Editing Workshop
Learn
Writing a summary is only the first step. Good writers revise their summaries to make them more accurate, concise, and effective. In this workshop, you will learn to evaluate and improve summaries using a systematic editing checklist.
The Summary Editing Checklist
Use these questions to evaluate any summary:
1. Accuracy Check
- Does the summary correctly represent the original text's main idea?
- Are all facts and details accurate?
- Does it avoid adding information not in the original?
- Does it avoid changing the author's meaning or intent?
2. Completeness Check
- Are all major points included?
- Is anything important missing?
- Would someone who hasn't read the original understand the topic?
3. Conciseness Check
- Are unnecessary details removed?
- Can any wordy phrases be shortened?
- Are there repeated ideas that can be combined?
- Is the summary an appropriate length (1/4 to 1/3 of original)?
4. Paraphrasing Check
- Are ideas expressed in your own words?
- If any exact phrases are used, are they in quotation marks?
- Is the sentence structure different from the original?
5. Flow and Clarity Check
- Do sentences connect smoothly?
- Is the summary easy to read and understand?
- Are transitions used where needed?
Common Summary Problems and Fixes
| Problem | How to Fix It |
|---|---|
| Too long | Remove minor details, combine sentences, cut examples |
| Too short/incomplete | Add missing main points, check for key supporting details |
| Inaccurate | Re-read original, correct misstatements, remove additions |
| Too close to original wording | Cover original, rewrite from memory, then check accuracy |
| Choppy flow | Add transitions, combine short sentences, vary sentence openings |
| Includes opinions | Remove personal reactions, stick to reporting what the text says |
Editing Strategies
Strategy 1: Read Aloud
Reading your summary aloud helps you catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and flow problems that you might miss when reading silently.
Strategy 2: The "So What?" Test
After each sentence, ask "So what?" or "Why does this matter?" If a detail doesn't contribute to understanding the main idea, consider cutting it.
Strategy 3: Peer Review
Have someone who hasn't read the original text read your summary. If they can understand the topic and main points, your summary is effective.
Strategy 4: Side-by-Side Comparison
Place your summary next to the original. Check that main ideas are represented and that your wording is sufficiently different.
Examples
Example 1: Editing for Conciseness
Original Text:
The monarch butterfly's migration is one of nature's most remarkable journeys. Each fall, millions of monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the United States to central Mexico. The butterflies that make this journey have never been to Mexico before - they are the great-great-grandchildren of the butterflies that left the previous spring. Scientists believe monarchs navigate using the sun's position and Earth's magnetic field.
Draft Summary (too wordy):
"The monarch butterfly's migration is one of nature's most remarkable journeys. Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies travel very long distances of up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the United States all the way to central Mexico. The butterflies that make this long journey have never been to Mexico before because they are the great-great-grandchildren of the butterflies that left Mexico the previous spring. Scientists believe that monarch butterflies navigate using the sun's position and Earth's magnetic field."
Problems identified:
- First sentence copies original exactly
- Repetitive phrases ("long distances," "long journey," "all the way")
- Too much detail for a summary
- Nearly same length as original
Revised Summary:
"Monarch butterflies make an extraordinary 3,000-mile migration from North America to Mexico each fall. Remarkably, these butterflies have never made the trip before - they are several generations removed from those who previously wintered in Mexico. Scientists believe they navigate using the sun and Earth's magnetic field."
Example 2: Editing for Accuracy
Original Text:
The Dead Sea, located between Jordan and Israel, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. Its salt concentration is about 34%, compared to 3.5% for typical ocean water. This extreme salinity makes it nearly impossible for fish and plants to survive. However, the Dead Sea does support some salt-loving bacteria and fungi. The high salt content also allows swimmers to float effortlessly on the surface.
Draft Summary (inaccurate):
"The Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water on Earth, with no life at all in its waters. Located in Israel, its salt content is 34%, which is ten times saltier than the ocean and makes people float."
Problems identified:
- "Saltiest body of water on Earth" - original says "one of the saltiest"
- "No life at all" - original mentions bacteria and fungi survive
- "Located in Israel" - original says "between Jordan and Israel"
- "Ten times saltier" - original says 34% vs 3.5%, which is about 10x, but this is added calculation
Revised Summary:
"The Dead Sea, situated between Jordan and Israel, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, with a salt concentration of 34% compared to 3.5% in typical oceans. While this extreme salinity prevents most life, some bacteria and fungi survive. The high salt content also enables effortless floating."
Example 3: Editing for Better Paraphrasing
Original Text:
Sleep is essential for memory consolidation, the process by which short-term memories become long-term memories. During deep sleep, the brain replays information learned during the day, strengthening neural connections. Students who get adequate sleep perform better on tests than those who stay up late studying.
Draft Summary (too close to original):
"Sleep is essential for memory consolidation. During deep sleep, the brain replays information learned during the day. Students who get adequate sleep perform better on tests."
Problems identified:
- Sentences are copied or barely changed
- Structure follows original too closely
Revised Summary:
"Getting enough sleep helps the brain convert new information into lasting memories. While we sleep deeply, our brains review and reinforce what we learned while awake. Research shows that well-rested students outperform those who sacrifice sleep to study."
Practice
Practice 1: Identify the Problems
Read the original text and the summary. List at least three specific problems with the summary.
Original:
The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799 by French soldiers in Egypt, was the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. The stone contains the same text written in three scripts: hieroglyphics, Demotic (everyday Egyptian writing), and ancient Greek. Scholar Jean-Francois Champollion spent years comparing the scripts before finally cracking the hieroglyphic code in 1822. The stone is now housed in the British Museum in London.
