How is summary used in academic writing?
• When writing a critique, material is summarized in order to analyze it. • When writing a synthesis, summarized material shows relationships between sources. • When writing research papers, summarized material is used when taking notes and in the text when using sources for support. • When writing persuasive research papers, summarized material is used to show differing views and the evidence which supports them. Remember that a summary is not a replacement for analysis or argument. Learning to accurately summarize texts is important in developing critical reading skills. Reading tips: • As you read, imagine yourself in a conversation with the author of your text. Write questions and comments in the margins. Don’t be afraid to be messy, but don’t get so carried away that you can’t see the forest for the trees! • Read the passage carefully to determine the structure and the author’s purpose for writing the piece. Label on the passage itself, where the text divides into sections or stag
