How to write a summary

What is mediation?

In the CEFR, mediation is defined as any time someone 'acts as a social agent who creates bridges
and helps to construct or convey meaning, sometimes within the same language, sometimes from
one language to another' (Council of Europe 2020:90).
 What is a summary?
It’s a brief statement or account of the main points of something.
 What is not a summary?

✓ It doesn’t include personal opinions

✓ It doesn’t contain personal information
✓ It doesn’t include things we already know that aren’t in the text
 Steps for a good summary

✓ Read the text

✓ Ignore the vocabulary you don’t know
✓ Ask yourself: what is this text about?
 What your answer should include:

✓ You need to write whole sentences

✓ It has to include the main ideas or key information
✓ You must use your own words and paraphrase
 Do I need to include this in my summary?

✓ Ask yourself: is this information necessary to understand the meaning of this text?
• If so, include that information but using your own words.
 Main ideas/important information

✓ The main idea is the topic of the text

✓ The necessary information is the information that we need to support our main idea and that is
necessary to understand the text
✓ Ignore the details that are not relevant to understand the text
 Example

Because Gran Canaria is not only the home of surfers and divers. It is also home to a
sea of mountains, which are perfect for practicing sport. Hiking, climbing, mountain biking
and cycling routes. Everything travels together on this miniaturised continent. On an
island that allows you to change sport as easily as you change your shirt.

In less than one hour by car you can swap the sea for dizzying mountains, in places
where no sound is heard. You can leap in one moment from our ocean of beaches to our
extensive network of hiking trails, where you can spend a whole day strolling among pine
forests, or following winding roads on bikes, passing through villages so small that they
are gone in the blink of an eye. There are different options for different people.
www.grancanaria.com
 Summary 1

“This text is about Gran Canaria”

✓ This answer is too short

✓ Summarising is not simplifying
✓ It doesn’t include the main idea of the text
 Repetition of Irrelevant
words from the Summary 2 information
text

“Gran Canaria is a miniaturised island where you can change your

shirt and practise sports. The island is very silent and different
people can have different options.”

Irrelevant
information
 Summary 3

“Gran Canaria is known for offering possibilities to enjoy

water sports like diving or surfing, but it also offers mountain
sports like hiking, biking or climbing.”

✓ It includes the topic of the text

✓ It includes the key points
✓ It doesn’t include unnecessary information
✓ It is written with whole sentences