The ending of the article, like the beginning, plays an important role in the structure of the entire text. The reader’s better understanding of the message and drawing conclusions largely depend on it. How do you write an accurate summary of the text, and what should be included in it? Let’s find out.
What is a text summary?
The text summary is the final fragment intended to explain the author’s intentions and present the most important conclusions resulting from the content. The summary usually consists of:
- Included at the beginning of the thesis
- Key information regarding the topic
- A moral or general opinion about the entire idea
Crafting an insightful summary provides readers with a fresh angle on the subject matter. By presenting the main ideas in a concise yet distinctive manner, a well-crafted summary serves as a literary synthesis, weaving together the various threads of information into a cohesive narrative.
Moreover, the act of summarization inherently underscores the significance of the arguments presented within the text. It acts as a strategic tool, highlighting the crucial points and reinforcing their relevance in a broader context. This deliberate emphasis contributes to the overall impact of your message, ensuring that key takeaways resonate with your audience.
Types of summaries in articles
We identify four distinct and well-established types of endings that serve to assist readers in consolidating the most pivotal information. Alternatively, you can use a tool to help you do the summary and streamline the process for you. The incorporation of a summary not only enhances the substantive value of the text but also holds the potential to positively influence the evaluation of the website by search engine robots, particularly those belonging to Google. This strategic utilization of summaries can play a crucial role in optimizing content for improved visibility and ranking on search engine results pages.
General summary
This is one of the most frequently used types of endings. It usually outlines what the content is about while presenting the key conclusions contained in the text. It is perfect for scientific articles, essays, and all kinds of texts providing knowledge on a specific topic. The end of the article should refer to the introduction and contain an appropriately paraphrased thesis.
Punchline resulting from the text
This is a very appreciated type of ending for readers. It can often be found in columns, papers, and humorous texts. In this case, it is also worth including a reference to the beginning. The goal, however, is not to repeat the information contained therein but to formulate an interesting or funny reflection related to the topic. In addition, the authors willingly use aphorisms, various types of quotes, and expert statements.
Direct address to the reader
Ending with a direct address to the reader is a great solution for texts intended to build relationships with recipients. It usually applies to blog articles and other content marketing materials, such as a newsletter or e-book. It contains thanks, a request to take a specific action, or a question that will encourage discussion in the comments.
Open ending
It is the only form of ending that breaks all the rules. Perfectly matches melancholic and reflective articles. Its purpose is to make the reader think and form their own opinion. For this reason, it does not provide any summary or moral and leaves the topic open.
How to write an accurate summary of the text?
Writing a summary can sometimes seem difficult, especially for scientific publications. First of all, it is worth thinking about the form of the planned article, taking into account what it is supposed to cover and who is its recipient. This way, it will be much easier to match the appropriate ending. Here are some useful tips:
Provide an appropriate heading at the end
Before writing your conclusion, include an H2 “Conclusion” or “Summary” heading. This will highlight key information, making it easier for the reader to remember the article.
Choose a short but concise ending
Summarize in a few sentences, covering the most important issues. It’s best to leave out the new information because this section is intended to closely relate to the rest of the text.
Use guiding questions
As you reach the end of the content, ask yourself questions in your head, such as “What does this mean?” or “Why does this matter?”
Repeat the thesis contained in the article
To summarize the article, repeat the thesis written in the introduction. Remember to use different words than before. Such a sentence will certainly emphasize the value of the given arguments.
Be natural in what you do
Writing an ending is a great opportunity to establish a relationship with your reader. This mainly concerns difficult and very detailed guide articles. By including a personal anecdote about the issue you are discussing, you will show that you know it from your own experience.
Provide valuable tips on how to proceed
Instead of a classic summary, a good solution may be to provide ready-made instructions. This way, you will make your recipients aware of what to do step by step to solve a given problem.
Ask a question to start a discussion
At the end of the article, include a question that will stimulate readers to form their own opinion or encourage further discussion. This action will be great for getting more comments.
Use bullet points
If you want to convey the most important information from the text in a simple and clear way, using bullet points is a good solution. This will organize the end of the article and make it easier to remember.
Summary
- The summary of the article aims to present the author’s intention and conclusions drawn from the text, as well as to emphasize the importance of the arguments provided.
- The most commonly used forms of endings are: general summary, punch line, direct address to the reader, and open ending.
- Each of the forms mentioned fits a different type of article.
- If you want to write an accurate summary of the text, it is worth concluding it in a few concise sentences, placing an appropriate heading before it, and using bullet points.
- A good solution is to repeat a previously stated thesis, provide ready-made instructions on how to solve the problem in question, or ask the recipients a question in order to trigger a discussion.
