Writing the summary
The first part of an annotation is usually a summary or description of the source. This briefly outlines the author’s main points and gives an overview of the approach or methodology they used.
As you read each source, focus on understanding the main ideas. Take notes in your own words on the following questions. These notes will form the basis of your summary.
- What was the aim of the research?
- What methodology was used? How was the research conducted, and how were data collected and analysed?
- What are the main arguments or findings?
- What is the scope of the research? What does it include and leave out, and what are its limitations?
- What evidence supports the conclusions?
- Why was the research done? What issues does it address?
- If appropriate to your subject area, is there a quotation that summarises the main argument?
Another way to approach a summary is the 5WH method:
| Question | What to summarise |
|---|---|
| Who? | Who did the study, or who was studied |
| When? | When it was done, or the time period covered |
| Where? | The country, region or setting |
| Why? | The issues it addresses |
| How? | The method used |
| What? | The results and conclusions |
You don’t need to summarise everything. A summary is usually a single coherent paragraph, but some tasks ask for just one or two sentences. What you include depends on what you’ve been asked to do and the purpose of the task.
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