SummariesSummaries

June PreszlerJune Preszler

TIETIE

April 21, 2005April 21, 2005

SummarizingSummarizing When we summarize, we take larger When we summarize, we take larger

selections of text and reduce them to selections of text and reduce them to their bare essentials.their bare essentials.

Bare essentials: the gist, the key, the Bare essentials: the gist, the key, the main points worth remembering.main points worth remembering.

What Students Usually DoWhat Students Usually Do

Write down everythingWrite down everything Write down next to nothingWrite down next to nothing Write way too muchWrite way too much Don’t write enoughDon’t write enough Copy word for wordCopy word for word

What You Want Them to DoWhat You Want Them to Do

Pull out main ideasPull out main ideas Focus on key detailsFocus on key details Use key words and phrasesUse key words and phrases Break down larger ideasBreak down larger ideas Write only enough to convey the gistWrite only enough to convey the gist Take succinct but complete notesTake succinct but complete notes Strip away the extra verbiage and Strip away the extra verbiage and

extraneous examplesextraneous examples Focus on the heart of the matterFocus on the heart of the matter

Teaching SummariesTeaching Summaries

Keep in mind—it’s not easyKeep in mind—it’s not easyHard to learn/hard to teachHard to learn/hard to teachModel repeatedlyModel repeatedlyGive students practice timeGive students practice time

Tips and Tricks--1Tips and Tricks--1

Provide students with a selectionProvide students with a selection Ask students to take notes of Ask students to take notes of

important detailsimportant details When students have finished, direct When students have finished, direct

them to turn over the paper and them to turn over the paper and write what they remember…without write what they remember…without looking backlooking back

Tips and Tricks--2Tips and Tricks--2

Have students write successively Have students write successively shorter summaries, constantly shorter summaries, constantly refining and reducingrefining and reducing

Begin with half a page, then two Begin with half a page, then two paragraphs, then one paragraph, paragraphs, then one paragraph, then two or three sentences, then a then two or three sentences, then a single sentencesingle sentence

Sum It Up!Sum It Up!

Students imagine they are placing a classified Students imagine they are placing a classified ad or sending a telegram. ad or sending a telegram.

Each word costs 10 cents, and then tell them Each word costs 10 cents, and then tell them they can spend "so much." For instance, if you they can spend "so much." For instance, if you say they have $2.00 to spend, then that means say they have $2.00 to spend, then that means they have to write a summary that has no more they have to write a summary that has no more than 20 words. than 20 words.

Adjust the amount they have to spend, and Adjust the amount they have to spend, and therefore the length of the summary, according therefore the length of the summary, according to the text they are summarizing. to the text they are summarizing.

Pat Widdowson of Surry County Schools in North CarolinaPat Widdowson of Surry County Schools in North Carolina

Getting the Gist of It!Getting the Gist of It! Students read articles.Students read articles. Students then identify 5Ws and H. Students then identify 5Ws and H. Students complete a template. Students complete a template. Finally, students use notes to write a Finally, students use notes to write a

20-word summary.20-word summary. Once students have mastered writing Once students have mastered writing

a GIST using articles, the strategy is a GIST using articles, the strategy is then applied to content area texts to then applied to content area texts to support comprehension and support comprehension and summarizing skills.summarizing skills.

Gallery Walk/Museum TourGallery Walk/Museum Tour Use poster paper to create a visual that Use poster paper to create a visual that

includes a graphic depicting your article.includes a graphic depicting your article. List/arrange the 5 W’s and an HList/arrange the 5 W’s and an H Write your summary paragraphWrite your summary paragraph Identify one member of your group as the Identify one member of your group as the

speaker.speaker. The speaker stays with the poster while The speaker stays with the poster while

other group members rotate around the other group members rotate around the room.room.

When members return to their original When members return to their original position, they “teach” the moderator position, they “teach” the moderator about the other posters.about the other posters.