What is the Difference Between Summary and Analysis?

Summary and analysis are two important tools of academic writing, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here are the main differences between summary and analysis:

Summary:

• A summary condenses a source into a more concise form, highlighting the main points and key supporting points.
• It answers "What," "Who," and "Where" questions.
• Summaries typically use direct quotes or paraphrasing to convey the main or key points.
• They do not evaluate, judge, or interpret the information, presenting the facts as the original writer or speaker intended.
• Summaries are substantially shorter than their source texts.
• They help introduce and provide background for a source, often preceding analysis and preparing the reader for the writer's ideas about the source.

Analysis:

• Analysis breaks a source into smaller parts and explains how those parts work together.
• It answers "How" and "Why" questions.
• Analysis relies on the observations, ideas, evaluations, and inferences of the writer.
• It goes beyond the obvious, looking at how the elements of a source work and why (or why not) they may be effective, successful, true, or good.
• Analysis draws conclusions based on the writer's observations and inferences.
• It is typically more subjective, establishing the writer's point of view and expressing unique opinions.

In summary, a summary condenses and presents the main points of a source, while analysis breaks down the source into smaller parts, explaining their functionality and meaning.

Comparative Table: Summary vs Analysis

A table comparing the differences between a summary and analysis can be created using the following structure:

A summary condenses data into a more accessible format and calculates counts and statistics for unique categories, while analysis examines the meaning, patterns, trends, and significance of the data. A summary table, also known as a pivot table, is the output of summarizing data, and insights, interpretations, and conclusions are the output of data analysis. Summary tables are useful for organizing information on a broad topic and comparing common research methods, findings, and limitations, while analysis is essential for synthesizing information within a research paper or report and providing evidence for arguments and recommendations.