Read the piece thoroughly. In order to write an accurate summary, you must understand what you're reading. Try reading with the author's purpose in mind.
Take notes and highlight as you read. Take note of the subheadings, even if there aren't any. Dividing it into sections in your mind will help you organize your summary.
Consider why you have been assigned the text. Write down the author's main point and the main points of each section. Look for the writer's thesis and underline it. This is the main idea of the work.[2]