Summarizing Fiction Texts

By Tanya Henderson

​What is summarizing?

​

• A brief overview of the main points in a story

• It includes the main characters, plot, setting, and conflict and resolution

• A solid summary will show that the reader understood the story after they read it

• Should include the title of the story

• Should be written in YOUR own words​

​What summarizing is NOT...

​

​

• It is not a full retell of the story

• It does not include opinions

• It does not include predictions

• It does not include minor story details​

1. SWBST Somebody... Wanted... But... So... The

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​What are some good strategies to use?

​5 W's

Who, what, when, where, why?​

​

​​Subheader

​​Subheader

SCAR

​S- setting
C- characters
A- adversity or action
R- resolution

Multiple Choice

What is a summary?

• a short explanation of a text
• a persuasive argument about a text
• a movie based off of a book
• a theme or universal lesson

Multiple Choice

You should write your summary

• in your own words with complete sentences
• in a secret language that you make up
• in one draft without revising
• in fragments without punctuation

Multiple Choice

A summary should not include the main character of the story.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

An easy way to remember summary for fiction is...

• Someone, Wanted, But, So, Then

• Somebody, Went, But, Somehow, Those

• Someone, Wanted, Then, End

• So, Wanted, But, Then

Multiple Choice

A summary is a retelling of the whole story in my own words.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about SUMMARIZING?

• A summary should include many story details.

• A summary is always found in the first sentence of a paragraph or chapter.

• A summary should always be fiction.

• A summary is what the passage is mostly about.

Multiple Choice

Which best describes a summary?

• a really long detailed piece of writing

• the entire text told in your own words

• a dumb thing that teachers make you write

• the most important events and details in the text (SWBST)

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between retelling and summarizing?

• A summary is a long detailed paragraph and a retell is not.

• Retell is telling about all the events, while a summary only talks about main ideas.

• Retelling and summarizing are the same thing.

• Retelling is a word used for little kids and summarizing is used for big kids.

Multiple Choice

In a Summary I should include as many details as possible.

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

The title of the story...

• should be included in the summary

• should NOT be included in the summary

Multiple Choice

One day Mary was walking to school in her beautiful new red dress. As she was walking she tripped and fell into the mud. Her dress was soaked and all dirty. Mary began to cry and ran home. She knocked on the door and her mother let her in. Mary changed into her new blue dress and her mother drove her to school. Mary was now happy and clean and had a great day at school.

What is the best summary of the story above.

• Mary's dress got dirty when she fell walking to school. Mary went home to change and her mother drove her back to school where she had a great day despite the morning mishap.

• Mary knew her mother didn't like her red dress so she fell in the mud on the way to school. Mary got dressed and changed her clothes only to stay home from school anyway.

• Mary hated red dresses and she changed to a blue dress so she could wear it to school.

• Mary wore her favorite dress to walk to school. She fell in the mud and went back home to change to her blue dress.

Multiple Choice

Mia watched her mother's car pull away and felt her heart sink. I can't believe she's leaving me here with my grandparents for the entire summer, she thought.
Tired from the trip, Mia brushed her teeth and went to bed. Still, she lay awake long after dark that night. Her grandparents had tried to make her feel welcome, but she still dreaded the weeks to come. The lights and sounds of the city made her feel happy and alive. She just knew that the countryside would be quiet and dull in comparison.
The next morning, Mia stood staring out the window. The sky was filled with color: streaks of the brightest yellow, orange, and pink. Her ears tuned in to the songs of birds. Mia laughed, wondering how she could ever have thought this place would be quiet and dull.
Which detail should be left out of a summary of this passage?  

• Mia is staying with her grandparents for the summer.
• Mia wishes to return to her home in the city.
• Mia realizes she was wrong about the countryside.
• Mia brushed her teeth and went to bed.

Multiple Choice

Mikah and his family took a vacation to Florida. Mikah had never been to the beach, so he was very excited. He wanted to swim and make a sand castle. He also wanted to look for sea shells.

They drove for two days to get to Florida. They played car games and told stories and listened to music. It was a very long drive. Mikah was glad when they made it to Florida.

When they arrived, it was raining. Mikah's mom said this happens by the beach. There is a lot of water in the air, so it sometimes rains a little bit each day. She thought the rain would be gone the next day.

The rain did not stop the next day. It kept going for six days. On the last day of their vacation, it finally stopped raining. Mikah and his brother played on the beach all day to make up for a rainy week. Mikah hoped they would never have such a wet vacation again.

Which of the following best summarizes the story?

• Mikah and his family drove to Florida for vacation. Mikah was excited to play on the beach, but when they arrived, it was raining. It rained for six days. On the last day, Mikah and his brother were finally able to play on the beach.

• Mikah's family drove for two days to go to the beach in Florida. Mikah was glad when they arrived because it took a long time to get there. It was a very long drive. When they got there, it was raining, and they were disappointed.

• Mikah and his brother spent their last vacation day on the beach because it had rained the entire rest of the time. His family had driven for two days to get to the beach in Florida. They played car games and told stories.

• Mikah wanted to build a sandcastle, swim, and look for sea shells, so his family drove for two days to get to Florida. They played car games and told stories and listened to music. It was raining when they got to the beach.