

This is around 22 to 40 words in total.įor example, here is what a normal meta description looks like: The usual number of characters that are written in meta descriptions is around 150 – 160. Some Rules About Writing a Meta Descriptionīefore we get into how you can summarize an article in order to create a meta description, there are a couple of different things that we should clear up.įirst of all, it has to be remembered that the meta description is really brief. In this post, we are going to be looking at how you can summarize an article (or a blog post) in order to create a meta description. You have to be careful when writing it so that it can please both, the search engine and the users. After determining the relevancy, the search engine determines the queries that it has to respond to by showing the particular website in the SERPs.įrom the brief aforementioned points, it’s understandable that the meta description is a very important and vital part of SEO. The meta description is also a very important element of SEO since it allows the search engine to determine and understand what the particular webpage is about.īy looking at the metadata (such as the keywords and the meta description), the search engine understands the relevancy of the content. For one, it is used to give an outline or synopsis of a webpage or a blog post to the user. View our other articles on Investigator Initiated Trials.To put it very simply, the meta description comprises the couple of sentences that you see under each of the results in the SERPs. Whether you quote or paraphrase, you should make sure to properly cite according to your preferred reference method. By paraphrasing, you illustrate a command over the secondary source’s material. Paraphrasing is usually more productive, unless you are discussing the writer’s language. A good rule of thumb is, if you use more than three words from the piece in a row, those words should be in quotes. In either case, you’ll want to make sure that you summarize arguments without plagiarizing them. If, in your discussion of WWII combat zones, you choose to use a unique mode of historical analysis, you will want to explore this kind of analysis in complete detail. On the other hand, if it is a theoretical piece, or a set of theoretical pieces that provide a basis for your larger argument, your summation may need more complexity.

In this case, breadth may be more productive than depth. As long as you are accurate in your usage, you don’t necessarily need to engage in lengthy summaries. For example, if you are discussing the role of women in World War II combat zones, you may cite earlier historical studies on the topic. In this case, detailed summaries of secondary sources are not as necessary. If you summarize arguments to engage with earlier research concerning your article’s topic, you may want to use a myriad of pieces to illustrate broadly the debates within the field. There are several different ways to think about using secondary sources. If you agree or disagree with the findings, you’ll want to illustrate why or how you differ. Do not cherry-pick statements from the sources if they don’t fit the author’s larger points. You should be able to summarize the goals and findings of the article clearly and in your own language.

You’ll want to make sure you understand the general thrust of the argument as well as the specifics. It is a journal article that speaks to your research or larger argument? Are you building upon the article’s previous research? Does it develop theoretical ideas or define concepts that are key to your argument? In addition, if there is a significant article concerning your argument that you don’t include, make sure you have a very clear understanding of why it is not appropriate for your article. This selection is probably the most significant interaction that you have with secondary research. Selecting Sourcesįirst and foremost, you want to research and choose appropriate texts for your piece. However, you want to work with these earlier sources in an intelligent and sophisticated way.

Your article’s engagement with these secondary sources will help to bolster your argument and form a basis for your discussion. You are in a conversation with your field and will want to engage with other scholarly works, theoretical pieces, or bodies of research. How do you summarize arguments for academic articles such as a literature review? Clearly, any argument you write should speak to other, previously published texts.
