10 Types Of Summary In Writing And When To Use Each

Do you read summaries in any piece of writing?

Summaries are everywhere!

Well! Summary makes it easier to understand information. 

Whether you're reading an article, reviewing a novel, or looking at a business report, summaries highlight the main points.

Each type of summary has a unique purpose. 

Whereas, some focus on key ideas, others on facts, and some even provide a quick analysis. 

If you understand the different types, it can help you choose the best one for your purpose. 

However, in this guide, I’ll cover ten main types of summaries, when to use each, and examples so you can see how they work. 

Let's get started and explore the variety of ways to summarize.

Structure of a summary 

A summary is not just a quick retelling.

Many of you may be confused in summary or conclusion, right? 

But summary is a shortened version of the original text which is organized in a clear way. It keeps the crux, key points, and sometimes the tone of the text.

Well! A good writing structure of summary has three main parts: 

• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion

The introduction identifies the main subject or source material. 

The body gives a clear and concise overview of the main points. Typically in the order they appear in the source. 

The conclusion briefly recaps the primary takeaway.

While, summaries should keep the main idea. They remove extra details but make sure the key point stays clear.

If I talk about shorter summaries (like an abstract), they’re tightly condensed.

Whilst, more detailed ones (like an evaluative summary) might include analysis. 

Structuring your summary well is essential, but what should you do?

Make sure that your summary is in a reduced format with better sentences, the meaning and core purpose are easy to understand.

What’s the purpose of writing a summary? 

Summaries simplify!

Well! Their main purpose is to make long or complex content easy to understand. They help save readers time but still deliver the key ideas.

Writing a summary is essential in academic fields, business, journalism, and more. It helps people quickly understand the main message without reading the entire text. 

They are also useful for you to remember information, review text, and keep records.

Assume a business setting!

An executive summary provides managers a quick overview of a lengthy report so they can make decisions faster. 

Now suppose academic writing!

Students use summaries to review topics or prepare for exams. 

The purpose depends on the context but it typically focuses on communicating crucial details quickly and clearly. 

But if you understand the purpose, you can easily choose the right type of summary. 

It could range from a brief abstract to a detailed thematic or critical summary.

Why is there a need for different types of summaries? 

Not all summaries are the same because each serves a different need. 

Let’s say a research paper might need an informative summary that covers methods and findings. 

While, an abstract is a brief summary without personal opinion.

So, different summaries help us adjust content based on the reader's needs, the context, and the purpose of the text.

However, if you know the different types of summaries, you can present information in the best way. 

You can provide insight, simplify complex ideas, or summarize long text.

An easy but excellent way to do this is using our AI summarizer. This tool will help you to shorten your long text effortlessly. 

No matter what type of summary it is, this AI tool will summarize it effectively.

10 main types of summary in writing

Now! Let’s explore all the types of summarization. Here they are:

1. Descriptive summary 

A descriptive summary offers a broad view of a text. 

But what’s the main focus?

Well! It focuses on the content's main points, style, and tone. And it doesn’t give too many details. 

In this type of summary, you don't analyze or interpret. Instead, you just have to describe what the text covers. 

Use: Descriptive summaries are often used in catalogs, bibliographies, and book listings.

For example: For "The role of emotion in storytelling," a descriptive summary might state:

"Emotion in storytelling helps create a deep connection between the characters and the audience. It makes the story more engaging and impactful."

It gives readers a sense of what to expect without diving into detailed plot points or character analysis. 

You can say that descriptive summaries give a brief and objective introduction to a work. It focuses on clear and factual details.

2. Informative summary 

An informative summary shares the key facts, figures, and main ideas. It doesn’t add personal opinions or detailed analysis.

Use: It is commonly used in academic settings, news articles, or scientific studies where clarity and objectivity are most important.

For example: If I summarize a study on climate change, an informative summary might be: 

“A 2023 study shows that global temperatures have gone up by 1.5 degrees Celsius since the 1800s. Carbon emissions are the main reason for this rise.” 

This summary shares the main findings clearly. It gives the reader simple and direct information. 

Whereas, informative summaries are great when you need a plain version of the main points, like in research papers or technical reports.

3. Critical summary 

A critical summary includes not only a summary of the text, it also shares your opinion on what is good and bad about it. You explain the strong points and the weak points of the text.

Use: It’s often used in reviews, analytical essays, and academic analysis.

For example: A critical summary of a novel might look like this: 

“While initiation skillfully explores complex themes of time and memory. But its narrative structure can be confusing. It leaves viewers uncertain about reality vs. dream.” 

This summary looks at the novel's impact and any possible drawbacks.

Although, critical summaries help readers understand what the work is about and whether it achieves its goals.

