Content

• Steps

Writing a book summary is a great way to absorb what you are reading. It also gives you quick references to help you remember the key points of the policy whenever you need it. In order to write a good summary of a book, you need to read it carefully while taking note of important notes, knots, and main character. You can take notes on the draft and then refine the final summary.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Notes

1. Annotate text when reading. Reading annotations will help you easily find important passages. Circle, highlight, or make notes wherever you find a question, important, unexpected, or interesting. You can also highlight repetitions, inconsistencies, or connections between paragraphs.
   • If it's a book in your possession, feel free to highlight it or write it in it. But if it's not your book, use sticky notes to note passages.

2. 

   
   
   Read while writing notes. Prepare a notebook with you to read while recording your feelings. Reading while taking notes helps you remember everything correctly. This will reduce your workload if you need to come back to check details later.
   • It is also a good idea to prepare more sheets of paper with the notebook. One sheet could be for the general impression of the book, another could be a list of characters and facts, and another could be for documenting the book's main themes and ideas.
   • You can also make notes to highlight words you don't understand. Use a dictionary to look up words and write down the definition.
   • Underlining or highlighting a book is not only permanently damaging, it also won't keep you on track of special details.

3. 

   
   
   Make a list of the main characters. Write down the names of the main characters with a short description of their main personality or traits. Remember to include 1-2 lines of your character's goals and desires. Use these notes to get an idea of ​​how the character represents the book theme.
   • You can also create a timeline of major events that occur in the book, especially books with a non-linear timeline that is complicated and confusing. Draw multiple lines of time if the story goes back past and back to the present.

4. 

   
   
   Divide the book into smaller sections. To avoid overloading, divide your book into 3 sections.The story will have an opening, middle and end. Prepare your notes based on these sections.
   • The opening will focus on introducing the main characters and setting the story.
   • The middle part will explore the main "issues" of the story, be it a war between gods and demons or a mysterious case.
   • The story will be the problem solving.

5. 

   Determine the main point of each section. Each part of the story will have a main theme and purpose. Think about what the author emphasized in each section. Remember to include links between sections.

6. 

   Identify the main ideal throughout the book. When you read a book try to think what it is teaching us. Constantly identify the topic that is aroused. It could be what the main character is constantly talking about, or the fatal omission of humans causing problem after problem.
   • For example, an author might want to show readers that pride can drive us to make bad decisions. To prove this, the main characters often fall and the situation cannot be solved on their own because they are too proud and arrogant.
   • If you're reading a nonfiction, the main ideal might be history or society. Maybe the author wants to let viewers know that fast food is unhealthy and the book gives many examples to prove it.
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Method 2 of 3: Draft and edit summary

1. 

   Check the required summary length. If you are writing a school essay summary there is a limit to the length of the essay. So the summary should be as close to that limit as possible. Too short it looks like you haven't read the book, but too long it is not a summary.
   • For example if the word limit is 200, then you should write about 190-200 words.
   • Even if you are writing your summary for personal purposes, consider the conciseness of the essay. A summary of under 500 words is also easy to use and fast.
2. Write your summary chronologically. A summary should introduce events in chronological order, which comes first and which follows. Avoid jumping between sections in the book. Start with the beginning and end at the end of the story to ensure the integrity of the original story.

3. 

   Describe the main points of the content and the character. Start by introducing the title and the author, then briefly mentioning what happened in the book. These should be encapsulated in only a few sentences. Think of it as your introduction.
   • You can write like "Novel 'Harry Potter and the flint stone' of J.K.Rowling about a boy orphan who discovered he was a witch one day. He discovered there was a magical world full of good and bad witches and wizards during his first year at Hogwarts.

4. 

   Explain the main points in the way of sections of the book. Take notes in the book to summarize what the book has to say. Take a few sentences to explain what is happening in each section, how they are fundamental to each other, and why this section is important to the whole landscape of the book.
   • This part of the summary might look like this: “The first part of the book introduces readers to what it is like to be a witch. Readers can experience this wonderful thing with Harry as well as sympathize with him, who is also new to the wizarding world. The story goes on to show something dark is happening at Hogwarts and Harry and his new friends - Ron and Hermione have to find the source. The story focuses on a series of tests and challenges that Harry might not be able to pass without the support of friends she loves her mother. "

5. 

   Remember to cover the main ideal of the book. End your summary by confirming the lesson you learned from the book. Refer to your notes to remind yourself of the topics aroused in the story. This statement should be the last sentence of the summary.
   • Example: "Through the story of Rowling, we see that even the most talented people need friendship and love to overcome evil."

6. 

   Do not include your own opinion in the summary. A summary should be neutral. Focus on the facts that unfold in the book. Do not write in your feelings or whether you agree with the author or not.
   • For example you could say "Both Professor Quirrell and Lord Voldemort disappeared after failing to take the Sorcerer's Stone", rather than write, "Too bad Voldemort escaped because he was a bad guy. Most, the author should get him arrested ”.

7. 

   Read it again to correct the error. Make sure you spell it correctly. Read the summary out loud for grammatical mistakes or punctuation errors. Check the word count.
   • Do not rely on the spell checker because it does not explain the context, nor the grammar mistakes that are often confused.
   • If you're writing a book summary for a reading club or for personal use, it's fine to re-edit, but you may want your summary to be more fun. Take a quick read again to make sure every step has been clearly written down.

8. 

   Share articles with friends. If a brief for school assignments, then share it with a friend or family member to read through. They will be more likely to see the mistakes you missed. If you ask your classmates, you can share each other's articles to learn together. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Read it carefully

1. 

   Find a quiet place so you won't be distracted. Choose a place away from the TV, turn off the phone ring and set it aside so as not to tempt. Concentrate on the book and enjoy reading time.
   • Make sure to read the book by a light or a well-lit window so it won't harm your eyes.

2. 

   Divide the book into small sections for reading. In order not to get overwhelmed, divide your book into reading sections for 20 minutes. If you really like the book, increase it by 1 or 2 hours per reading. This will help you contemplate the book slowly.

3. 

   Remember to plan your time if you have a deadline. You don't want to have to stay up all night to write a whole book summary. Plan at least 2 weeks for the short book and one month for the thicker one. Take some time each day to read.
   • If this is an assignment to a school or book club, start reading as soon as it is delivered. Your teacher or team leader can give you enough time to complete the book and summary without pressure.

4. 

   Read the important passages again. The important passages are easy to spot. If the protagonist is doing something big or having an unexpected turn, read the passage again.
   • These passages do not focus on description. Instead it is the point of turning point, a tragedy, or the solution to discord.

5. 

   Carefully pay attention to the main characters. The main characters are the ones who carry actions, mistakes, and emotions that play a key role in the book. Read the paragraphs where the main character appears.

6. 

   Don't be distracted by small details. When writing a book summary, you should not include minor details about the main characters, descriptions, or sub stories. You can still read and pay attention to them, but those details don't serve as central to the summary. advertisement