3.4: Writing a One-sentence Summary
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)A. Introduction
A one-sentence summary provides information about the source that is being summarized and presents the thesis or argument of that source. Think of it as a very brief introduction to your reader of the article, chapter, or book you’ve read; all that they need to know is who wrote it, what its title is, and what its main argument is.
In order to write an effective summary sentence, you should keep the following in mind:
-
Include the author’s full name.
o First mention: first and last (family) name
o Subsequent mentions (if your one-sentence summary is followed by a paragraph summary, for example): last name only - Include the title of the source.
- For articles like the ones we are using in this class, put the title in quotation marks (""). If you need to summarize a book or movie, put the title in italics.
- If you refer to this source later in your paper, you generally only need to use the author’s name, not the title again.
-
Include the thesis or argument of the article you are summarizing.
o State the argument or main idea concisely and clearly.
o Do not include details in the summary sentence. - Use a strong reporting verb that accurately describes what the article is doing. (However, if you use "according to" in your summary sentence you will not need a reporting verb.)
B. Basic Formula for a One-sentence Summary
Remember from Chapter 2 that the first three elements - information about the author/article and a reporting verb - make up a signal phrase showing that the idea came from someone else rather than you. The signal phrase is a crucial part of your one-sentence summary because it gives credit to the author.
C. One-sentence Summary Templates
Following are some examples of one-sentence summaries. You can use these as templates for writing your own.
|c|c| TEMPLATE & NG A REPORTING VERB
Example & In "Coping with Procrastination," Angela Moore suggests that in order to stop procrastinating, we need to analyze the real reasons we procrastinate.
Formula & In + "Title," + Author + reporting verb + that + main idea.
&
| 1. It is optional to add information about what kind of source this is (eg. In the article "Coping with Procrastination,..." "In the movie The Avengers,...") |
| 2. The comma after the title is necessary, and should come before the end quotation mark. |
| 3. In MLA format, the reporting verb should be in third person present simple; this generally means that it will end in an \(-s\), but will not if there is more than one author. |
| 4. The reporting verb is followed by a noun clause made up of that and a full sentence paraphrasing the main idea. This is also in the present tense. |
| 5. The order in which the elements are arranged can be shifted, but note the changes to the formula: |
& a. In order to stop procrastinating, we need to analyze the real reasons we procrastinate, suggests Angela Moore in the article "Coping with Procrastination."
& Formula: Main idea, + reporting verb + Author + in + "Title."
& b. Angela Moore suggests in the article "Coping with Procrastination" that in order to stop procrastinating, we need to analyze the real reasons we procrastinate.
& Formula: Author + reporting verb + in + "Title"+ that + main idea.
TEMPLATE 2: USING "ACCORDING TO"
|c|c| Example & According to Angela Moore in "Coping with Procrastination," in order to stop procrastinating, we need to analyze the real reasons we procrastinate.
Formula & According to + Author + in + "Title," + main idea.
Grammatical Notes &
| 1. See notes 1-3 for Template 1. |
| 2. Using "according to" means that the reporting verb and "that" are unnecessary. |
| 3. The order in which the elements are arranged can be shifted, but not as much as Template 1. Note the changes to the formula: |
| In order to stop procrastinating, we need to analyze the real reasons we procrastinate, according to Angela Moore in the article "Coping with Procrastination." |
| Formula: Main idea, + according to + Author + in + "Title." |
D. Signal Phrases: Saying Vs Doing
When creating multiple summaries (such as a one-sentence summary and a paragraph summary) or a summary/response essay, which requires both types, it’s important to find different ways to express the main idea/thesis/argument of the article. One helpful way to approach this is to think about what the author says and what the author does.
i. Capturing What the Author Says
For a one-sentence summary or the first sentence of a summary-response essay, it might be most helpful to focus on what the author says, or the main argument of the article. These signal verbs are typically followed by that and a complete statement of the main idea.
In the article "Coping with Procrastination," Angela Moore suggests that in order to change the habit of procrastination, it is essential to look below the surface for the real reasons why one puts off doing things. (main argument of the article)
Moore argues that procrastination is one of the most pervasive bad habits among college students. (statement of a point from the author’s argument)
ii. Capturing What the Author Does
For a paragraph summary, consider focusing on what the author does, or how \(s /\) he constructs the argument or organizes the ideas in the article. These signal verbs are generally followed by a noun or noun phrase.
Throughout the article, Moore enumerates the fundamental reasons why people procrastinate and how to overcome these issues. (reference to the organizational patterns used in the article)
Moore presents three solutions to overcoming procrastination. (one of the moves the author makes to support her main point)
Here are some signal verbs to use for each type of summary sentence:
SIGNAL VERBS FOR "SAYING" \(\quad\) SIGNAL VERBS FOR "DOING"
- acknowledges (that)
- agrees (that)
- argues (that)
- believes (that)
- claims (that)
- complains (that)
- declares (that)
- explains (that)
- finds (that)
- insists (that)
- maintains (that)
- makes the case (that)
- notes (that)
- observes (that)
- points out (that)
- posits (that)
- shows (that)
- speculates (that)
- states (that)
- stresses (that)
- submits (that)
- suggests (that)
- theorizes (that)
- thinks (that)
- warns (that)
- writes (that)
- acknowledges + noun
- addresses + noun
- affirms + noun
- analyzes + noun
- asks + noun
- categorizes + noun
- compares + noun
- critiques + noun
- defines + noun
- demonstrates + noun
- discusses + noun
- disproves + noun
- enumerates + noun
- examines + noun
- furnishes + noun
- identifies + noun
- illustrates + noun
- interprets + noun
- investigates + noun
- lists + noun
- outlines + noun
- presents + noun
- questions + noun
- supports + noun
- surveys + noun
- traces + noun
PRACTICE 1: Revising Summary Sentences
Look at the one-sentence summary and the first sentence of your paragraph summary. Rework them below so that your one sentence summary focuses on saying, and the first sentence of your paragraph summary focuses on doing and points to the main organizational pattern used in the article.
One-sentence summary: What does the author argue? What is the thesis of the article?
First sentence of paragraph summary: What does the author do in the article? How does the author organize the argument or their ideas?
Have a classmate review your sentences. What suggestions do they have for improving them?