Tips for effective summarising

Similar to the techniques used in paraphrasing, effective summarising can be achieved by:

• Reading and, if necessary, rereading the source until you have a full understanding of the writer's message
• Putting the source aside and writing the message in your own words, being careful to:
  • Preserve the meaning of the original
  • Avoid using similar words and phrases as the original (a good dictionary and thesaurus are very useful in paraphrasing - do not rely on your word processor).