Summarizing a Theme

After School Tutoring(Summary, Central Idea, Theme)

By Mr Bell-7

These standards are a review of what we have already covered this year. ​

Today's Agenda will cover the following standards: (Summary, Central Idea, Theme)

1. ​RL.6.2 Examine a grade-appropriate literary text. ● Provide an objective summary. ● Determine a theme of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details

​RI.6.2 Examine a grade-appropriate informational text. ● Provide an objective summary. ● Determine a central idea and how it is conveyed through particular details.

Please be sure to have the necessary materials: a pencil, and a few sheets of paper to take notes that will be beneficial to the success of mastering the presented standards.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

In your own words, what do you think a summary is, in terms of literature? (Be mindful to use complete and explicit sentences when answering the question using the R.A.C.E. strategy.)

What is a summary?

Summarizing means giving a concise or brief overview of a text’s main points in your own words. A summary is always much shorter than the original text.

Writing a summary does not involve critiquing or analyzing the source—you should simply provide a clear, objective, accurate account of the most important information and ideas, without copying any text from the original and without missing any of the key points.

A summary give a brief overlay of a topic; similar to showcasing highlights of an event​.

-STANDARD: Summary

There are many situations in which you might have to summarize an article or other source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to show you’ve understood the material.

• To keep notes that will help you remember what you’ve read.

• To give an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review.

When you’re writing an academic text like an essay, research paper, or dissertation, you’ll engage with other researchers’ work in a variety of ways. Sometimes you might use a brief quote to support your point; sometimes you might paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs.

But it’s often appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is especially relevant to your own research, or to provide an overview of a source before you analyze or critique it.

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Multiple Choice

Definition of a summary:

• express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.(simplify in your own words)

• To give a brief statement of the main points of (something). In your own words.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about SUMMARIZING is true?

• The Summary is a thought that is true but is not in the passage.

• The Summary is specific, detailed information contained in the passage.

• The Summary is what the passage is mostly about.

• The Summary is always found in the first sentence of the passage.

-Steps to Writing a Summary​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Step 1: You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages: Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape. Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read. Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and re-read any particularly important or difficult passages.

-Steps to Writing a Summary

Step #2 ​

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Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Step 2: Break the text down into sections To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller parts. If the text is a scientific paper that follows a standard empirical structure, it is probably already organized into clearly marked sections, usually including an introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

-Steps to Writing a Summary

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Step 3: Identify the key points in each section Now it’s time go through each part and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article? Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

-Steps to Writing a Summary

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Step 4: Write the summary

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words.

To avoid plagiarism and show you’ve understood the article, it’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two.

The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points.

Multiple Choice

Rosa Parks has been called the "mother of the civil rights movement." She is one of the most important people of the 20th century. In December of 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger. The bus driver had her arrested. She was sent to court. She was found guilty of breaking the law.

Her act sparked a boycott of the bus system by blacks. Blacks refused to use the buses for more than a year. The boycott introduced the country to a man named Martin Luther King, Jr. People all over the country came to know King. Soon, the U.S. Supreme Court made segregation on city buses against the law.

Over the next forty years, Rosa Parks helped make Americans aware of the history of the civil rights struggle. She earned many honors, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. She is an example of courage and strength. She inspires all Americans to live free.

Question: Select the best complete summary of the passage above....

• Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Then, the buses were boycotted, and Martin Luther King, Jr., became very well known. He had a prize named after him.

• Rosa Parks boycotted the bus system. This boycott brought Martin Luther King, Jr., to the front of the civil rights movement. People all over the country got to know Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. The bus driver had her arrested, and then she was found guilty of breaking the law. She was important to American history.

• Rosa Parks was an important person of the 20th century. She refused to give up her seat on a bus, which led to a boycott of the bus system. She earned many honors for her work in the civil rights movement.

-Introduction to Central Idea

Resource Video: Pow Toons-​

Prepare to jot down 3-5 important facts about the video on your own paper.

​https://youtu.be/PBz2oizt7cE

Open Ended

In your own words, provide a brief description of what the "central idea" of a literary work could be?

(Please use complete and explicit sentences to answer the question.)

-Central Idea

The central idea is a main point that the author is making.

A. It is what the article is mostly about. ​

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B. The central idea is a statement.

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C. A text could have more than one central idea. ​

-Central Idea

Questions to Ask when attempting to discover the central idea:

1. Who or what is the text about?

2. What does the author say about it?​

3. ​Can I prove it within the text? ​

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Important Information: Prove the central idea by showing how it is supported in the text.