Summary:
"The Rosetta Stone was found by British soldiers and is the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. The stone has three languages. Champollion cracked the code. It's a really amazing discovery that changed history forever."
Your task: Identify at least three problems with this summary.
Practice 2: Edit for Conciseness
This summary is too long. Revise it to be more concise while keeping all essential information.
Original:
Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan citadel located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Built in the 15th century, it was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and remained unknown to outsiders until 1911. American explorer Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention after his expedition. Today, it is Peru's most visited tourist attraction and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Wordy Summary:
"Machu Picchu is an ancient citadel that was built by the Incan civilization. It is located very high up in the Andes Mountains in the country of Peru. The citadel was built way back in the 15th century, but it was later abandoned when the Spanish conquest happened. It remained completely unknown to people outside of Peru until the year 1911. That was when an American explorer named Hiram Bingham went on an expedition and found it, which brought it to international attention. In modern times today, Machu Picchu has become Peru's most visited tourist attraction. In 1983, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site."
Your task: Reduce this summary to 3-4 sentences.
Practice 3: Edit for Accuracy
Find and correct the factual errors in this summary.
Original:
The Amazon River is the second-longest river in the world, stretching approximately 4,000 miles through South America. It carries more water than any other river, accounting for about 20% of all fresh water that flows into the oceans. The Amazon basin is home to the world's largest rainforest, which produces roughly 20% of Earth's oxygen. Over 2,000 species of fish live in the Amazon, more than in the entire Atlantic Ocean.
Summary with errors:
"The Amazon River is the longest river in the world at 4,000 miles. It carries 20% of Earth's water and flows through the world's largest rainforest, which produces most of Earth's oxygen. The river contains over 2,000 species of fish."
Your task: Identify the errors and write a corrected summary.
Practice 4: Edit for Better Paraphrasing
This summary stays too close to the original wording. Rewrite it using your own words.
Original:
The invention of the telescope in 1608 revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Galileo Galilei improved the design and became the first person to observe the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus, and craters on Earth's moon. These observations provided evidence supporting the heliocentric model, which placed the sun at the center of the solar system rather than Earth.
Summary (poor paraphrasing):
"The telescope was invented in 1608 and revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Galileo improved the design and was the first to observe Jupiter's moons, Venus's phases, and craters on the moon. His observations provided evidence supporting the heliocentric model."
Your task: Rewrite this summary with better paraphrasing.
Practice 5: Complete Revision
This summary has multiple problems. Edit it for accuracy, conciseness, paraphrasing, and flow.
Original:
Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, predating dinosaurs by about 200 million years. Despite their fearsome reputation, sharks kill an average of only 5 people per year worldwide, while humans kill approximately 100 million sharks annually for their fins, meat, and other products. Many shark species are now endangered due to overfishing. Sharks play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems by controlling populations of other fish and removing sick and weak individuals.
Draft Summary:
"Sharks have existed for 400 million years, predating dinosaurs by 200 million years. Sharks kill an average of only 5 people per year worldwide. Humans kill 100 million sharks annually. Many shark species are now endangered. Sharks play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems."
Your task: Revise this summary to address all problems.
Practice 6: Peer Review Simulation
Pretend you are reviewing a classmate's summary. Write feedback identifying strengths and suggesting specific improvements.
Original:
The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons, each connected to thousands of others through synapses. This creates a network of trillions of connections that allow us to think, feel, remember, and control our bodies. The brain uses about 20% of the body's energy, despite being only 2% of body weight. Different regions of the brain specialize in different functions, but they work together constantly through electrical and chemical signals.
Classmate's Summary:
"The brain has 86 billion neurons connected by synapses. It uses 20% of the body's energy even though it's just 2% of body weight. Different brain parts do different things but they all work together."
Your task: Write constructive feedback with at least two strengths and two specific suggestions for improvement.
Practice 7: Edit Your Own Work
Write a first-draft summary of the passage below. Then use the editing checklist to revise it. Submit both versions.
Original:
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. is the largest library in the world. It holds more than 170 million items, including books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts. Founded in 1800 to serve Congress, it now serves as the national library of the United States. The library adds approximately 12,000 items to its collection every day. Thomas Jefferson's personal library of 6,487 books formed the foundation of the current collection after the original library was burned by British troops in 1814.
Your task: Write a first draft, then a revised draft using the editing checklist.
Practice 8: Timed Editing Challenge
Set a timer for 5 minutes. Edit this summary as thoroughly as you can in that time.
Original:
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. This process takes place primarily in the leaves, where chlorophyll in chloroplasts absorbs light energy. Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth because it produces the oxygen we breathe and forms the base of most food chains. Without photosynthesis, there would be no food for animals to eat and no oxygen for them to breathe.
Summary to Edit:
"Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. It happens in the leaves where chlorophyll absorbs light. Its essential for life because it produces oxygen and food. Without it animals couldn't survive."
Your task: Make as many improvements as possible in 5 minutes.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: Name the five categories in the Summary Editing Checklist.
Question 2: What is the "So What?" test, and how does it help you edit a summary?
Question 3: If your summary is nearly the same length as the original, what should you do to fix it?
Question 4: Why is it important to read your summary aloud during editing?
Next Steps
- Apply the editing checklist to summaries you write for other classes
- Practice peer review with a study partner
- Continue to the final lesson: Unit Checkpoint