Summary

Summaries are shorter, condensed versions of a text that maintain the integrity of the original.

They present a clear and accurate overview of a text.

Writing a summary requires a thorough understanding of the text’s message and the ability to paraphrase (rewrite something using different words without changing the original meaning)

Writing in Science

Summary

Information from (Teaching Writing) Tompkins Pg 179

Writing in Science

More on Summary• Summaries vary in length, depending on the

length of the original text and its purpose, but as a rule of thumb, they’re approximately one fourth of the length of the original source.

What Do Good

Writers Do?• Read the text

several times, making notes on the text, if

possible

• Cite the title, author, and source,

if it’s known

• Clearly articulate the main ideas

• Include the most important details that support the

main idea

• Show relationships among the ideas

• Arrange the information in the same order as in the original text

• Use their own words in writing

the summary

• Stay true to the tone of the original text

Mistakes Writers Make? Don’t follow order of information in the original

text

Include nonessential information

Incorporate quotes from the original text

Share personal knowledge or opinions

Your Assignment….

• What are summaries?• Writing a summary requires a thorough

understanding of what?• What does paraphrase mean?• What is a good rule of thumb as to how long

a summary should be?• List 3 things good writers do?• What are 4 mistakes writers make?

Answer on your own paper….

Now You Try….

• Read the following article (link at bottom)• Practice the things “good writers do”• Watch out for “mistakes writers make”• Write your own summary.• Look over your paper check for spelling

errors, mistakes writers make, underline any things you did that good writers do.

Answer on your own paper….

Afraid of its own fishy reflection: http://sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20100526/Note2.asp

Now You Try Again….

• Read the following article (link at bottom)• Practice the things “good writers do”• Watch out for “mistakes writers make”• Write your own summary.• Look over your paper check for spelling

errors, mistakes writers make, underline any things you did that good writers do.

Answer on your own paper….

Swine Flu goes Global http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20090506/Note2.asp

How to Compare and Contrast• Read the following article and answer the

questions. http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/comparison_contrast.html

1. What is a Comparison/Contrast Essay?

2. What can a Venn Diagram help you do?

3. What are the two ways you can organize your paper?

You Try It…..• Make a Venn Diagram on your paper.• Use the following websites to find

information about an Alligator and a Crocodile. Fill in your Venn Diagram.

• Write a comparison/contrast paragraph about an alligator and a crocodile. Put your comparisons at the beginning and your contrasting at the end.

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/Alligator.shtml• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/reptiles/crocodile/Amcrocprintout.shtml• http://www.crocsite.com/crocsite-articles/alligator-vs-crocodile.htm• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/critters/alligator.html

Alligators CrocodilesBoth

You Try It Again…..

• Make a Venn Diagram on your paper.• Use the following websites to find

information about an Bacteria and a Virus. Fill in your Venn Diagram.

• Write a comparison/contrast paragraph about a bacteria and a virus. Put your comparisons at the beginning and your contrasting at the end.

• http://www.flufacts.com/about/virus.aspx• http://www.livescience.com/bacteria/• http://www.livescience.com/viruses/

Bacteria VirusBoth