Understanding Summaries for Students

What is a summary?

• A detailed retelling of a story

• A condensed retelling of a longer work

• A list of characters in a story

• A collection of random facts

What is the main purpose of a summary?

• To confuse the reader

• To communicate the basic idea and relevant details of a piece

• To rewrite the entire story

• To list all the characters

Where might you find a summary of a book?

• On the front cover

• On the back cover

• In the middle of the book

• In the author's biography

What is NOT a characteristic of a summary?

• It is long and detailed

• It is short

• It gives a good idea of what the book is about

• It is written in your own words

What might a summary of an academic paper include?

• A summary of all the main concepts discussed

• A list of references

• A detailed analysis of each paragraph

• A biography of the author

When you tell your friend about a movie you watched, what are you likely doing?

• Writing a script

• Giving a summary

• Creating a sequel

• Drawing a storyboard

Which of the following is an example of a summary?

• A full script of a play

• A short blurb on the back of a book

• A list of all the chapters in a book

• A detailed character analysis

Why might someone read a summary?

• To get confused about the story

• To get a basic understanding of the story

• To memorize every detail

• To learn about the author's life

What should you do when writing a summary?

• Include every single detail

• Focus on the main ideas and relevant details

• Write in a different language

• Make it longer than the original work

What is a good strategy for writing a summary?

• Reenact the entire story

• Retell the story in your own words

• Copy the text word for word

• Ignore the main events