Notes

Thesis- a sentence that indicates the central idea of the text
In the introduction of an informational text text, you will find the thesis, a sentence that indicates the central idea of the text. The thesis reveals the author’s position on the topic and how the author intends to prove that his or her viewpoint is the correct one. The support, or evidence, is presented in the body paragraphs.
Each paragraph of the body should provide support, or reasons, for the author’s thesis. This is where the author develops and refines the central idea. We can better understand the thesis by carefully reading this section. The conclusion restates the thesis and provides the author’s closing thoughts on the topic.
How to Write a Summary:
Read the assigned text.
Divide the text into sections.
Write a gist statement, a sentence that captures the central idea of each section.
Arrange your gist statements into a paragraph and revise the paragraph so it is clear and concise.
Proofread your paragraph for spelling and grammar.
When you write your own, keep in mind these features of good summaries:
brief—shorter than original text
pulls out central ideas
focuses on only crucial details
no redundant information
Four to eight sentences, depending on length of original text
key words and phrases
concise and complete—sentences flow together
objective—your opinions or experiences are not included