Summarizing Informational Texts

Summarizing Informational Texts

Summary/Objective

What do you do when a friend sees you reading and asks, "What is that article about?" You don't recite the article word for word or read it aloud. The best response is to give a summary, or a brief restatement of the article's important details and central ideas in your own words. A summary should be objective, or free of any opinions or personal beliefs.

Multiple Choice

A summary is a ___________________.

• Text evidence

• Brief restatement of the central idea and key details, in my own words

• An educated guess

• The problem faced by characters in the story

Multiple Choice

A summary should be _____________, which means free of opinions or judgments.

• biased

• subjective

• objective

Think about what its most important points might be.

Read the news report below.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best summary for the report?

• A Silver carp "fly" over the water.

• Silver carps are a non-native species.

• A silver carp injured a water skier.

• A non-native fish species known as silver carp is dangerous because it can cause injuries to people.

Note:

Good readers recognize central ideas, whether stated or implied, and identify important details in a text. They use those ideas and details when they summarize the text, and they do not include nonessential information or opinions.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the 2nd paragraph?

• There are two types of invasive organisms found in the waterways.

• The clam shells are small but numerous.

• Biofouling by Asiatic clams, one type of invasive species in U.S. waterways, causes costly repairs to industrial and agricultural water facilities.

• The cost of repairing damage caused by the Asiatic clams have reached one billion dollars per year in the United States.

Open Ended

Write a summary of the text. Remember, summarizing means restating the central idea and important details in your own words.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best summarizes the text? Hint: Which answer choice restates important details and does not include opinions?

• The annoying milfoil plant does extensive harm to human facilities as well as to fragile ecosystems. It spreads ruthlessly by water current and should be a major concern to outdoor enthusiasts.

• Fern-like and harmless looking, milfoil is a secret threat. Dense growths of the Eurasian native crowd the waterways, creating unfavorable conditions for swimmers, boaters, and fishers.

• Milfoil, a non-native species of water plant, ruins recreational water activities and heartlessly wipes out food sources and habitats for animals.

• Eurasian milfoil is an invasive species that spreads both naturally and with human help. Milfoil is an "invader" because it can harm water facilities, destroy animal habitats, and crowd out native plants.

Multiple Choice

Ashley wanted to get out of taking her test in Science. She asked to go to the restroom during science class. As she wandered along the hall, the shiny red fire drill seemed to call her name. Ashton looked left and then right, and pulled the alarm. Green spray came out all over her arms, just as she began to run away. Dr. Bishop saw Ashley's green arms and took her straight to the office. Turns out she still had to take the test, but from ISS. Which answer choice is the best summary?

• Ashley wanted to get out of a science test so she pulled the fire alarm. she got caught and ended up in ISS.

• Ashley did not study for a test so she made a plan to hide out in the restroom during that class.

• Ashley hates tests so she decided to skip school instead of going to class on test days.

• Ashley pulled the fire alarm so that Lauren could get out of taking a science test.