Chapter Summary | Online Resources (2024)

Chapter Summary with Key Terms

This chapter examines the nature and purposes of policy analysis, including basic steps in the policy analysis process. It also surveys the diverse ways in which analysts and research organizations engage in their work. Policy analysis, most often used to assess policy options, involves collecting and interpreting information to clarify the causes and effects of public problems and the likely consequences of policy decisions. Rational decision making, also called the rational-comprehensive approach, uses these logical steps: defines a problem, sets goals, evaluates alternatives, and recommends policy options. In contrast, incremental decision making makes more limited and gradual policy changes.

Policy analysis moves through a sequence of steps that correspond to the policy-process cycle. To begin the process, defining and analyzing the problem involves describing and clarifying the nature and causes of a set of unsatisfactory conditions in society. Next, analysts construct policy alternatives to address the conditions, one of the most important parts of policy analysis. The third step involves selecting the evaluative criteria to assess the potential of each proposal. Assessing alternatives using these criteria will enable policy makers to draw conclusions about the best option to achieve the goal they seek. Despite a rigorous policy analysis, many times political influences hold sway in selection of policy.

Policy analysis is conducted by government at all levels and by a growing number of think tanks and interest groups, which may produce information with a political agenda. Policy analyses fall into three broad categories: scientific, professional, and political. All serve valid purposes, but they have varying goals and objectives and use different methods. Scientific approaches are often conducted by academics to build understanding and clarify what is known. Professional approaches are employed by think tanks and use strong professional norms of analysis to produce reports. Political approaches, also employed by think tanks and interest groups, use data and arguments that support their political positions.

For given studies, analysts must choose whether to investigate root causes (underlying reasons for a problem) or proximate causes (immediate causes). Similarly, they must decide whether to conduct comprehensive analysis (rigorous and broad, which can be time consuming and expensive) or focus on short-term policy relevance (brief investigations to answer focused questions). Another choice involves whether to use consensual norms (mainstream approaches) or contentious analysis (one that challenges current thinking). Finally, analysts must decide whether to employ rational analysis or democratic political processes in which the public is engaged. A great variety of purposes and methods of policy analysis exist; the field is replete with a growing number of organizations that employ these approaches.

Chapter Summary | Online Resources (2024)

FAQs

What is the website for chapter summaries? ›

What Is the Website that Gives You Chapter Summaries? SparkNotes is a popular site among high school and university students because it provides chapter by chapter summaries and analyses of some of the most famous works of literature.

Where can I find chapter summaries? ›

Where to Find Book Summary Websites
  • GetAbstract. GetAbstract is one of the big players in this industry, for good reason: it has the widest catalog, with over 20,000 summaries. ...
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Dec 1, 2020

What should be included in a chapter summary? ›

A summary is a concise explanation of the writing work's main ideas and supporting details. The summary of a book chapter should consider the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” while reading the chapter. Take notes that answer these questions and compile the information into complete sentences.

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Scholarcy, the online article summarizer tool, reads your research articles, reports and book chapters in seconds and breaks them down into bite-sized sections – so you can quickly assess how important any document is to your work.

How can I get a free summary for a book for free? ›

Best Free Book Summary Websites
  1. Optimize.me.
  2. Paul Minors.
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Are cliff notes still a thing? ›

Hillegass and his wife, Catherine, started the business in their basem*nt at 511 Eastridge Drive in Lincoln, with sixteen William Shakespeare titles. By 1964, sales reached one million Notes annually. CliffsNotes now exist for hundreds of works.

Is there an app that summarizes books? ›

Blinkist is a premium book summary service helping you digest the key insights of books in 15 minutes. Its main features are the simplistic Blinkist reader, which makes reading summaries easy, audio versions for most of their summaries, and highlighting and sharing what you learn.

Which is better cliff notes or SparkNotes? ›

Professor Fisher said SparkNotes' analysis was more contemporary than that offered on some of the other sites. “It is a generally useful, more nuanced interpretation than the others. Of all the ones I looked at, I'd probably say SparkNotes is the best choice,” he said. Shmoop, though, is the newcomer.

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First, the Blinkist app is free to download and install. But with a free account, you can only read one summary each day: the daily pick. This is a set of randomly chosen blinks, so you can't control what you're reading. Full access requires a Premium subscription.

How long should a chapter summary be? ›

Keep it brief.

A summary is not a rewrite—it's a short summation of the original piece. A summary paragraph is usually around five to eight sentences. Keep it short and to the point. Eliminate redundancies or repetitive text to keep your paragraph clear and concise.

What are the 5 parts of a summary? ›

There are five key steps that can help you to write a summary:
  • Read the text.
  • Break it down into sections.
  • Identify the key points in each section.
  • Write the summary.
  • Check the summary against the article.
Nov 23, 2020

How do you start a chapter summary example? ›

A summary begins with an introductory sentence that states the text's title, author and main point of the text as you see it. A summary is written in your own words. A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

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Intellippt is a free summarizing tool. Summarizer online: It is an online summarize tool, a word summarizer, simplifier and professional summary maker. Free Summarizing Tool: Intellippt is a summarizer online, free summarizing tool and word summarizer. Free Online PDF summarizer: Intellippt takes PDF as input.

