Question

In 3–5 sentences, answer the following questions.

What information should a summary include? (Include at least three characteristics of a good summary in your response.)
Identify one thing that a summary should not include, and explain why.

Answer 1

A good summary clearly states the main idea or thesis, the most important supporting points, and the author's purpose or conclusion. It should be concise, objective, and accurate, written in your own words while preserving the original meaning. A strong summary is also well-organized and proportional to the length and complexity of the original text. One thing a summary should not include is new analysis or personal opinion, because adding interpretation or judgment changes the author's intent and can mislead readers about the source material.