How do I summarize? (the entire article)

FIRST             Read and re-read!!                           Take notes

Underline

Make margin notes.

THEN:

1. Introduce the author, perhaps the article name, and perhaps the source.

2. What seem to be the essential ideas?

3. What is the best way to word those ideas?

4. Don’t simplify ideas—simply leave out details.

5. Often a good summary will include the claims or main points but not the evidence that supports the claim.

 

FINALLY

Double-check your work

—have you misrepresented the author at all?

--have you included all of the central points?

--have you avoided repeating the author’s words? (Plagiarism)

 

How do I paraphrase? (a sentence from the article)

1. Select a sentence that you do not want to directly quote, but which has important meaning.

2. Choose words that accurately substitute for the author’s words.

3. Double-check: have you used the author’s words without attribution? (Plagiarism)

 

How do I quote? (a word phrase, sentence, or short paragraph)

1. Introduce the quotation, before, during, or at the end.

Pitts writes, “We all have something to lose when racism goes unchecked.” (Pitts, 1)

“We all have something to lose, “ Pitts argues, “when racism goes unchecked.” (Pitts, 1)

“We all have something to lose when racism goes unchecked,” writes Pitts, (Pitts, 1)

(Other Verb choices: argues, claims, speculates, asks, wonders, describes, lists, laments, criticizes, ETC.)

Use quotation marks at both the beginning and end of the excerpt.

Include the author’s last name, a comma, and page #, in parentheses, at the end of the sentence. See Hacker.

When using ellipsis, be sure to maintain the author’s meaning.

Double-check: Make sure you are correct.