Final answer:
A good summary should include the central ideas and supporting details, excluding personal opinions, excessive background, and minor details. It encapsulates the main points and key details that support them in a concise and objective manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
A summary should include the central ideas and supporting details of a text. It is a condensed version of the original content that focuses on the main points and key supporting elements that express those main points. A good summary is written in your own words and remains objective, not including personal opinions or irrelevant details.
The main goal of a summary is to provide a clear and abbreviated synopsis of a primary or secondary source, which could be an article, a research paper, a book, or another form of written material. Inclusive of the overall argument or thesis, it will often highlight the pivotal concepts and supporting motivations behind the thesis or the writer's conclusions.
While creating a summary, it is useful to identify the topic of each paragraph and the manner in which each supports the central thesis. Including concrete details from the text to illustrate these supports can enhance the richness of the summary. However, it is vital to be selective and not overcrowd the summary with extensive background information or every minor detail, as this would defeat its purpose of being concise.