7 Summarizing Strategies

1. 3-2-1 Strategy
You need to fill out the so-called 3-2-1 chart, filling the information of:
3 – Most important facts you found out
2- Interesting things you found
1 – Question you still have

2. Somebody-Wanted-But-So Tactic
This is commonly used during or after reading Social Studies and history-based subjects.
Students use a chart or a folded piece of paper. The task is to identify who wanted something, what they
wanted, what conflict arose, and the resolution.

3. Jigsaw
This summarizing strategy demands for a cooperative work. You and your classmate will divide
the text into a manageable chunk and then get the essential ones for every piece of content. Just like in
jigsaw puzzle, each one will complete the gap. When performed by one student you need to divide the
article into several paragraphs and assign one meaning to be derived from it, this way unessential
information is sorted out.

4. Ball Type
This is a summarizing strategy in a game form. After the topic was read by everyone the teacher
tosses a ball to the student who must state the fact, concept or most significant feature remembered,
then tosses further. A student sits down in case left nothing to add.

5. The Gist
Known as “the main or essential part of a matter” the GIST way (Cunningham, 1982) is organized
so that you have 20 helping base words on which to lean on when developing a strategy summary. The
student must convey the gist in 20 words, this tactic is often used in narrative texts.

6. Graphic Organizers
Majority of readers perceive information visually, that’s why using graphics and spreadsheets
when summarizing might be more effective for them.

7. The Cornell Method

One of the most widespread methods in summarizing, is the factual text. This is done by dividing
the paper into two columns; the main points on the left side, while details and important explanations are
on the right.
Summarizing

Summarizing, according to Buckley (2004), is reducing a text to one-third or one-quarter its

original size, clearly articulating the author’s meaning, and retaining original ideas. Thus, the purpose is
to briefly present the key points of a theory or work in order to provide context for your argument/thesis.”

What is Summarizing?
As an important skill in reading, summarizing is often used to determine the essential ideas in a
book, article, book chapter, an article or parts of an article. These essential ideas include the gist or the
main idea, useful information, or key words and phrases that would help you meet your reading purpose.
Summarizing is generally done after reading. However, it can be done as well, while reading a text.

Summarizing is an important skill because it helps you

* deepen your understanding of the text;
* learn to identify relevant information or key ideas;
* combine details or examples that support the main idea/s;
* concentrate on the gist or main idea and key words presented in the text; and,
* capture key ideas in the text and put them together clearly and concisely.

What is not Summarizing?

You are NOT summarizing when you
* write down everything;
* write down ideas from the text word-for-word;
*write down incoherent and irrelevant ideas;
* write down ideas that are not stated in the text; or
*write down a summary that has the same length or is no longer than the original text.

Why Do We Need to Summarize?

Summarizing, as a reading strategy, is highly valuable in terms of original meaning grasping.
Nothing shows comprehension better, than restating what you read in a nutshell. Thus, a summary is a
more condensed form of any piece of writing which purpose is to deliver the essence of the original a
short way, leaving out unessential details.
How to Sum Up Your Source Effectively?
* Read the information source several times, in fact, read so many times as needed for
you to fully understand the material.
* Look for unfamiliar words and then if they’re too difficult for understanding, you may
rephrase them with your own words.
* Construct the sentences clearly, don’t forget to include the main points you want to
deliver, for this, jot down on the piece of paper the main concept.
* Keep it brief: don’t lose the original essence but try to make it look more laconic,
reduce and delete ruthlessly all the unessential sentences.
* In the paragraph, don’t be tempted by the desire to stick your own interpretation, draw
the distinct like between your opinion and someone’s thoughts.
* Don’t bore your readers, vary the introduction of your sources, e.g “according to” next
time can be substituted by “some authors or sources conclude that…and other variants.”