When writing a summary, what does it mean to be objective? Does it mean to keep statements brief to include only the most important details or to leave out personal opinions or to rewrite in your own words?

Answer 1

Being objective in a summary primarily means to leave out personal opinions and biases. It involves presenting information in a neutral and factual manner, focusing on the key points and important details without injecting your own feelings or interpretations. While brevity is important—since a summary is meant to condense the material—being objective emphasizes accuracy and fidelity to the original content rather than simply shortening it.

Additionally, rewriting in your own words can be a part of summarizing, as long as the essence and main ideas of the original content are preserved. So, to summarize, being objective means:

1. Excluding personal opinions and biases.
2. Maintaining accuracy and fidelity to the original text.
3. Conveying the essential points clearly, which may involve paraphrasing.

In essence, the goal is to provide a clear, concise, and unbiased representation of the source material.