Before you sit down to actually write a good summary report, you must start with at least 2 articles and do the following:
1. Choose articles related to the point you want to write about. These do not have to have similar main ideas; in fact they could be opposite from each other. The topics do need to be related, though.
Then:
2. Read the articles, take notes on important points, underline noteworthy information, get the main ideas.
Put away your underlined articles, your main notes. Then you will be ready to:
3. Check your understanding of each: Try to explain what you read, without looking at the article. If you are having trouble, you probably didn't understand it fully. Go back and read it again, until you feel comfortable that you know what the author is saying, and you can explain his or her point without looking at the text.
You can do this part verbally, just talk to yourself or to a friend.
4. Now you need to think about a specific point the articles have in common. This point will be the basis for the main idea for your summary report.
Once you know what these articles have in common:
5. Now it is time to tell yourself, in your own words, that one idea you have developed from combining the knowledge you gained from reading these articles. This will be the main idea for your summary report.
Decide how you will support your main idea:
6. Select examples from the readings to support your point. Each article will give you at least one good example you will be able to use.
a) b)
Now you can start writing!
1. Start with a small hook: Telling your reader something that was happening with your thought process as you were getting ready to do this work is often a good way to start.
2. Identify the articles and their authors.
3. Write your main idea.
4. Support your main idea.
5. Write a conclusion.
6. Include a works cited page,
7. Include a title page, if your instructor requires one. Don't forget to follow the correct style, either APA or MLA.
Done!