An outline is a valuable tool to help you study information or organize your research to prepare a report. A summary is an overview of a document with the ideas or statements listed in a hierarchical order. The main idea is at the top, followed by secondary or supporting ideas called sub-topics.
An outline could be considered an ordered list of the topics or ideas. In simple terms, an outline is an ordered list of significant points and subpoints in an article or essay, given in outline style.
In this manner, how is an outline like a summary?
A summary is a short retelling in your own words, but it can have a few central ideas, thoughts, and details. An outline is even more straightforward, like a small presentation; it just gives an overall view of what is going on.
A summary is one or more paragraphs with the main ideas of the whole article or essay. It does not need to be in the same order as the essay and usually omits the details.
What is an outline?
An outline is a tool for putting written thoughts on a topic or argument into a logical order. Paper outlines can be very broad or specific. Outlines for papers can be very general or very detailed. Check with your instructor to know what’s expected of you.
The purpose of a topic outline is to provide a fast summary of the issues covered in your article. A college curriculum or a book glossary are simple examples. Both are equivalent to a topic outline with every main point and sub-topic listed for a quick perusal of information and details.
In an outline, you give an idea of the main items and headings.
How do you write an outline example?
To write an outline, follow these steps:
- Put your thesis statement at the start of your paper.
- Make a list of the primary supporting points for your thesis. Roman Numerals should be used to label them (I, II, III, etc.)
- List supporting ideas or arguments for each central point.
- If applicable, continue to subdivide each supporting idea until your outline is fully developed.
What are the main points of a summary?
A central point summary reads much like an article abstract, giving the most important “facts” of the text. It should identify the title, author, and main point or argument. It can also include the text’s source (book, essay, periodical, journal, etc.) when relevant.
By writing a summary, you condense an article and use your own words to present the main ideas. The length of the summary will depend on its purpose, the length and number of ideas in the original article, and the depth of detail needed.
You make summaries all the time. For example, when a friend asks you to tell him/her about a movie you watched, you don’t describe the movie scene by scene; you tell her the general plot and highlights.
In summary, you provide a brief account of the main ideas. Most of the time, the two words are used interchangeably, such as:
- Could you please give us a summary of the plan?
- I will provide you with the outline of the project very soon.
How do you start a summary?
Remember that a summary should be written in the form of a paragraph.
A summary starts with an introductory phrase that specifies the title, author, and primary idea of the work as you understand it. A summary is a piece of writing produced in your own words.
Only the main points of the original text are included in a summary.
Here’s a video that can help you with writing your summary:
Difference Between Outline and Summary
An outline is a plan of action or a synopsis of a written essay, report, paper, or other pieces of writing. It usually takes the shape of a list with numerous headers and subheadings to distinguish important ideas from supporting paragraphs or data.
The distinction between outline and summary as nouns is that an outline is a line that marks the boundaries of an object figure, but a summary is an abstract or a condensed presentation of the essence of a body of material.
A brief, or condensed summary is one that is concise, brief, or delivered in a condensed form. A summary takes the entire paper and shortens it to highlight key points. An outline takes every idea or main point and briefly talks about it.
An outline is a basic structure of an essay/report/paper, etc. It is kind of like a skeleton version of an essay. You make it to help organize your ideas before writing the actual article.
Summary means a short version of a longer thing. You can summarize writing, speeches, or anything. For example, if you translate (make a summary) from a long book, you might say, “This is what the book was about.”
| Outline | Summary |
| Noun (en noun) | Adjective (en adjective) |
| A line that makes an edge of an object figure. | Concise, succinct, or provided in a compressed format The appendix contains a summary review. |
| In terms of drawing, an object is outlined in contours without shading in a sketch or drawing. | It was done quickly and without fanfare. To break the people’s resistance, they utilized summary executions. |
What is the format for an outline?
An outline is a plan for a writing project or speech. Designs are usually in the form of a list divided into:
- Headings
- Subheadings that distinguish main points from supporting points
What are the types of summaries?
The main types of informative summaries are:
- Outlines
- Abstracts
- Synopses
Resumes present the plan or the “skeleton” of written material. Designs show the order and the relation between the parts of the written material.
Final Thoughts
- An outline is something like a bullet point of essential ideas.
- A summary is a concise restating of a text (written or spoken) that connects all the vital concepts. They do appear to be similar but are a bit different.
- A summary is in paragraph form. It depicts the main points but leaves out the additional filler.
- Basically, a summary is a condensed version of a longer piece of information.
- An outline is also a design of something in art and sketches.
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