How to Summarize an Article in 6 Steps (With Example)

5 November 2026 · 5 min read

To summarize an article, identify its main claim, list the key points that support it, and write a short version in your own words that names the author and title, states the thesis in the first sentence and covers the main points in the order of importance. Leave out examples, minor details and your own opinion. A good summary is usually around a quarter to a third of the original's length or less, depending on what it is for.

Here is the method in six steps, followed by a full example.

Step 1: Skim for structure

Before reading closely, look at the title, subtitle, headings, first and last paragraphs, and any figures. In a news story, the key facts are usually in the first few paragraphs. In an academic article, the abstract, introduction and conclusion carry the argument. In an opinion piece, the thesis often appears near the end of the opening, after a hook.

Skimming tells you what kind of article you are dealing with and where to concentrate.

Step 2: Read closely and annotate

Now read the full article. As you go:

• Underline the thesis or main claim.
• Number each major supporting point in the margin.
• Circle key terms and definitions.
• Mark evidence briefly, such as "survey data" or "case study of Leeds," without copying it.

If something is unclear, reread that section. You cannot summarize what you do not understand.

Step 3: Write the thesis in one sentence

Without looking at the article, write the author's main point in one sentence. This is the hardest and most important step. Test it: if a classmate read only this sentence, would they know what the article argues?

Too vague: The article is about remote work.

Better: The author argues that remote work benefits experienced employees but slows the development of new hires, who miss informal learning in the office.

Step 4: List the main supporting points

Turn your margin numbers into a list of three to six points, each one sentence long. Ask which points the article would collapse without. Those stay. Points that are interesting but not essential, like a colourful anecdote or a side argument, usually go.

Step 5: Draft the summary

Combine your thesis sentence and supporting points into a paragraph, or several for a longer summary. Follow these conventions:

• Open with an identifying sentence. Name the author, the title and the main claim: "In 'The Quiet Cost of Remote Work,' Hannah Price argues that..."
• Use your own words. Paraphrase, do not copy. If a short phrase is essential, quote it and cite the page.
• Use attributive tags. Remind the reader whose ideas these are: "Price notes," "she contends," "according to the author."
• Stay neutral. A summary reports. If your assignment also asks for evaluation, keep that in a separate section. An article critique generator can help you outline the evaluative part, but keep the two distinct.
• Use present tense for describing what an article says: "Price argues," not "Price argued." This is the usual convention in summaries, though APA prefers past or present perfect tense when describing research in a literature review.

Step 6: Revise against the original

Compare your summary with the article:

• Is the thesis accurate, including any limits or qualifications the author gave?
• Did you include every major point and leave out minor ones?
• Have you accidentally borrowed phrases? Rewrite or quote them.
• Is it the required length? Cut adjectives and examples first.

Finally, add a citation in the style your course or publication uses.

A worked example

Imagine an 1,800-word magazine article titled "Why Your Town Needs Fewer Parking Spaces" by Leo Marsh. Its main points:

1. Many town centres have more parking than they use, even at busy times.
2. Parking takes up land that could hold housing, shops or green space.
3. Minimum parking rules for new buildings raise construction costs, which pass into rents.
4. Towns that reduced parking and improved buses and cycle routes saw footfall hold steady.
5. Change should be gradual, with attention to disabled drivers and deliveries.

Here is a summary of about 120 words:

In "Why Your Town Needs Fewer Parking Spaces," Leo Marsh argues that many town centres devote too much land to parking and would benefit from reducing it. He points out that car parks often sit partly empty even at peak times, while occupying space that could be used for homes, shops or parks. Marsh also criticises rules that require new developments to include a minimum number of spaces, claiming these raise building costs and, in turn, rents. Drawing on examples of towns that removed parking while improving public transport and cycling, he contends that visitor numbers need not fall. However, he cautions that changes should be phased in and should protect access for disabled drivers and delivery vehicles.

Notice what was left out: specific town names, the author's anecdote about circling a car park, and statistics used as illustration. Notice what stayed: the thesis, each supporting point and the author's qualification.

Summary lengths for different purposes

Always follow your instructor's or editor's specification over general guidance.

Using a summarizer tool

A text summarizer can produce a quick condensed version, which is useful for deciding whether an article is worth reading in full or for checking that you have not missed a major point. It is less useful as a final product for coursework, for three reasons: it may miss the author's nuances, it cannot follow your assignment's specific instructions, and many courses expect the summary to show your own comprehension. If you use one, check its output against the article and write the final version yourself, in line with your course rules.

FAQ

How long should a summary of an article be?

It depends on the purpose, but a common guideline is no more than about a quarter to a third of the original, and often much shorter. A summary for an annotated bibliography might be 100 to 200 words, while a one-sentence summary might be 30.

Should I include my opinion in a summary?

No. A summary reports the author's ideas neutrally. If your assignment asks for a response or evaluation, put it in a separate paragraph or section after the summary.

Do I need to cite an article I summarize?

Yes. A summary presents someone else's ideas, so it needs an in-text citation and a full reference, even though the wording is your own.

What tense should I use when summarizing an article?

Present tense is standard for describing what a text says ("Marsh argues"). Some styles, including APA for research literature, prefer past tense when reporting what researchers did or found.