Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies
B1 Lesson 4: Summarizing Main Points
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Understanding these terms is essential for summarizing.
How to Write a Good Summary ✍️
Follow these four steps to create a clear and accurate summary.
- Read & Understand: Read the paragraph carefully until you understand its overall meaning.
- Find the Main Idea: Identify the single most important point the author is making.
- Find 2-3 Key Details: Find the most important facts that support the main idea. Ignore minor details.
- Draft Your Summary: Combine the main idea and key details into a new, short paragraph using your own words.
Let's Practice Together: Bokor Hill Station
Original Text
Bokor Hill Station, located in the national park near Kampot, has a fascinating and complex history. It was originally developed in the 1920s by French colonists as a luxury resort to escape the heat of the lowlands. They built a grand hotel, a church, and other buildings. However, it was abandoned in the 1940s and saw fighting during Cambodia's later conflicts in the 1970s. Today, some of the old, atmospheric buildings remain, alongside new developments, making it a popular destination for tourists interested in history and nature.
Analysis (Steps 2 & 3)
- Main Idea: Bokor Hill Station has a complex history with different stages.
- Key Detail 1: It was first a French resort.
- Key Detail 2: It was later abandoned during conflicts.
- Key Detail 3: Now, it is a tourist destination with old and new buildings.
Example Summary (Step 4)
Bokor Hill Station has a complex history. It began as a French luxury resort in the 1920s but was later abandoned during periods of conflict. Today, it is a popular tourist destination known for its mix of historic ruins and modern developments.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Find the Best Summary
Read the paragraph below and choose the best summary.
"Kampot pepper is considered one of the most prestigious peppers in the world for several reasons. Its unique, complex flavor is highly valued by international chefs. Furthermore, it is grown using traditional, organic farming methods, which requires a great deal of manual labor. Finally, it has a special Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, which guarantees its quality and origin."
Which of the following is the BEST summary of the paragraph?
- A. Kampot pepper has a special PGI status.
- B. Kampot pepper is a prestigious pepper because of its unique flavor, traditional farming methods, and special quality status.
- C. Kampot pepper is grown by farmers who use organic methods and then it is sold to international chefs.
→ Answer: B. This option includes the main idea (it's a prestigious pepper) and all three key supporting details.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Summarize To briefly restate the most important points of a text in your own words.
- Main Points The most important ideas or central arguments of a text.
- Key Details The most important facts or examples that support the main points.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Practice Summarizing!
Find a short factual paragraph in English (3-5 sentences long) from a news website or textbook.
- Read the paragraph carefully to understand it.
- In your notebook, write down the main idea in one sentence.
- Write down 2-3 key details.
- Combine these points to write your own summary of the paragraph.