Article: As you read, write down relevant information. The tactile act of writing will help you remember the information better. For example, if you are reading about Islam, write down the five tenets of Islam. You can also underline concepts, or write down ideas that come to your mind as you read. Try to only highlight important and relevant information. For example, highlight just a few key words on a page. Before you highlight something, ask yourself, “Does this information fulfill my purpose for reading the material?” If the answer is no, then it is best to not highlight it. Associate new information with information you already know. By associating new information with information you already know, your brain will store the new information in your long-term memory bank. For example, if Thomas Jefferson was born in the same month as your mom, by linking his birthday to the birthday of someone you know, you will be able to remember the date better. Creating mental pictures for the content you read will help you remember the content better than just reading the content without any mental images. Make mental pictures of important events, concepts, or people.  For example, remember an important date, such as when a battle began, by imagining the battle in your head with the date in big letters. You could also try drawing out the battle scene and writing the date of when it began and ended underneath it. If you are an auditory learner, try reading important material out loud. The tactile act of speaking and hearing the material will enable you to remember the material better. Particularly, read the important information you have underlined, as well as answers to questions out loud. You can also use word association to remember important facts. For example, create rhymes or songs to help you remember important information. While reading the material, ask yourself, “How does this material fit into what I already know and do not know?” “Why did the author mention this?” “Do I understand this concept or word?” “Where is the evidence for this statement?” or, “Do I agree with the author's conclusions?” By asking and answering these questions, you will be able to remember relevant information much better.

What is a summary?
Take notes. Highlight important concepts. Link the material to something you know. Think in pictures. Read out loud. Ask yourself questions about the material.