Before you begin the summarization process, you need certain materials. According to Auburn University, you should arrange for a dry-erase board and marker, which may help students recap the article or lesson visually. Make sure each student has a pencil, piece of paper and a copy of your summarization checklist. Make copies of the article or reading for each student. If you're a student summarizing an article, the dry-erase board and marker are optional; make sure you have a copy of the assignment requirements if you're summarizing so you correctly follow your instructor's guidelines.
Summarization checklists should list tips on summarizing, or questions the student can ask himself. Questions may include: Were inaccurate details omitted? Are the main ideas of the original reading included? Is the summary the same length of the original work? You don't want your summary to be longer than the article you've read. Try to keep the summary within one-fourth and one-third of the original work's length. Is the timeline of events in the original order? If you're writing a summarization, check to make sure that none of your sentences begin with the same two words, according to the South Sutter Charter School writing handbook.
Academic writing generally requires students to summarize a reading, and to quote or paraphrase the author and literary work. Committing plagiarism may lead to a failing grade and possible expulsion from the university. Using a summarization checklist helps the student check quotations for accuracy, ensuring that the words, grammar and phrases have been written exactly how the original author wrote them in the readings. If you're a student, a summarization checklist helps you double-check that you're using your own words, not repeating the same words as the author.
Allow students to create a summarization checklist alone for practice. Hand out highlighters to students and copies of the readings. Give each student time to read the literary work silently during class; encourage each student to highlight what she feels is the most important information. Then, as a class, discuss what was read and relate the main and supporting events together. Pass out a copy of your summarization checklist so each student can see if she highlighted the parts of the readings that will help her write a strong summary.