Is there a website for short stories? ›

Wattpad is a reader/writer interface that allows people to easily access over three million different stories through their website, or by downloading the app. It's also a great place to submit short stories if you're interested in writing. The site is open to anyone, at any level of writing experience.

Where can I summarize a book? ›

The Best Websites That Summarize Books For You
  • INK Text Summarizer. The INK Text Summarizer is a specialized writing tool that summarizes any story in seconds. ...
  • SMMRY. ...
  • Four Minute Books. ...
  • Nat Eliason. ...
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  • Summarize Bot.
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How long should a book summary be? ›

It's generally agreed that a book synopsis should be between 500 and 800 words. This works out at approximately 1 single-spaced page in a standard 12pt font. Many agents will have specific guidelines that you need to follow in terms of synopsis word count, so make sure you tailor your submission for each agent.

Are book summaries legal? ›

It is generally not legal to sell a book summary without permission from the copyright holder of the original work. Copyright law gives the owner of a copyrighted work the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and sell copies of that work.

What replaced cliff notes? ›

7 SparkNotes and CliffsNotes Alternatives for Book Summaries
  • BookRags is a student-focused book summary website. ...
  • WikiSummaries is a wiki, meaning anyone can edit content and add new books. ...
  • JSTOR is arguably the best alternative to CliffsNotes and SparkNotes. ...
  • Shmoop is another website like SparkNotes.
Oct 15, 2019

Do you have to pay for SparkNotes? ›

SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD.

Does Barnes and Noble sell cliff notes? ›

CLIFF'S NOTES: by Coach Cliff Sharp | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

What is the best AI to summarize books? ›

Jasper.ai is a great AI summary maker that can help you condense longer writing pieces into more manageable chunks. Whether trying to distill an article or summarize a lengthy document, Jasper.ai can save you time and effort by quickly generating a concise summary.

Which is better Blinkist or short form? ›

Blinkist's summaries are shorter. Shortform's summaries are much longer and more comprehensive. Depending on your preference and time constraints, you may prefer one over the other. Both Blinkist and Shortform let you highlight text in book summaries, but Shortform also allows you to take notes along with that.

Why is SparkNotes not free? ›

Why isn't it free? SparkNotes Plus subscribers not only get access to tons of new, exclusive content, they also get a completely ad-free experience, which means you'll never be distracted by ads while you're trying to study. If you use SparkNotes without a subscription, you'll always have ads on your screen.

How reliable is Cliffnotes? ›

Cliff Notes would not be considered academic or scholarly, but it is credible.

Is using LitCharts cheating? ›

LitCharts also provides summaries of each chapter with a side-by-side analysis and explanation of themes. The Quotes tab organizes key quotes by location, character, and theme. Of course, resources like this can lead to cheating if kids decide to read the summaries instead of the book, so parents need to monitor use.

Does Apple recommend Blinkist? ›

Apple recommends Blinkist for lifelong learners, top thinkers, and anyone who wishes they had more time to learn the powerful ideas in nonfiction books. Let's start with the question, how does one become an intellectual? Well, it often involves a lot of dedication to studying and research.

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List of best Blinkist alternatives for reading books in 2022
  • StoryShots. If self-improvement is a priority yet you feel as if you will never have time to get through all the books on your shelf, StoryShots might be the way to go. ...
  • getAbstract. ...
  • InstaRead. ...
  • Booknotes. ...
  • Snapreads. ...
  • ReadingIQ. ...
  • BookRags. ...
  • HabitCoach.
Jun 27, 2022

Why is Blinkist legal? ›

According to their support site, "Our Blinks distill the main ideas and most important concepts from non-fiction books, but they are new, original works of their own, written in our Blinkist style, voice, and format." For this reason, Blinkist and their services are not considered to be copyright infringement.

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A summary should be like an umbrella, designed to cover the subject and nothing beyond the subject. Don't comment on, analyze, or offer opinion. Don't compare to another subject beyond the information provided in the expository text. Don't write in first or second person.

Is 2 pages too short for a chapter? ›

There are no rules when it comes to chapter length. The important thing is to concentrate on making your chapters fit your story, not on making your story fit your chapters. Many novelists these days prefer chapters that are between 1,500 words—or six book pages— and 8,000 words, or 32 book pages.

Is 3 pages too short for a chapter? ›

A: There are no hard-and-fast rules on how long or short a chapter needs to be. It could be three pages.

What are the 4 rules in summarizing? ›

A good summary should be comprehensive, concise, coherent, and independent. These qualities are explained below: A summary must be comprehensive: You should isolate all the important points in the original passage and note them down in a list.

What are the 5 W's for Summarising? ›

One of the best practices for writers is to follow "The 5Ws" guideline, by investigating the Who, What, Where, When and Why of a story.

What are the 3 methods of summary? ›

The main types of informative summaries are: outlines, abstracts, and synopses.

How do you write an effective chapter summary? ›

Write a few sentences describing the chapter's key elements (characters, setting and conflict) and their connection to one another relative to the chapter's event or main idea; name, describe, and/or explain the characters, setting and conflict within the chapter.

