By Dana P Skopal, PhD

We are now often facing too much information and can find it difficult to summarise our work. With technology, AI can present a summary; for example, a Google search now gives you an AI overview. However, can you check if that AI summary is accurate? Do you know how to fact check?

Step back and ask yourself: could you present a summary of your current work project if suddenly asked at a meeting? Most projects that we have worked on involve several documents and yet we need to write a one-page executive summary. How does a writer select and organise the relevant key information for the task at hand?

Initially, we may make a lot of notes on the background information as we become familiar with the topic. Our minds need to process that information so we can then focus on the key arguments / recommendations. However, for a one-page summary, you do not have the space to include all the background information. Perhaps select two to three facts or statistics that can give your reader a reasonable picture of the scenario. What data will persuade your reader?

If your task is a summary that needs to recommend a position, you need to clearly state your view and your reasons for that recommendation. A reader of your one-page text needs to be able to understand why you are taking this position.

In a way, it is like giving a movie recommendation to a friend; we easily summarise a two hour movie in about two minutes when speaking. If talking helps you, imagine that you only have two minutes to get your message across on the document you are summarising and record yourself on your mobile phone. Talking out aloud can help you summarise your position and let go of the unnecessary background information.

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