Summary Writing:
Students are learning about summary writing! Students are identifying the main idea and writing details to complete their summaries.
We use small post it notes in order to summarize the most important details.
Here' how it works:
1. Quickly scan the selection and determine how many paragraphs are in the reading. If there are 6 paragraphs, then take six post it notes.
2. Read one paragraph at a time. Write the most important detail from each paragraph.
3. Get six more post it notes.
4. Reread each paragraph (one at a time again!) and write another important detail on each post it note.
5. Put your post it notes in order.
6. Arrange the post it notes on the summary plan. (See copy of the summary plan.)
7. Now write the information from the post it notes on summary plan marked FACTS. Make sure you have written in complete sentences.
Writing the topic sentence:
You will need the following sheet: Writing Effective Summaries and the Summary Plan. (download the sheets)
1. Identify what you are summarizing about: Is it a book, magazine, article, story?
The book, Shiloh
2. Find a verb: tells, describes, explains,
Now the sentence looks like this: The book, Shiloh describes
3. Finish with the main idea: a boy who rescues an abused dog from his cruel owner.
Here is the completed topic sentence: The book, Shiloh describes a boy who rescues an abused dog from his cruel owner.
Let's practice:
Summary Writing
"Student uses strategies to write a summary during writing time."
