Summarising vs. Synthesising.
When tackling academic assignments, you’ll often come across tasks that ask you to either summarise or synthesise information. Although these terms might sound similar, they are distinct skills that serve different purposes. Let’s explore what makes them unique and how you can master both to excel in your writing.
What Is Summarising?
Summarising is the art of condensing information from a source into its key points, making it shorter and more digestible. Think of it as creating a "snapshot" of the original text, capturing the essential ideas in your own words while leaving out details and personal interpretation.
Example:
Imagine you’re summarising a 10-page article on climate change. Instead of explaining everything in detail, you’d briefly outline the core arguments: the causes of climate change, its impacts on the environment, and possible solutions.
How to Summarise Effectively:
Read and Understand: Read the source material carefully to grasp the main ideas and supporting points.
Identify Key Points: Extract only the most important details. Focus on the main argument or findings.
Paraphrase: Use your own words to restate the ideas. This shows understanding and helps avoid plagiarism.
Be Objective: Don’t insert your own opinion—keep the summary neutral and factual.
Pro Tip: When summarising, ask yourself, “If I were to explain this to a classmate in a few sentences, what would I say?” That’s your summary!
What Is Synthesising?
Synthesising is more than just summarising; it’s about combining information from multiple sources to form a new perspective. When you synthesise, you’re weaving together different ideas, showing how they relate to each other, and building on them to develop your own insights.
Example:
Say you’ve read multiple studies on climate change. One study highlights the environmental impact, while another discusses the economic consequences. Synthesising involves merging these perspectives, comparing and contrasting the findings, and using them to form a new understanding of the issue.
How to Synthesise Effectively:
Collect Multiple Sources: Find different articles, studies, or texts that discuss the same topic from various angles.
Identify Common Themes: Look for patterns, similarities, or differences in the arguments.
Make Connections: Combine these insights to create a broader understanding of the topic. Show how the pieces fit together.
Add Your Voice: Explain why these connections matter and what new understanding emerges from them.
Pro Tip: Think of synthesising as being like a DJ—you're blending different tracks (ideas) together to create something new and exciting!
When to Summarise vs. When to Synthesise
Summarise when you need to provide a brief overview of a single source or key point.
Synthesise when you’re drawing on multiple sources to build a comprehensive view or to support an argument in your writing.
Real-Life Application in Assignments
Summarising might be useful in the introduction of your paper when you’re giving background on key texts or theories.
Synthesising is crucial in the body of your paper when you’re building an argument and need to show how different sources interact to support your claims.
Quick Comparison:
Summarising:
Condenses a single source into key points.
Objective and neutral, with no personal input.
Provides a brief overview of the source's main ideas.
Synthesising:
Combines ideas from multiple sources to form a new perspective.
Includes your interpretation and connections between ideas.
Integrative and analytical, building a broader understanding.
Why Both Skills Matter
Mastering both summarising and synthesising is essential for academic success. Summarising helps you break down complex ideas, making it easier to understand and explain them. On the other hand, synthesising allows you to engage critically with various sources and generate original insights—exactly what professors are looking for in higher-level assignments.
By practising these skills, you’ll improve your writing and develop critical thinking skills that will serve you well throughout your studies—and beyond.