Which statement best defines a good summary?

Which statement best defines a good summary?

• A. It condenses main points accurately without personal opinion.
• B. It quotes every sentence.
• C. It evaluates the text's arguments.
• D. It includes personal interpretation.

Answer: (C)

A good summary focuses on the essential ideas and conveys them accurately in your own words, without adding personal opinions or judgments. It captures the main points from the original text, preserves the meaning, and presents them concisely, omitting minor details and any information that isn’t part of the core message. Quoting every sentence goes against summarizing because it reproduces the text rather than distilling its ideas. Evaluating or critiquing the arguments is analysis, not summary, and including personal interpretation introduces bias. A solid summary thus communicates the source’s main ideas clearly and efficiently, so the reader understands the core message without reading the full text.

A good summary focuses on the essential ideas and conveys them accurately in your own words, without adding personal opinions or judgments. It captures the main points from the original text, preserves the meaning, and presents them concisely, omitting minor details and any information that isn’t part of the core message. Quoting every sentence goes against summarizing because it reproduces the text rather than distilling its ideas. Evaluating or critiquing the arguments is analysis, not summary, and including personal interpretation introduces bias. A solid summary thus communicates the source’s main ideas clearly and efficiently, so the reader understands the core message without reading the full text.