When Investigations are carried out, we study a topic, prepare it to learn or want to present it or explain it to others, we have to collect a large amount of material and data to later analyze, organize and evaluate it, throughout this process, it is necessary to use methods , techniques and tools that not only facilitate the work, but also help us to optimize our efforts and guarantee the success of the result.
There are many resources available to want to do a job with excellence, efficiency and neatness. One of those resources is Summary tab which is a tool used in the synthesized compilation of the key aspects that allows us to organize in a shorter, more complete and more manageable way the material that has been collected from the documentation. Contains the most salient or key aspects of the information reviewed, analyzed .
Whatever the purpose for the information that is processed, it is essential to make the most complete, synthesized and general management of all the information available.
The Summary tab
A summary card is a rectangle of paper or cardboard, in which information on a topic to be studied is collected, in a brief and schematic way. It should contain the main ideas of the study topic, and the references of the sources from which the data were taken. It provides, in a single instrument, the most general information on the subject to be dealt with. It is very important because it offers an overview of what has been researched or studied, and provides a more efficient and complete domain.
What is a token?
In a general sense, a file is a support tool at work, when it comes to managing the amount of information. They are generally paper rectangles in which a large amount of data is collected, according to an established and standardized order. Depending on the utility assigned to each tab, there are different types: bibliographic records, medical records, hemerographic records, summary records, among others.
The summary?
The summary is a brief, concrete exposition of the essentials of a topic, its objective is to reduce synthesize the content of a reading, text or document, extracting what is considered most important or essential, trying to be precise without subtracting the essence of the content and using our own words.
To prepare a summary, you must start from the main ideas of the text or the notes made during the reading, seeking an understanding of the organization of the topic and the connection between the various ideas presented in the different paragraphs. A summary must be prepared with precision and accuracy, with short sentences, without critical judgments and in a brief form. When making a summary, it is advisable to use our own words, but keeping the meaning of the ideas in the text. If textual chunks are included, they must be enclosed in quotation marks.
A good summary should be completeIn other words, it must cover the most essential aspects of the subject. Must be logical, trying to maintain hierarchical relationships clearly established and reflected in it and must be concrete clearly expressing what is reflected in the topic An abstract represents approximately 25% of the original length of the text studied.
How to prepare a summary sheet?
The format and length of a summary sheet must be closely related to the length of the topic studied. In general, the summary files should be no less than one page long. The most recommended is to divide the general theme into parts and place those parts in the card summarized form using short phrases or keywords. Taking care to identify the main or neural idea of the topic, prioritizing the rest of the information while suppressing the accessory information.
Title
To prepare a summary sheet, there is no single way, as this will depend on many factors, such as the nature and extent of the subject studied and the preferences and needs of the person preparing it. However, it must be taken into account and it is recommended that in the first place the identify the topic to study. This will be the title of the card. Example: biosphere and ecosystems
Main ideas
It is important to note that the summary sheets are not diagrams, however it is key that the ideas are hierarchical and organized according to their importance and subdivided by points for a better understanding. Depending on the particular need of whoever uses it, this tool may vary and adapt to needs and preferences who uses them.
The references
At this point, the sources from which the information was obtained are placed, whether they are books, magazines, web pages, periodicals, etc. The references provide us with the information from where the studied material comes from.
Notes
They provide us with additional important information, which can serve as a link to expand and associate. Example: Number of pages with additional reference information, citations that expand the information, reminders about aspects to keep in mind, etc.
Summary tab types
- Summary tab itself. They are those that contain summaries properly speaking about the studied subjects elaborated with our own words.
- Textual summary sheets: These contain textual information on the subject studied in the form of quotations, fragments of the text. It is not advisable to use this type of file for study, but rather to prepare your own summaries from the information reviewed, also ensuring the diversity of sources.
- Mixed text files They are those in which we can find information summarized by ourselves as well as textual citations of the revised material that must be placed in quotation marks, always establishing the difference between one and the other.
Importance of using the Summary Tab
The abstract fulfills the function of presenting the studied material in a synthesized and brief way. Making a synthesis is a process that requires, for those who prepare it, a complete and general understanding of what they want to study or process. In general, make a written synthesis, allows us to visualize in a complete way what we need to know and better fix the data, information and ideas of the studied material.
The shorter, schematized presentation, made with the words of the material, helps us to simplify a large amount of content. Summary sheets are a valuable tool when dealing with large amounts of information and help us by simplifying our task, by presenting the subject studied in a more manageable way.
The summary tab is a great information management and registration tool, used as a support in study work, since for its elaboration it is mandatory to understand, discover ideas and establish important relationships, as well as organize them, facilitates review and allows to remember complex texts with less effort.