Writing@CSU

Writing Guides

Writing Summaries

The Standard Summary - Form and Function

More on Form and Function

As an End In Itself

nutshell statement

Example Article

Example Précis

detailed summaries

Example Article

Example Detailed Summary

As Part of a Response or Position Paper

Using Author Tags

Example Summary

As Part of an Annotated Bibliography

Example Objective Annotated Bibliography Entry

Example Critical Annotated Bibliography Entry

As Part of a Larger Paper

Example of Summary to Set Context in a Review of Literature

Concise Statement of the Main Idea

More on the Concise Statement

Example Summary

Test Your Ability

Citing the Author and Title

Details and Quotes

View More on Details and Quotations

Example Summary

Using Quotations

View Steve Hill Article

View Example Summary of Steve Hill Article

Documenting Sources

More on Style and Tone

Example Summaries

Example Summaries

Using Author Tags

Example Summary

Putting it All Together

Example Summary

Processes for Writing Summaries

View More on Source Analysis to Jump-Start Summary

Process For Finding Main Point

Steps for Finding the Main Point

Process For Summarizing Support

Steps for Summarizing Support

View More on Writing to Jump-Start Summary

Process For Finding Main Point

Steps for Finding the Main Point

Process For Summarizing Support

Steps for Summarizing Support

Additional Resources

Related Resources View Related Resources
Print-Friendly Page
Authors & Contributors

Writing@CSU Home Page | Writing Guides | Summaries

Verb Tense

Summaries are written in the present tense because it is assumed texts speak to the present even if their authors are dead and/or wrote the words in the past. As a result, write about the text and/or authors as if they were composing the words at the moment.

Hemingway describes Paris as......
The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal.

Caution! This rule varies from discipline to discipline.

Copyright © 1993-2009 Colorado State University and/or this site's authors, developers, and contributors. Some material displayed on this site is used with permission.