Concept: Summarizing

Plan Ahead

Strategies

Summarizing•“IVF” Topic Sentence

•Fact Outline

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A summary is a shortened, condensed version of an item such as an article, story, film, or chapter in a textbook. The purpose of a summary is to share the key ideas from the item with your reader.

Maureen Auman,

Author of Step Up to Writing

What is a Summary?

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The article, “Insects in Winter,” explains how many insects survive when it gets cold. Ants dig deep into the earth. Beetles often go underground, but some beetles stack up in piles under leaves or rocks to keep warm. Bees protect themselves by gathering together in a ball in the center of the hive. Flies and mosquitoes hunt for a warm spot to live. In the winter, they can be found in basements, attics, barns, or inside trees. During the cold winter, insects must stay warm to survive.

A Summary

“IVF” Topic Sentence

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Identify the Item Verb It! Finish It!

• What is the text?

• What type of text is it?

• Who is the author?

• What is the big idea?

• What is the big concept?

• What is the main idea?

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ACTION WORD

Identify the Item

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Identify the Item

• What is the text?

• What type of text is it?

• Who is the author?

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Cinderellafairytale

Brothers Grimm

Verb It!

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Verb It!

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ACTION WORD

Cinderellafairytale

Brothers Grimm

Verb It!

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List A: For Beginners

comparesdefinesdescribes

explainsgiveslists

presentsshowstells

I V F

describesCinderellafairytale

Brothers Grimm

Finish It!

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I V F

Finish It!

• What is the big idea?

• What is the big concept?

• What is the main idea?

how a young girl goes from rags to riches

describesCinderellafairytale

Brothers Grimm

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Make a “Real” SentenceI V F

how a young girl goes from rags to riches

describes

The fairytale, Cinderella, by the Brothers Grimm, describes how a young girl goes from rags to riches.

Cinderellafairytale

Brothers Grimm

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

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Summary Sentence: Let’s Try It!I V F

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

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A Summary Plan: Fact Outline

Write a 3 part summary sentence.Identify the item. Verb Finish your

thought.

Copy the sentence so it looks like a real sentence.

Write the facts.

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Summary Plan

Write a 3 part summary sentence.Identify the item. Verb Finish your thought

Copy the sentence so it looks like a real sentence.

Write the facts.

fairytale

Cinderellashows how a girl’s life can be

changed

The fairytale, Cinderella, by the Brothers Grimm, shows how a girl’s life can be changed.

forced into choresfairy godmotherdances with prince

marries prince

Brothers Grimm

shoe fits

The fairytale, Cinderella, tells how a young girl’s life can be changed for the better. Cinderella spent much of her days doing chores for her mean stepmother and her two ugly stepsisters. A fairy godmother arrived and granted Cinderella’s wish to attend the prince’s ball. Dressed in a beautiful gown, Cinderella arrived at the ball and caught the attention of the prince. They danced much of the night, but when midnight came, Cinderella ran and lost her slipper. The prince searched the kingdom and found that Cinderella’s foot fit in the slipper. To the surprise of the ugly stepsisters, the prince married Cinderella, and they spent the rest of their life living happily ever. S

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Cinderella: A Summary

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Summary Plan

Write a 3 part summary sentence.Identify the item. Verb Finish your thought

Copy the sentence so it looks like a real sentence.

Write the facts.

The Long Goodbye

Newsweekshows how family pulled together

The Long Goodbye, Newsweek, October 2, 1995, shows how the family of former president Ronald Reagan pulled together when he was stricken with Alzheimer’s.

Patti DavisMichael ReaganRon Reagan Jr.

Maureen and grandchildNancy Reagan

October 2, 1995

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The Long Goodbye, Newsweek, October 2, 1995, shows how the family of former president Ronald Reagan pulled together when he was stricken with Alzheimer’s. Ronald Reagan’s children have often been critical of their father, but recently his daughter Patti called to apologize for the disrespect she has shown to her parents for many years. She even visited her father on Father’s Day and spent time laughing and talking to other members of the family. Reagan’s son Michael, who once criticized his father for never hugging him, has also spent time with his father. The visits, he says, always end in a hug. Ron, the youngest child, who has always been close to his parents, continues to support his father through this illness. Maureen Reagan, the oldest, recently visited her father so he could spend time swimming with his newest grandchild, a 10-year old girl from Uganda. Nancy Reagan believes that the illness her husband suffers is bringing the family closer together.

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The Long Goodbye: A Summary

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Let’s Try It!

Concept: Active Reading, Listening, and Viewing Strategy:I.V.F.

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I V F