Reform in the U.S Intelligence System

Posted: January 6th, 2014

SUMMARIZING AN ARTICLE
By Dora Loveva, Writing Fellow at Hostos, based on the writings of Dr. Linda Hirsch and Dr. Kathleen Kane
Step 1
Look over the title and main headings of each chapter (for an article, articulate the paragraphs) before reading in detail. Read the first paragraph; then read the first sentence of each paragraph; read the last paragraph; read the chapter/article summary; finally read the questions for discussions at the end of the chapter (for an article, read carefully the text of your assignment.
Step 2
Turn every heading/subheading into a question. For example, the subheading Life in the Era of the Internet becomes What is life like in the era of the Internet? You could organize your questions around this model who, what, where, why, how not every question would be relevant for your passage; however, most are.
Step 3
Read from one topic/idea/paragraph to the next, then stop and ask yourself: What is the Main Idea? Which are the supporting details? What is this chapter/article trying to teach me?
Step 4
Write down the answers to all your questions from above. If you cannot provide the answers, scan (look over quickly) the sections you just read. Underline and write it down. Be sure you grasped the main idea. When you finish writing, you have also finished your summary.