8th Grade Summarizing

8th Grade Summarizing

by Lacy McAllister

​Summarizing

​A great way to grasp the central idea and details. It involves developing a short description of what you read. It should express the theme and major supporting details. Writing a summary is a way to increase reading comprehension. A summary is not a critique, instead, it should provide an objective (impartial) synopsis of a text.

​Summarize

​When summarize a plot, think of only the most important facts. Ask yourself who, what, when, where, why, and how questions about the story or passage. These will give you a good foundation for an objective summary. Staying objective means to provide the main ideas and major details without offering your opinion or critique.

​Steps to Writing an Effective Summary

​1. Write down the subject and main idea of passage. First sentence should mention the title and author. Use a complete sentence.

​2. Next, list the major details. Again, use complete sentences.

​3. Be sure to use quotation marks to indicate exact words or phrases from the original source but use quotations very sparingly, if you use them at all. As much as possible, a summary should be in your OWN words.

​

​Summary should be about one-fourth to one-third of the story's original length. So if passage is 2 pages long, summary should be half a page.

​"Tough Times on the Farm" by Dennis Martin

​I was raised in a small town on the shores of Lake Erie. The big water was only three blocks away from my house, and as a young boy I spent much of my time fishing from its shore with my two friends, Sparky and Dave. When I wasn't fishing, I was busy working. Life in the city brought many opportunities for a young boy to make money. First, there was my paper route. I would fold the paper in thirds, tuck in the ends real tight, load them in the basket on the front of my bike, and throw them on the porches of all my customers. Not only did I get paid every week, but during the holiday season, I would always receive nice tips from the homeowners. With the changing of the seasons came more means of making money for a boy of industrious inclinations. In the winter, I would shovel the snow off the walks for all the elderly people. In the spring and summer, I would cut grass, and in the fall I would rake their leaves and clear their lawns of the upiquitous buckeyes. Life was good, and I always had money to spend.

​In "Tough Times on the Farm" by Dennis Martin, the narrator describes growing up in a town near Lake Erie. When he wasn't fishing with his friends, he was working at his paper route. In winter, he would shovel snow, and in summer and fall he cut lawns and raked leaves. He always had money.

​The summary covers the main points of the passage. It sticks to just what's in the passage, and it tells everything you need to know to understand the plot

Open Ended

Sophie and Chloe are two dolphins at the local aquarium. Every afternoon they perform for sold out crowds who come to watch their awe-inspiring display of leaps and jumps. Sophie and Chloe know many tricks. They jump through hoops. They walk across the water using their tails, and they leap high out of the water to take a fish from the dolphin trainer.

Sophie and Chloe are beautiful dolphins. They are twelve feet long. They each weigh almost four hundred pounds, and they can stay under water for almost fifteen minutes before having to come up for air. Sophie and Chloe are very gentle animals. The audience loves seeing them perform and learning more about them. Summarize this passage in one or two sentences.

Open Ended

It's such a simple thing

I call him on the phone

Catching love's brass ring

But he's not home alone

But just before I grab it, I slip.

So I must keep my feelings at bay.

I strive to snare his eyes

I see him in the halls

But to my sad surprise

And my bright smile falls

On his radar I don't rate a blip.

As I see him there talking to her.

I want to say I care

Why won't he notice me?

And let him know I'm there

Who else could I be

But there's always someone in the way.

To make him see that my love is pure?

Summarize this poem in one or two sentences.