... summarize the main idea in your own words as much as possible. Why? Because writing the main idea in your own words requires you to process the information instead of just copying it. In other words, ... ideas and information and make sense of it in your own way. By digesting the information like this, you give it a strong, solid hold in your memory. Guidelines for Summarizing Summarizing will ... main idea. When you paraphrase a paragraph, you put each idea in PUTTING IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS 197 that paragraph into your own words, whether it’s the main idea, a major supporting idea, or minor...