What is an Objective Summary?

WHAT IS AN OBJECTIVE SUMMARY?

Remember:

A summary is a short retelling of the important parts of a text. A summary is considered an objective summary when it is non-biased, or lists just the important parts of a story without any unnecessary details.  

STEPS TO SUMMARIZING OBJECTIVELY:  

1. Read the text.  

2. Pick out the key details.  

3. Choose the 2-3 most important events or details to include in your summary. 
4. Put the events in chronological order as they happen in the text.  

Multiple Choice

EDGAR ALLAN POE AS A YOUNG MAN

Poe’s poverty humiliated him, and he became angry with Mr. Allan for not providing him with the money he needed for college. He returned home to visit his fiancée, only to find out she had become engaged to another man while Poe was away at college. Poe was heartbroken. He became increasingly hostile to Mr. Allan until one day he stormed out of the home to become a great poet and to seek adventure. 

What is the objective summary of this paragraph?

• a. Poe was humiliated by poverty. 

• 1. b. Poe's experiences with poverty and heartbreak led him to leave home to become a poet and seek adventure.

• Poe was heartbroken when he found out that his fiance married another man while he was away at college.

• Poe became increasingly hostile to Mr. Allan.

Multiple Select

EDGAR ALLAN POE AS A YOUNG MAN

He accomplished his first goal by publishing his first book, Tamerlane,  when he was 18, and enlisted in the US Army to achieve the second goal. Two years later, he found out that his adopted mother, Frances Allan, was dying of tuberculosis. By the time Poe returned home, she was already dead. Poe and Mr. Allan briefly made up, and Mr. Allan helped Poe get into the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Which two details belong in an objective summary of the paragraph? 

• a. Poe published his first book at 18. 
  

• b. Poe and Mr. Allan briefly made up.

• c. Poe’s book was called Tamerlane.

• Poe’s adoptive mother died before he could see her, which must have been hard.

• Mr. Allan helped Poe get into the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Multiple Choice

EDGAR ALLAN POE AS A YOUNG MAN

Before going to West Point, Poe wrote another book of poetry. While there, Poe was offended to hear that Allan had remarried without telling him or even inviting him to the ceremony, which angered him further. Poe wrote to Mr. Allan and detailed all of the things he had done wrong over the years. After only eight months at West Point Poe was expelled, but he soon published yet another book.

Which sentence is the BEST summary objective for the paragraph?

• a. Before going to West Point, Poe wrote another book of poetry.

• b. Edgar Allan Poe's was angered by the news of Mr. Allan's remarriage without informing him or inviting him to the ceremony.

• c. Poe wrote to Mr. Allan and detailed all of the things he had done wrong over the years.

• d. After only eight months at West Point Poe was expelled, but he soon published yet another book.

Multiple Choice

EDGAR ALLAN POE AS A YOUNG MAN

Before going to West Point, Poe wrote another book of poetry. While there, Poe was offended to hear that Allan had remarried without telling him or even inviting him to the ceremony, which angered him further. Poe wrote to Mr. Allan and detailed all of the things he had done wrong over the years. After only eight months at West Point Poe was expelled, but he soon published yet another book.

Which detail BEST supports the central idea from the last slide?

• a. Before going to West Point, Poe wrote another book of poetry.

• b. Edgar Allan Poe's was angered by the news of Mr. Allan's remarriage without informing him or inviting him to the ceremony.

• c. Poe wrote to Mr. Allan and detailed all of the things he had done wrong over the years.

• d. After only eight months at West Point Poe was expelled, but he soon published yet another book.