Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies
B1 Lesson 4: Summarizing Main Points of a Paragraph or Short Text
Proving Your Understanding
We have learned many strategies to read more fluently. The final way to check your comprehension is to summarize1 the text.
A summary is a short statement of the main points2 of a text, written in your own words. It should be much shorter than the original. Learning to summarize is a very important skill for school and work.
How to Write a Good 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 or examples that support the main idea. Ignore minor details.
- Draft Your Summary: Combine the main idea and key details into a short new paragraph. Try to use your own words.
Practice Summarizing a Paragraph
Let's read this paragraph about Bokor Hill Station and then summarize it together.
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.
Let's analyze it to find the key points:
- Main Idea: Bokor Hill Station has a complex history with different stages.
- Key Detail3 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:
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.
Your Turn! Find the Best Summary.
Practice Quiz
Read the short paragraph below.
"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 who value its flavor.
Answer: B. This option includes the main idea (it's a prestigious pepper for several reasons) and all three key supporting details. Option A is only one detail. Option C is too specific and misses the main idea.
Vocabulary Glossary
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Summarize (verb)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: សង្ខេប
To briefly restate the most important points of a text in your own words. ↩ back to text -
Main Points (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ចំណុចសំខាន់ៗ
The most important ideas or central arguments of a text. ↩ back to text -
Key Details (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ពត៌មានលំអិតគន្លឹះ
The most important facts or examples that support the main points. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
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.