Multiple Choice

Though forks were first used in China thousands of years ago, it took a long time for them to make their way to what is now the United States. 
Ancient Greeks began using forks after the Chinese. However, they did not use forks for eating. They used them for serving food. From Greece, forks moved to the Roman Empire. Romans first used long forks for cooking and serving. By the 300s, they began using table forks to feed themselves. 
The table fork spread from there to what is now the Middle East and Turkey, before arriving in Italy and becoming popular in the 1000s. It stayed popular in southern Europe, but was not used much in northern Europe until it first became popular in France and Spain in the 1700s. 
The table fork arrived in England from France before making its way to the North American colonies, where it first became popular shortly before the American Revolution.

• The fork changed after arriving in the Roman Empire.
• Roman forks were longer than Greek and Chinese forks.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

• Leopards are losing their homes

• The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

• The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Many beautiful three-dimensional creations are made with this art. Starting with only one square of paper, you can fold and fold and fold, until you’ve created amazing models. With practice, you can learn to make abstract designs or recognizable animals such as cranes (a type of bird) or even dinosaurs.

• Origami is an interesting and beautiful art form

• The art of origami came from Japan

• Origami is three-dimensional art

• Origami is a good way to show creativity

Multiple Choice

The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade. Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds. Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about four cents an acre. 
What is the Central idea?

• The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S. 
• The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals. 
• The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap. 
• Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase. 

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was not only a three-sport athlete at UCLA. He was the first African-American to play on a Major league baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. He was treated very poorly by the by other players and fans in the stadiums he visited. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going. Today his number 42 is retired on every team in major league baseball, and he is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Jackie Robinson is an important figure in American History

• Jackie Robinson played many different sports

• Jackie Robinson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame

• Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

• Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the passage?

Before the Industrial Revolution, most cloth was hand-made in people’s homes. They used spinning wheels and weaving looms to make their own clothes. This took a lot of time and hard work! But during the Industrial Revolution, machines were built that made great quantities of cloth very quickly. Before long, machines were built to make other products, such as paper and even cars! This saved people much time and energy.

• The Industrial Revolution allowed goods to be made faster and easier

• Cloth was difficult to make before machines

• The Industrial Revolution helped the world prosper

• Spinning wheels were used to make cloth before machines

Open Ended

In your own opinion, state what the "theme" of a literary could be using prior knowledge?

(Be mindful to use complete and explicit sentences when answering questions while using the R. A.C.E strategy.)

-Theme

Resource Video: Kahn Academy

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​https://youtu.be/D2FFijvA00I

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
• You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.
• Life is short; make the most of it.

Multiple Choice

A Raven, which you know is black as coal, was envious of the Swan, because her feathers were as white as the purest snow. The foolish bird got the idea that if he lived like the Swan, swimming and diving all day long and eating the weeds and plants that grow in the water, his feathers would turn white like the Swan's.

So he left his home in the woods and fields and flew down to live on the lakes and in the marshes. But though he washed and washed all day long, almost drowning himself at it, his feathers remained as black as ever. And as the water weeds he ate did not agree with him, he got thinner and thinner, and at last he died.

What is the central idea?

• A raven decided that he wanted to live with his best friend the swan, so he moved into the woods. They started out fine, but eventually all they did was end up fighting. They fought so much that it ruined their friendship forever.

• A swan wanted to be a raven, so he moved to the shadows. The beautiful swan started to lose its clean white feathers, and they started to wither until the swan was no longer a swan, but a new black bird!

• A raven wanted its feathers to be as white as a swan, so the raven moved to the woods. The raven started to live like the swan, but the swan's lifestyle did not agree with the raven, and the raven eventually died.

• A swan and a raven were at war since the beginning. They fought over land, over feathers, and over family. One day the raven snuck up on the swan, but the swan heard the raven coming and finally defeated the raven for good.

Multiple Choice

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:

"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.

All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:

"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

What is the central idea?

• A cat catches all the mice in the house and eats them. Then it finds a bell and decides that the bell was not as fun as the mice.

• A bunch of mice trap a cat and put a bell around its tail in order to keep the cat away from the mice.

• A bunch of mice plan to put a bell around a cat's neck to alert them when it's coming, but each one is afraid to volunteer to do it.

• A bunch of mice lock a cat outside of their home.

Multiple Choice

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:

"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.

All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:

"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

What is the theme?

• All cats should have bells around their necks.

• It's easier to say something and harder to actually do it.

• Never trust a cat.

• Never trust a mouse.

Multiple Choice

A theme is...?

• the main idea

• something the reader can connect to

• summary of a story

• the color purple

Multiple Choice

Which characterization best reinforces the theme of the importance of being prepared?

• The hero spends a great deal of time training to defeat a villain

• The hero lives in a society where every part of your life is planned out in advance

• The hero fights a villain who can control minds

• The hero keeps dreaming about the problems he faces

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

After watching​ the Oscar-winning short film, "Hair Love," determine a possible theme for the short film.

See Attachment:

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​https://youtu.be/kNw8V_Fkw28