summary

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

You should write your summary

• in fragments without punctuation

• in one draft without revising

• in a secret language that you make up

• in your own words with complete sentences

Summarizing is a retelling in your own words, a short version of the main ideas, events, and details.

• true

• false

What is the main idea of the following article?

"Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats"

• The benefits of having a dog.

• Cats are bad pets.

• Do you prefer another pet?

• Dogs are better than cats.

Which detail is not included in the following article?

"How to Train Your Hamster to Do Tricks"

• Hamsters can be trained.

• Hamsters are small.

• Dogs could also be training

• Hamsters make great pets for astronauts.

What is the main idea of the following article?

"Scientists Discover New Species of Dancing Penguin"

• Penguins like music

• Penguins can dance.

• There is a new species of penguin.

• Scientists study penguins.

What is the main idea of the following article?

"A Cat's Guide to Taking Over the World"

• A cat's perspective on world domination.

• Tips for training your cat to be a mastermind.

• The benefits of having a cat as a ruler.

• You wants to have a cat.

Which detail is NOT included in the following article?

"The Benefits of Being a Sloth"

• Sloths move slowly.

• Sloths are lazy.

• Sloths are great at parties.

When some people think about Texas, they think of cowboys on the open range-herding cattle up a dusty trail. However, Texas has much more than an open prairie with large herds of cows. There are the mountains of West Texas, the piney hills of east Texas, and the emerald waters off the coast of Padre Island. Texas also has large coastal harbors with numerous sailboats, powerboats, inland lakes, and rivers. The swamps of southeast Texas have alligators and other exotic wildlife.

The Summary of this passage is:

• There are a lot of cows in Texas.

• There are many different, varied parts of Texas.

• Texas is one of the biggest states in the United States.

• There are alligators in the swampland of southeast Texas.

Tomorrow is Jill's birthday. She is excited because she gets to pick where she will eat dinner. Will it be Mexican food at the Big Enchilada House? Or will it be fried chicken at the Chicken Shack or a big cheeseburger at Al's Hamburger Palace? She just couldn't decide. Then there was always the Pizza Shop with that great pepperoni pizza. How would she ever decide? Maybe she would just flip a coin.

The Summary of this passage is:

• Jill loves Mexican food.

• Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.

• Jill will choose a place by flipping a coin.

• The Pizza Shop has the best pizza in town.