Practical guide
How to Summarize Long Text Into Key Points
Turn a document into a useful brief without losing sight of the source.
Choose the summary purpose
A meeting brief, study note, and executive summary need different details. Define the audience and the decision the summary should support.
Use a visible structure
Ask for the main idea, evidence, decisions, actions, and open questions in separate sections. This is easier to verify than one smooth paragraph.
Verify against the source
Check quotes, numbers, conditions, and conclusions. A summary is selective by definition and should not replace the source when details carry risk.