Reading summary

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Summarize the reading and follow instructions attched

APA FORMAT

Guidelines for Writing a Reading Summary

(Individual assignment)

1. General Objective

A reading summary is a rigorous analytical exercise that consists of condensing a scholarly text to its essential intellectual components, using your own words. The objective is not to reproduce the structure of the text paragraph by paragraph, nor to provide commentary or critique, but rather to reconstruct the authors reasoning in a clear, concise, and coherent form.

A good reading summary demonstrates that you understand:

• what the author is trying to do (purpose),
• what the author is claiming (thesis),
• and how the author supports this claim (argumentation).

2. Formal Requirements

• Length: Maximum 2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
• Task type: Individual work
• Style: Academic, neutral, analytical
• Voice: Your own (no commentary or personal opinion)

3. Mandatory Components (in this order)

A. Full Reference

Provide the complete bibliographic reference of the text, following the exact format used in the course syllabus.

B. Authors Purpose (Short Paragraph)

The authors purpose explains what the author seeks to accomplish through the text.

• Begin with an infinitive verb (e.g., to explain, to analyze, to challenge, to demonstrate, to critique, to reinterpret).
• The purpose should be stated in a few lines only.
• You may quote the author if necessary, but quotations must:
• be placed in quotation marks ( ),
• include the page number.

Tip: To identify the purpose, isolate the main ideas of the text and ask what general objective links them together.

C. Main Thesis (24 lines)

The thesis is the central claim or assertion defended by the author.

• It must be formulated as a statement, not a question.
• It is usually found at the beginning or the conclusion of the text.
• Length: 2 to 4 lines maximum.
• You may quote the author, but if you do:
• use quotation marks,
• include the page number.

D. Argumentation (Main Section No Quotations Allowed)

This is the core of the reading summary and should take up most of the available space.

You must explain:

• how the author demonstrates or supports the thesis,
• the logic and structure of the argument,
• the hierarchy of ideas (main arguments vs. secondary points),
• the types of arguments used (theoretical, empirical, historical, comparative, normative, etc.),
• the key concepts mobilized and how they are defined or used.

Direct quotations are strictly prohibited in this section.

According to the Guide de mthodologie en science politique, an argument is:

a line of reasoning supporting a hypothesis defended by the author (Rondeau, 2007).

Your task is therefore to reproduce the articulation of the authors reasoning, not to list examples or details.

4. Qualities of a Strong Reading Summary

A successful reading summary must be:

1. Comprehensive
2. All elements essential to the authors thesis and argumentation must be included.
3. Concise
4. Avoid repetition and minor details (examples, anecdotes, statistics, illustrations).
5. Coherent
6. The text must read as a unified and logical whole, not as disconnected notes.
7. Independent
8. The summary must stand on its own, without quoting extensively or mimicking the authors style.

5. Methodological Steps (Recommended)

To prepare your summary:

1. Outline the text by identifying its major sections and main ideas.
2. Write one or two sentences summarizing each section.
3. Identify the authors thesis and overall purpose.
4. Reorganize the material logically around the thesis.
5. Rewrite the summary in a clear, concise, and academic style.
6. Revise to eliminate redundancies and ensure clarity.

6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Repeating the same idea in different words
• Including minor details (examples, anecdotes, statistics, narratives)
• Using direct quotations excessively (or at all in the argumentation section)
• Adding personal opinions, critiques, or evaluations
• Simply following the original structure of the text without synthesis

1. Grading Breakdown

Component

Points

Reference & format

1

Authors purpose

2

Main thesis

2

Argumentation

4

Writing quality & rigour

1

Total

10

It must include the following points:

• Full-text reference (follow the syllabus model in the proposed outline section)
• The authors purpose is in a few lines. To help you identify the purpose of a text, you can write the main lines on a separate sheet of paper, then ask yourself about the general theme that links them together. Start explaining the purpose with an infinitive verb, such as explain,’ criticize,’ challenge, or interpret. You can also quote the author. Dont forget the” and the quotation page.
• The main thesis of 2 to 4 lines: “The thesis takes the form of a statement, i.e., an assertion, which may be true or false.” “The thesis is usually found at the beginning or end of a text and is fairly brief, between two and four lines.” It is possible to quote the author. Don’t forget the ” and the quotation page.
• Argumentation: What arguments does the author use to demonstrate this thesis? (all the space left on your page, and sometimes more). Quotations are not allowed in this section. “To grasp the argumentation of a text is to be able to reproduce the articulation and hierarchy of an author’s ideas, as well as the type of argument that supports his thesis and the definition of the concepts he uses. According to the Guide de mthodologie en science politique, an argument is a line of reasoning supporting a hypothesis that the author defended (Rondeau, 2007).