What is a synopsis? Before we look at the steps in more detail, let's clarify what a synopsis is: a concise summary of a book designed to give the reader a clear overview of the overall narrative. A synopsis is an in-depth summary of a written work that describes the content of that work from beginning to end. Unlike a summary, which just gives a general overview of a story, a synopsis contains all of the plot details, including the... SYNOPSIS definition: 1. a short description of the contents of something such as a film or book 2. a short description…. Learn more. In the 19th century, a synopsis was a classroom exercise used for teaching traditional grammar but today, the accepted definition of a synopsis is a general overview of an article, essay, story, book, or other written work. In the field of publishing, a synopsis may serve as a proposal for an article or book. In feature writing and other forms of nonfiction, a synopsis may also refer to a concise summary of a polemic argument or event. You might also find a synopsis included in a review or ...