• Put aside your own opinions when you begin to read the original, and do not let
yourself mentally argue with the author as you read. Remain objective in order to
“hear” what the author is saying.
• Start your reading with these questions, in this order:

o What is the topic?
o What opinion does the author most want readers to keep in mind about this topic?
o What arguments or information does the author use to convince (or try to convince) readers?

• Summarize as you read. Write a sentence in your own words at the end of each
paragraph. Draw from these sentences for your final summary. Put the text out of view to ensure that you are summarizing in your own words. Check yourself.

• Never insert your own ideas into a summary. A summary contains only the
ideas of the original author. Period. Your opinions are appropriate for the
response or critique.

• Formatting can give you hints about main ideas and supporting points.

o The title can suggest a question and answer about the topic.
o Headings and section breaks can give a clue to main topics.
o Italics or boldface type usually indicate an important point.
o Paragraph or sentence numbering can indicate important points.
o The main idea of a paragraph is often (though not always) expressed
in the first two or last two sentences of the paragraph.
o The first paragraph often provides an overview of the entire article.
The last paragraph often provides a very brief summary.

• Examples, illustrations, and anecdotes (little stories) are almost never main points. When you run across an example, ask yourself: Ok, what is this an example of?
• Use the original author’s ideas, but not his or her words. Instead, paraphrase the author. Paraphrase means that you read the author’s words, and, without referring to the text, write down the author’s idea in your own words.
• Make sure you understand what you’re reading. If you don’t, talk to someone—
instructor, classmate, Writing Center consultant—until you are sure you do. You
can’t summarize what you don’t understand. Get help: it’s not only allowed, it’s encouraged.