Difference between summary and synthesis

Often there is confusion regarding the use of these two terms, without going into them in depth appear to be similar, since both involve the reduction of a text, a reading, document or oral presentation. However, when delving into what each one of them is and how it is carried out, it becomes clear that there is a great difference between summary and synthesis.

They are commonly characterized by their brevity, despite this there may be certain cases where the length of the subject warrants a longer than usual extension.

These are used regularly in the educational and cultural fields, in literature and, although to a lesser degree, they are also used in the economic field, especially when a certain period ends.

Difference between summary and synthesis

Concepts

The summary: It is the readjustment of a text, to a shorter and more compact form, regularly reduced to 25% of the original document. Based on the main ideas of the author and following certain steps for its realization.

The synthesis: It is the readjustment of a text to a reduced and compact form of the original, prior to its analysis and keeping the main ideas and following an own style, that is, it is done with the words of the makes.

Modifications accepted

The summary:

• No annotations or modifications should be made to the text, at least not included as part of the abstract.
• Keep the author's main ideas accurate.
• It must be transcribed literally, in order not to modify the meaning of the text.
• The use of connectors is allowed only if they do not interfere with the original text.
• It should not include the interpretation of the person who performs it.

The synthesis:

• It can be done freely, it admits its own ideas and criteria, however, it is necessary that the original message remains at all times.
• You can expand, modify or delete content from the original, change the order or rearrange the ideas as appropriate, as long as it does not affect the meaning of the message.
• It includes the interpretation of the person who performs it.

Recommended size

The abstract It is usually appropriate to reduce the original to 25% of its size, even a little less, as long as the main ideas are preserved.

The synthesis: It must be shorter than the original text, its precision is at the discretion of the person who performs it, because this is a personal composition, only the author can develop it as he deems best way.

Contents

The abstract: Reflects and contains in a direct, concrete and reduced way the main ideas of the original text and in some cases also includes some secondary ideas.

The synthesis: It reflects and contains in an open way the main ideas of the text and the opinion or ideas of the person who carries it out.

How it is done

The summary:

• It is done literally, the content or information is cut without making significant changes to it.
• It starts with the main ideas of the author, which must be included without any modification, absolutely precise, without opinions or annotations of the person who makes the summary.
• The text must be read in detail, with enough and some annotations can be made, only for the use of the author himself when making the abstract.
• Main ideas should be underlined or highlighted.
• Block ideas
• Write the abstract using the highlighted information.

The synthesis:

• It is done in a similar way to an essay, it reduces the original text, taking into account the ideas of the author, but you can use your own words to write it.
• It starts with a detailed analysis, where a set of elements and main ideas of the author are separated, and then interpret them in an original and proper way, but without changing the concept that the author of the text wanted to convey to synthesize.
• The original text should be read carefully.
• Main ideas are selected and highlighted.
• All irrelevant information is removed
• Everything understood and captured in the text is written in own words.

About summary and synthesis

Both favor the compression of the text, performing them has the advantage that it facilitates the concentration of attention, favors Retention and helps to develop the writing.

All of the above influences the habit of memorizing texts and repeating them indiscriminately without many times understanding what it says.

Whether a summary or a synthesis is made, the aim is to achieve a reduction of a certain text to be able to memorize it, study it, understand it and disseminate it in a more comfortable way, without losing detail of its essence and reason for being, the key difference will be precisely in the final part, that is, in the way in which it is decided to structure and write what has been read, therefore the above information describes in detail the difference between summary and synthesis from different points.