They share details about the content and the writer's opinion, which is helpful for reviews or critiques.

4. Executive summary 

An executive summary shortens a long report or document. 

It gives decision-makers a quick overview with important information they can use right away.

Use: It’s commonly used in business and government reports.

For example: An executive summary for a project proposal might read: 

“This report shows the company's performance. It highlights areas of growth and suggests new cost-saving strategies to increase profitability.”

Here it offers a quick overview of the most important parts of a report, such as the goals, results, and suggestions. 

This sort of summaries saves time by focusing only on the information that decision-makers need. 

This makes it perfect for business settings where time is limited.

5. Narrative summary 

A narrative summary tells the main events or points of a story. 

It follows a clear order, so readers can easily understand the plot.

Use: It’s used in novels, short stories, nonfiction narratives, biographies, or historical accounts

For example: A narrative summary of “The Great Gatsby” could be: 

“Nick Carraway moved to New York during the Jazz Age. He becomes involved in the mysterious life of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Nick watches as wealth and obsession destroy everything around them.”

This summary gives a short overview of the plot. Moreover, it doesn't include any analysis.

6. Thematic summary 

A thematic summary shares the main ideas in a text. It is helpful when the text has many messages.

Instead of retelling the events, it focuses on themes like justice, love, or freedom.

Use: These summaries are great for discussions, literature reviews, and essays. They work well in argumentative essays or explanatory essays, where it is important to understand the main theme.

For example: A thematic summary for “Frankenstein” could read: 

"Frankenstein explores themes of creation, responsibility, and isolation. It shows the consequences of uncontrolled ambition and the search for knowledge."

So when you want to focus on the main theme in your summary, use thematic summary!

It helps readers understand the central ideas of the work without covering every event.

7. Expository summary 

An expository summary explains ideas in detail. 

Expand the paragraph of summary  to add more words, so it can help you to clarify complex information. Moreover, it also helps you to explain your point more effectively.

You will often find it in instructional texts, where it’s important to explain the “how” or “why.”

Use: Expository summaries are useful in teaching, science, and technical writing.

For example: An expository summary for an article on electric cars might say:

“Electric cars offer an eco-friendly choice instead of traditional gasoline-powered cars. They help reduce air pollution and lower carbon emissions.”

Therefore, these summaries help readers understand difficult topics by focusing on explanation.

To make these explanations more easy and engaging, use our AI rewriter. This tool will reword the existing text of your summary and remove any difficulty like complex sentences, jargons, and complicated phrases. 

8. Evaluative summary

An evaluative summary combines a summary with an evaluation of the content's quality or effectiveness. 

It is like a critical summary but focuses more on the overall quality.

Uses: These summaries used in reviews, critiques, and academic discussions.

For example: An evaluative summary of a documentary could be: 

“This documentary shows the serious problem of ocean pollution. However, it could have used more diverse sources. The visuals and interviews do a great job of raising awareness.”

Well! Evaluative summaries are helpful for readers who want a recap and an evaluation of the work.

9. Abstract 

An abstract is a short summary that explains the purpose, methods, and main findings of a study. 

It gives a quick overview without including any interpretation or analysis.

Use: It’s used in academic and scientific papers

For example: An abstract for a research paper on sleep might be: 

“This study looks at how lack of sleep affects memory. It found that memory performance decreases significantly after 24 hours without sleep.”

So, if you’re in academics, abstracts are perfect for you. 

They help researchers and students get a quick overview of a study before reading the full paper.

10. Synoptic summary 

A synoptic summary is a short version that gives only the most important information in a simple and concise way.

Use: It’s used when brevity is essential, such as in presentation slides, quick references, or pamphlets.

For example: A synoptic summary of a self-help book might state: 

“This book gives tips on managing time well. It focuses on setting goals and prioritizing tasks.”

Well! Synoptic summaries are great when you just need the basic information for a general overview.

Conclusion 

Summaries come in many different forms, as I’ve discussed above. 

If you choose the right type, it will help you to effectively communicate information. And also saves your time and effort. 

Each type of summary has a unique purpose. So understanding their differences can make complex ideas easier to understand. 

Knowing when to use each type of summary can improve your communication skills. 

It helps you get the most out of your content, whether you’re reading or writing.

Frequently asked questions

What 3 things should a summary include?

A summary should include the main idea, key details, and the purpose of the text. It gives a quick overview of what the text is about.

How long is a summary?

A summary is short and to the point, usually a few sentences or a paragraph. Its length depends on the size of the original text.

What should not be included in a summary?

A summary should not include personal opinions, unnecessary details, or direct quotes. It should focus only on the main points of the original text.