What are the 7 steps in writing a summary? ›

To do this effectively, consider following these steps:
  • Reread the original text. ...
  • Make a list of key points. ...
  • Note supporting evidence. ...
  • Start with a context sentence. ...
  • Describe the key concept of the text. ...
  • Follow up with supporting evidence. ...
  • Write a thesis statement.
Feb 3, 2023

What is a good starter sentence for a summary? ›

Begin the summary by acknowledging the source. For instance, you could begin with a sentence such as: "This is a summary of the article XXXX written by XXXX published in XXXX."

What is the best free PDF summarizer? ›

Paraphrasingtool.AI is the top AI PDF summarizer since it can write human-like summaries without plagiarism. The tool is easy to use, and it gives the option to write summaries in bullet points or paragraphs. Moreover, lengthy documents can be summarized with great accuracy.

What is the best tool to summarize a PDF? ›

Comparison of PDF Summarizing Tools
Summarizing ToolFeatures
ResoomerAI-powered summarization, browser extension
TLDR ThisProvides a summarized version of text
EditpadCustomizable summarization settings, user-friendly interface
Summarizing ToolProvides a summarized version of text
4 more rows

What is the best AI tool to summarize a PDF? ›

Intellippt is an AI-powered online tool that allows users to summarize their PDF, text, and Docx files easily. This free tool summarizes large texts into brief, clear, and easily understandable content.

Do people still publish short stories? ›

Some people say there's no place in today's publishing world for short stories, but in reality, there are more opportunities than ever to publish short fiction. While the major publishers do favor novels over story collections, the online market for short stories has exploded.

Do publishers buy short stories? ›

Most publishers want full-length fiction and non-fiction. They buy collections of short stories or books of essays when, for good reason, they want the author on their list.

How much do wattpad writers get paid? ›

Wattpad, the user-contributed fiction platform, will pay writers cash stipends of up to $25,000 — if they meet certain criteria — in return for making their stories exclusive to the platform. The company's Wattpad Creators Program plans to pay out a total of $2.6 million to writers in 2022.

What is the website that gives you chapter summaries? ›

SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides.

What sites summarize PDFs? ›

GetDigest analyzes Web content and text documents and summarizes them. This makes information easier to process, saving you time and enabling you to work more effectively!

What is a chapter log? ›

Chapter Book Summary Log - Use with ANY chapter book

Students will write a short. This is ideal for reading groups, independent reading, and homework. Reading logs helps students comprehend their novel, as well as help them stay accountable for their reading. English Language Arts, Reading, Reading Strategies.

How to summarize a chapter PDF? ›

I've included instructions for both in the steps below.
  1. Step 1.) Decide Who It's For. ...
  2. Step 2.) Start Rea\ding. ...
  3. Step 3.) Highlight and Take.
  4. Step 4.) Write Mini-Summaries for.
  5. Step 5.) Organize Your.
  6. Step 6.) Condense Main Points Into a.
  7. Step 7.) Write Your Summary. ...
  8. 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a.

Where can I get summary from research papers? ›

The summary should be placed at the beginning of the research paper, after the title and abstract. It should be written in a clear and concise manner and should be no more than one paragraph long.

What is the best AI to summarize a PDF? ›

If you're looking for a tool to help you create a perfect summary quickly and efficiently, look no further than Paraphraser.io. This AI-powered tool is specifically designed to help you generate summaries of any text, whether an article, blog post, or even a book.

Is Sumnotes free? ›

No need for bulky and costly software anymore. Annotate your documents right here, for free.

What should not be in a summary? ›

A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

How do you summarize a chapter without reading it? ›

Write a few sentences describing the chapter's key elements (characters, setting and conflict) and their connection to one another relative to the chapter's event or main idea; name, describe, and/or explain the characters, setting and conflict within the chapter.

What is the best way to summarize chapters? ›

Follow the five steps outlined below to write a good summary.
  1. Step 1: Read the text. ...
  2. Step 2: Break the text down into sections. ...
  3. Step 3: Identify the key points in each section. ...
  4. Step 4: Write the summary. ...
  5. Step 5: Check the summary against the article.
Nov 23, 2020

How many words should a chapter summary be? ›

Summaries are much shorter than the original material—a general rule is that they should be no more than 10% to 15% the length of the original, and they are often even shorter than this. It can be easy and feel natural, when summarizing an article, to include our own opinions.

How do you summarize a whole research paper? ›

State the research question and explain why it is interesting. State the hypotheses tested. Briefly describe the methods (design, participants, materials, procedure, what was manipulated [independent variables], what was measured [dependent variables], how data were analyzed. Describe the results.

What is the best summarizer for a scientific paper? ›

QuillBot is one of the best summarizing and paraphrasing tools on the list as it can summarize an article, a newspaper, research paper, long and confusing paragraphs in a matter of minutes. It uses natural language processing to locate the most important and relevant information while maintaining the original context.

How do you summarize an article without plagiarizing? ›

To avoid plagiarism when summarizing an article or other source, follow these two rules:
  1. Write the summary entirely in your own words by paraphrasing the author's ideas.
  2. Cite the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

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