Are you ever asked to summarize an article or a book? That happens to me a lot.
Here’s one way I’ve found that works most of the time. It doesn’t work ALL the time. So, give it a try and tell me what you think.
When you examine the essay or story, underline the first sentence of each paragraph. Then, underline the entire last paragraph.
Move the sentences underlined onto a different page, which will yield a much-condensed article. Compare it with the original article, and judge if it pretty much captures the longer theme’s primary idea.
Take a look at Rix’s new book: How to Sell Ideas With the Minute Message