Forming an overview

If your purpose is to note the main point of the text, the notes you make may be as brief as one sentence. In relation to your text as a whole, write down your answer to the question 'What message is the author trying to get across?'

Rewording the title
Rewording or expanding on a very brief title may help you focus on the main idea of your text.

If your text has headings
Use the headings and sub-headings to help you identify key points and sort out the sequence of ideas in your text.

Look at the first heading. What point is the author making about this? Write down the answer to this question.

If you turn headings into questions and then find the answer to each question, that will help you note the main ideas of your text.

Pay attention to any words that the author has emphasised by printing them in bold, in colour or in italics or by distinguishing them in some other way.

If your text has no headings
Skim read, particularly the first sentence of each paragraph, to identify the various sections of your text Locate cues such as The major cause..., Another important factor..., One result..., to help you identify key sections. Insert your own headings and sub-headings into your text and use these as a basic outline of the main ideas.

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