Summary and Key Details

Writing an Objective Summary

Learning Target

I can provide an accurate summary that includes the main events, characters, and important details, but DOES NOT contain personal opinions or judgments.

Academic Vocabulary

• Objective - not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; based on facts; unbiased

• Subjective - based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

• REMEMBER: Anything objective sticks to the facts, but anything subjective has feelings.

Multiple Choice

A statement that is completely unbiased is...

• Subjective

• Personal

• Objective

• Nonobjective

To summarize...

means to retell a story in your own words.

Multiple Choice

A _________ retells the main events of a story in a shorter version.

• theme

• solution

• summary

• point of view

To summarize...

• Use your own words

• Keep it short.

• Tell the main idea for the beginning, middle, and end.

• Don't forget the who, what, when, where, why & how.

• Avoid using personal thoughts or feelings.

Multiple Choice

If you're asked to write an objective summary, which of the following should you avoid?

• Listing the major events of the story/article

• Choosing only the most important parts

• Explaining your thoughts about the story/article

• Stating the central conflict of the story/article

Summarize Using the "Big 5"

• SOMEBODY

• WANTED

• BUT

• SO

• THEN

Open Ended

What are the "Big 5" (SWBST) that you use when summarizing?

SOMEBODY

Who is the main character?

WANTED

What did the main character want OR what did the main character want to do?

BUT

What was the problem?

SO

What did the main character try to do?

THEN

What was the resolution to the story? How was the problem solved?

Multiple Choice

_______ introduces the important CHARACTERS of the story.

• Somebody

• Wanted

• But

• So

• Then

Multiple Choice

__________ tells the MAIN IDEA of what the character is seeking.

• Somebody

• Wanted

• But

• So

• Then

Multiple Choice

_____ tells the PROBLEM or CONFLICT that the central character has while trying to get she or he wanted.

• Somebody

• Wanted

• But

• So

• Then

Multiple Choice

_____________ describes the main events that happened in the text as the character TRIES to solve the problem or conflict.

• Somebody

• Wanted

• But

• So

• Then

Multiple Choice

__________ tells how the problem or conflict was SOLVED in the end.

• Somebody

• Wanted

• But

• So

• Then

Look at this summary of "Amigo Brothers"

In the short story, “Amigo Brothers,” (SOMEBODY) two friends who love boxing more than anything.  The two consider each other closer than brothers and  (WANTED) wanted to keep their friendship,  (BUT) they are entering a tournament where they may face each other.  (SO) So, Felix and Antonio decide to stop training with each other to better prepare for the fight .  (THEN) Then the two end up fighting each other in the tournament but learn nothing should come between their friendship.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the better objective summary of The Lion King?

• This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father, Mufasa. Simba's wicked uncle, Scar, plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa.

• In a tear jerker story, a young lion, Simba, becomes the victim of his cruel Uncle Scar’s plot to take the throne. After finding himself with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa, Simba heroically returns to Pride Rock where he overpowers Scar. While the film is charming and inspiring, the likelihood of a vegetarian lion beating his dominant uncle in a fight is hard to swallow.

Let's Practice

Open Ended

Using the BIG 5, write an objective summary for the following passage:

Johnny ran through the neighborhood, desperately looking for a toy for his younger sister. He saw many shops that looked promising, but he had no idea what to get her. After several hours of searching, his older brother suggested that he look online for things sisters like. Within 10 minutes of browsing the web, Johnny found the right toy for his sister. Her birthday was going to be amazing.

Poll

Did your summary look like this?

(SOMEBODY) Johnny wanted to get a toy for his younger sister, but he didn't know what to get, so he looked online for help, then he found the perfect toy.

• Yep!

• Not exactly, but I was really close.

• Mine looked completely different.

Open Ended

Using the BIG 5, write an objective summary for the following passage:

Jared built houses for a living. He was a master at working with his hands. Building was the only thing he ever desired to do. One day the local wood store was low on wood. How was he ever going to build a house! He decided to look online for a solution, and he saw that he could build tiny houses. He bought the wood from the wood store and built a tiny house. He was satisfied with his work.

Poll

Did your summary look like this?

(SOMEBODY) Jared wanted to build houses, but the wood store was low on wood, so he went online for a solution, then he built a tiny house.

• Yep!

• Not exactly, but I was really close.

• Mine looked completely different.

Open Ended

Using the BIG 5, write an objective summary for the following passage:

Paulina is a nerf fight champion. She has won every nerf battle she has ever been in. One day she was challenged by Roger, the nerf champion from the other neighborhood. Paulina knew she had to keep her title as the best nerf fighter, so she agreed to the challenge. Roger proved to be a tough opponent. He always seemed to know where she was coming from. Paulina had to think quick. She decided to throw a rock to distract him, then she ran around behind him, and hit him in the back with her nerf dart. She pumped her fist in triumph. The title stayed with her.

Poll

Did your summary look like this?

(SOMEBODY) Paulina wanted to stay the nerf champion, but Roger proved to be a tough opponent, so she distracted him with a rock, then she won the fight.

• Yep!

• Not exactly, but I was really close.

• Mine looked completely different.

Multiple Choice

A long time ago, Mother Nature created the ants. Mother Nature gave the ants tiny bodies. She wanted them to work together, but they were lazy and selfish, ignoring her rules. Mother Nature turned her back on the ants, and they became ill. Only then did they learn to work together. Mother Nature healed their legs and the ants still work hard today. Which detail should be removed from the summary?

• A long time ago, Mother Nature created the ants.

• Mother Nature gave the ants tiny bodies.

• Mother Nature turned her back on the ants, and they became ill.

• Only then did they learn to work together.

SWBST...

A long time ago, (somebody) Mother Nature created the ants. Mother Nature gave the ants tiny bodies. She wanted them to work together, but they were lazy and selfish, ignoring her rules. (so) Mother Nature turned her back on the ants, and they became ill. Only then did they learn to work together. Mother Nature healed their legs and the ants still work hard today.