{"id":14297,"date":"2018-03-02T10:41:11","date_gmt":"2018-03-02T15:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/?p=14297"},"modified":"2025-07-31T04:38:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T08:38:00","slug":"how-to-summarize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-summarize\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Summarize Information and Present it Visually"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So you have some content, maybe a blog article or a lengthy report, and you want to <\/span>turn it into an infographic<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know that <\/span>visuals can make your content more engaging<\/span><\/a>, more memorable, and easier to understand, but you have no idea where to start. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it might be tempting to just copy and paste your text into a template right away, that rarely ends well. Too often I see people with no design experience try to shoehorn a ton of text into an infographic template that\u2019s much too small!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make an infographic that your audience will actually find useful, you need to know <\/span>how to summarize<\/span><\/i> content<\/span><\/i> for this format. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get you on your way, let\u2019s walk through a case study. Together, we\u2019ll review how to summarize a long-form article into a bite-sized, digestible infographic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to write a summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A summary is a concise version of a text that captures the main points. In other words, it condenses a longer piece of writing into a shorter one that highlights the most important information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially helpful when someone doesn’t have time to read the entire piece or wants a quick overview before diving in. A good summary gives them the essential information and lets them decide if they need to read further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing a good summary is all about capturing the main ideas of a text in a concise and objective way. Here’s a breakdown of the steps to follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Read closely: <\/strong>This might seem obvious, but a thorough first read is crucial. Pay attention to details and make notes as you go along.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Identify key points:<\/strong> Once you’ve finished reading, dissect the text and find the central arguments or messages. Look for recurring themes and supporting evidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Craft an introduction:<\/strong> Start your summary with a sentence mentioning the title and author (if applicable) and briefly introduce the main point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Focus on the main points:<\/strong> Summarize the key ideas you identified earlier. Avoid getting bogged down in minor details or including your own opinions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Maintain objectivity:<\/strong> Use neutral language and present the information in a factual way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Wrap it up:<\/strong> Conclude your summary by rephrasing the main point in a different way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Proofread and revise:<\/strong> Ensure your summary is clear, concise, and captures the essence of the original text.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You can also take help from online summary generator<\/a> to understand the concision process and mimic its functionality in your own work. Summarizing text isn’t just about saving time; it can also be a powerful tool for learning and communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But there’s another player on this team: visual presentation. Together, they create a one-two punch for knowledge retention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this article, we’ll explore how to summarize long-form content, then take it a step further and transform that summary into a compelling infographic. Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to summarize long-form content for an infographic<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019ll be summarizing <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a> from the <\/span>New York Times<\/span><\/i>, with the aim of turning it into a single-page infographic fact sheet–an informational infographic that a parent could use as a handy reference if their child has the flu.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The original piece is a pretty typical informational article, packed with a lot of valuable information…but lacking in the visual department. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We can do better.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The goal is to cut the existing 1100 words down to around 200-300 words, maximum. Enough to give a quick, skimmable breakdown of the main points of the article without getting too wordy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re worried that 300 words won\u2019t be enough, take a look at three of our most popular <\/span>infographic templates<\/span><\/a>. Each one contains less than 200 words:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"How<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n