Hints for Summaries Begin by naming the author, essay, source, and essay date. Use direct, clear sentences. Be careful not to write too much. Omit incorrect language usage such as, "This essay talks about. . ." Instead, substitute "The author of the essay writes that. . ." or other accurate expressions. Avoid disjointed lists of sentences. Even a summary should flow from one idea to the next. Consider what your reader will need to or want to know about the essay you're summarizing. Be sure to attribute each idea to the author. Avoid editorializing (making judgment statements or using judgment words regarding the work). Follow the same rules of punctuation that you would for any other document. Refer to authors by last and not first name after the full name is introduced. Rather than retelling a narrative, encapsulate it in a shorter sentence or two, but only if it is significant in itself. Try to make each sentence of your summary meaningful as an independent statement. Make sure to indicate the overall point of the essay; this is the meat of your summary.