Steps In Writing A Summary. Now that we have reviewed what a summary should do, let's discuss specific steps you should take to write a perfectly balanced summary. The key here is to avoid rambling.
If you can't underline the book, write that sentence on your computer or a piece of paper. For each paragraph, underline the main idea sentence (topic sentence). When you read it, get a feeling for the author's style, tone and mood, and try to identify the main ideas expressed.
If you've written a horror novel, your summary should be scary.
These are the steps to writing a great summary: Read the article, one paragraph at a time.
If you are writing a summary for yourself, it's up to you how long or short it will be (but remember, a summary is supposed to be a short regurgitation of the information outline in an article). Steps for Writing a Summary Essay. A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text's title, author and main point of the text as you see it.