如何写出一篇出色的summary
Feb 4, 2020 edited by Ruby
摘要是北美高中和本科阶段非常普遍的一种写作作业，通常学生们会被要求阅读指定文章或文献并写下摘要。那么如何书写一篇优质的summary，对于想要获取好成绩的留学生们来说就尤为重要了。那么废话不多说，接下来就进入正题——如何写出一篇出色的summary。
在介绍写作步骤之前，我们得先搞清楚三个问题：summary是什么，写summary的目的是什么，summary的长短一般是多少。掌握这三个方面的知识会有助于我们更好地写出一篇符合老师要求的summary。
What is a summary?
A summary is a shortened version of one text such as an article, a chapter of a book, a whole book, a reporter or an essay. It may also be a brief description of a series of events, a play, opera or film.
顾名思义，summary就是对于某一作品的一个总结概要。了解这一点以后，那么我们就要搞清楚自己写summary的目的是什么这一至关重要的问题。毕竟一个清晰的目标有助于我们更快更顺利地去为之奋斗。
What is the purpose of a summary?
The purpose of a summary is to give the reader a clear idea of the most important information in a given text.
归根结底，summary就是帮助读者快速地掌握了解文章中讲的是什么，有什么要点。一篇好的summary可以让读者在阅读完后就能清晰地明白整篇文章所讲的主要内容。那么，关键来了，要清晰地阐述完整篇文章的主要内容需要多少篇幅呢？
How long is a summary?
Summaries can be any length, from one sentence to about a quarter of the original text, sometimes,a one-page summary of an article or a two-page summary of a book.
summary的长短其实并没有什么特别明确的规定，不过通常来讲的话一篇文章一页的summary，一本书两页的summary这样的篇幅就足够了，不宜太长也不宜太短。
好了，了解了以上三项内容，那么在正式写之前，我们还得做好以下几点准备工作，以确保我们可以全力以赴地写成一篇出色的summary。
Preparing to Write:To write a good summary, it is important tothoroughly understand the materialyou are working with. Here are some preliminary steps in writing a summary.
1. Skim the text, noting in your mind thesubheadings. If there are no subheadings, try todivide the text into sections. Considerwhy you have been assigned the text. Try to determinewhattype of textyou are dealing with. This can help youidentify important information.
大致浏览整篇文章，记下小标题，如果没有小标题，尝试将内容分为两块。确定文章的形式以及文章的重要信息。
2. Read the text,highlightingimportant information andtaking notes.
高光重要信息并记录下来
3. In your own words, write down themain pointsof each section.
用你自己的语言写下每部分的主要几个观点。
4. Write down thekey support pointsfor the main topic, but donotinclude minor detail.
写下主题的关键支撑点，不过不要包括次要细节。
5. Go through the processagain, making changes as appropriate.
再次进行以上步骤，作一些适当的微调。
接下来，我们将介绍写作过程中的三要素以及写作常用句型。
Writing the Summary:
When writing the summary there are three main requirements:
1. The summary should cover the originalas a whole.
summary必须包括整个原文。
2. The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.
材料必须以中立的口吻呈现。
3. The summary should be acondensedversion of the material, presentedin your own words.
summary必须以你自己的语言呈现出整个材料的精华。
* * Also donotinclude anything that does not appear in the original. (Do not include your own comments or evaluation.) Be sure toidentify your source
当然也不要包含任何没在原文中出现的内容。（不要包含你自己的评论和评价）记得注明你的来源。
我们写作的时候注意以上三个事项的同时，也要记得用一些总结性且客观的语言进行写作，例如the article claims, the auther suggests.
那么，下面我们将介绍一些summary写作常用的句型供大家参考。
Summary写作常用句型：
The essay/passage/author highlights …
The essay/passage/author argues in support of …, stating that …
The essay/passage/author argues that…
The essay/passage/author discusses…
The passage/author compares …
The passage/author outlines …
According to the passage, we know…
This article is mainly about…
The writer states that…
As can be learned from this passage…
The passage says that…
In this passage, the writer mainly tells us
about his experience of…
Example Summary Writing Format:
In the essaySanta Ana, author
Joan Didion’smain point is(state main point).According toDidion “…passage 1…” (para.3). Didionalso writes“…passage 2…”
(para.8). Finally, shestates“…passage 3…” (para. 12) Write a last
sentence that “wraps” up your summary; often a simple rephrasing of the main
point.For example:
In his paper “Global Implications of Patent Law Variation,” Koji Suzuki (1991) states that lack of consistency in the world’s patent laws is a serious problem. In most of the w
