Lesson 3 of 8 · Summarize Long Documents with AI
In this lesson. Summarize parts, then summarize the summaries with a running thesis.
What you will learn
- Splitting on headings
- Hierarchical summaries
- Surfacing contradictions
Walkthrough
Context windows fill up. You will split by heading, summarize each part, then write a top-level brief from those briefs while keeping a one-line thesis. Watch for contradictions between sections — those belong in the final summary as open issues.
Work through the ideas in order. After each point, pause and connect it to a task you already do — a document, a workflow, or a feature you own. The goal of Summarize Long Documents with AI is usable skill, not a pile of notes.
If something is unclear, rewrite it in your own words before you continue. Teaching the step back to yourself is the fastest way to see gaps.
Practice
Split a long doc into three chunks, summarize each, then write a one-page brief from those three.
Keep the first attempt small. A finished example you can reuse beats a perfect plan you never run.
Check your understanding
- Can you explain the goal of this lesson in one sentence to a teammate?
- Where would you apply “Splitting on headings” in your own work this week?
- What would you change on a second pass of the practice?
Next. Continue to the following lesson when the practice has a real artifact, even a rough one.