify the most important details, and the skill to present these points in a clear and
coherent manner.

2.2 Steps of How To Summarize.

A. Summarizing sentences.
1. By taking out the unnecessary words.
2. Use summary words to take the place of groups of words about the same topic.
3. Keep only the words which tell the main point of the sentence.
4. Use as few words as possible.

B. Summarizing paragraphs.
1. A paragraph summary should be as short as possible, but it must be a complete
sentence.
2. The summary of a paragraph is the main idea of the paragraph.
3. Often (but not always), the main idea is found in the topic sentence.
4. Read the paragraph all the way through to be sure you understand it.
5. If the paragraph has a topic sentence, does it state the main idea of the paragraph?
If so, you can use the topic sentence as the summary.
 6. If the topic sentence is not a good statement of the main idea, write a summary
which. States the main idea.
7. Take out unnecessary words.

C. Summarizing short passages

1. Read the passage all the way through.
2. Go back to the beginning and underline the topic sentence in each paragraph. If
you cannot a find topic sentence, write a short summary of the paragraph.
3. Put the sentences from the paragraphs together. Connect them with signal words.
Or other connecting words. (Remember, signal words and connecting words tie
ideas together. Examples: and, but, however, first, next, then, because.)

D. Summarizing longer passages

1. Read the passage all the way through.
2. Go back to the beginning and number the paragraphs in the text.
3. Divide the text into parts. Notice which paragraphs focus on the same idea. Part
one, for example, will be Paragraph #1 to Paragraph #x. Part two will start with
paragraph #y, and so forth.
4. For each part, write a sentence which summarizes all the paragraphs in it.
5. Tie all of those sentences together to form a summary, using signal words and
other function words.

2.3 Example of Summarizing.

1. Summarizing Sentences.
Example: The tall cowboy put the saddle on his horse, untied him from the fence,
waved good- bye and rode off into the sunset.
Summary: The cowboy left.
Explanation: You can leave out the word tall, since that is not an important fact. All of
the things that the cowboy did (put saddle on horse, untied him, waved good-bye, and
rode off) can be summarized in one word: left.
2. Summarizing Paragraphs.
Example: Shopping malls have produced a revolution in United States shopping and
living habits in just 45 years. Before 1950, there were no malls, but now almost every
city or region has at least one. In fact, shopping malls have become a part of daily life.
Many people even think of them as social centers. In a way, malls have taken the place
of Main Street. Shops and services which were once spread over several city blocks
are now in one place at the mall. Busy householders can save time by doing their shop-
ping at the mall. And people young and old, with time on their hands, often say, “Let’s
go to the mall!”
Topic sentence: Shopping malls have produced a revolution in United States shopping
and living habits.

3. Summarizing Short Passages.

Example: In the essay ‘The Power of Habit,’ author Charles Duhigg explores the
science behind habits and how they shape our lives. By examining case studies and
scientific research, Duhigg illustrates how habits are formed, how they can be changed,
and the impact they have on personal and societal levels.
Topic sentence: Charles Duhigg’s essay ‘The Power of Habit’ delves into the
formation, modification, and societal implications of habits, drawing from scientific
studies and real-life examples.

4. Summarizing Long Passages.

Example: In his book ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,’ Yuval Noah Harari
traces the evolution of Homo sapiens from their emergence in Africa to their global
dominance. Harari explores key milestones such as the Cognitive Revolution,
Agricultural Revolution, and Scientific Revolution, examining how they shaped human
societies and cultures. He discusses the development of complex social structures,
belief systems, and the impact of technology on human progress. Throughout the book,
Harari challenges conventional narratives about human history and prompts readers to
reconsider their understanding of the past and future of humanity.
 Summary: Yuval Noah Harari’s ‘Sapiens’ offers a sweeping account of human history,
from the origins of Homo sapiens to their modern dominance. Harari delves into
pivotal events like the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions, dissecting
their societal impacts and the evolution of human culture. By questioning established
narratives, Harari provokes readers to rethink their perceptions of humanity’s past and
future.

3. Conclusion

In conclusion, summarizing is a valuable skill that involves distilling key information

from passages of varying lengths. By understanding the main ideas and supporting details,
individuals can effectively condense text while maintaining clarity and coherence. Through
practice and attention to structure, anyone can enhance their summarizing abilities, ultimately
improving both reading comprehension and writing proficiency.

4. Reference

Mikulecky_-_More_Reading_Power___Reading_Faster, Thinking_Skills,
_Reading_for_Pleasure, _Comprehension. (n.d.).