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What is the purpose of a summary in an essay?

  1. To introduce an argument

  2. To provide a detailed description

  3. To offer an overview of the main points

  4. To list key facts

The correct answer is: To offer an overview of the main points

A summary in an essay is used to offer an overview of the main points of the essay. This helps the reader understand the main ideas and arguments without having to read the entire essay. Option A, to introduce an argument, is incorrect because an introduction is used to introduce the topic and purpose of the essay, while a summary is used to briefly summarize the content. Option B, to provide a detailed description, is incorrect because a summary is meant to be concise and to-the-point, not detailed. Option D, to list key facts, is incorrect because a summary is meant to provide an overview of main ideas and arguments, not a list of facts.