ChatGPT Prompt for Summarizing Articles

This prompt helps you quickly extract key insights from long articles, research papers, and reports without reading every word. Perfect for researchers, students, executives, and busy professionals who need to stay informed efficiently. ChatGPT will distill complex content into actionable takeaways.

Works Best With: ChatGPT (GPT-4 recommended) | Also works with: Claude, Gemini, Perplexity

The Prompt

Summarize this article for me.

[PASTE ARTICLE TEXT OR URL]

Summary context:
– Why I’m reading this: [RESEARCH, STAY INFORMED, DECISION-MAKING, LEARNING, etc.]
– My background knowledge: [BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, EXPERT IN THIS TOPIC]
– Time I have: [30 SECONDS, 2 MINUTES, 5 MINUTES]
– What I care most about: [MAIN FINDINGS, METHODOLOGY, PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS, COUNTERARGUMENTS, etc.]

Provide:

1. One-Sentence Summary (the absolute core point)

2. Executive Summary (2-3 paragraphs)
   – What the article is about
   – Key findings or arguments
   – Main conclusion

3. Key Takeaways (5-7 bullet points)
   – Most important insights
   – Actionable information
   – Surprising or controversial points

4. Supporting Evidence
   – Main data/statistics cited
   – Expert quotes or sources
   – Methodology (for research)

5. Critical Analysis
   – Strengths of the argument
   – Weaknesses or gaps
   – Potential biases

6. Relevance to Me
   – How this applies to my situation
   – What I should do with this information

Use simple language—explain jargon when necessary.
Highlight what’s most important for someone with my goals.

When to Use This Prompt

• You need to review multiple articles and don’t have time to read them all
• You’re researching a topic and want to quickly assess source relevance
• You’re reading dense academic or technical content and need clarity
• You want to remember key points without re-reading later

What You’ll Get

The AI will generate a multi-layered summary with a one-sentence essence for quick scanning, an executive summary for 2-minute understanding, 5-7 actionable takeaways highlighting the most important points, supporting evidence including data and sources, critical analysis evaluating argument strength and identifying gaps, and personalized relevance showing how this applies to your specific situation. Complex jargon is explained in simple terms, and the summary is structured for your time constraints and knowledge level.

Why This Prompt Works

• Layered depth: One-sentence to full analysis lets you choose how deep to go based on time available

• Purpose alignment: Knowing why you’re reading ensures summary highlights what matters to you

• Critical analysis: Not just “what does it say” but “is it credible and useful” helps evaluation

• Personal relevance: Connecting to your situation makes information actionable not just informational

How to Customize This Prompt

1. [PASTE ARTICLE] — Full text or URL (note: some AI tools can’t access URLs directly)
2. [WHY READING] — Purpose: “evaluating for research paper,” “deciding if worth deep read,” “staying current”
3. [BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE] — Expertise level affects explanation depth needed
4. [TIME AVAILABLE] — Constrains summary length and detail
5. [WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT] — Focus area: methodology vs conclusions vs practical applications

Pro Tips

• Batch processing: Paste multiple article URLs and request “compare key points across all sources”

• Follow-up questions: After summary, ask “what questions does this leave unanswered?” to identify research gaps

• Related content: Include “suggest related topics I should research next” for continued learning

• Save summaries: Build a personal knowledge base of summarized articles for future reference