Nonfiction Summaries

A summary...

• ...includes your thoughts, feelings, and reactions about the text.

• ...is a detailed, lengthy written piece including all the facts.

• ...is a brief, biased piece of writing including important details from the text.

• ...is a brief, unbiased piece of writing including important details from the text.

You should always... (2 answers)

• ...copy the text word-for-word when summarizing.

• ...focus on the key ideas.

• ...write just a little bit about the text.

• ...capture the main ideas.

You should always...

• ...organize it in the order that the event occurred.

• ...include as much information as possible.

• ...make it short and sweet.

• ...include your opinion when summarizing non-fiction.

When working on a summary, I should always...

• ...make a list.

• ...include my opinion.

• ...use quotes from the text.

• ...restate it in my own words.

In a one-paragraph summary, I should include approximately____ details from the text in my summary.

• 2

• 3

• 5

• 1

What is the main idea of this passage and needs to be included in an effective summary?

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Some people believe that snow is the most beautiful type of precipitation. However, there are some misconceptions about snow. First of all, snowflakes are not frozen raindrops. They are frozen crystals formed when water vapor freezes. This process all happens in the clouds. Snowflakes are made of many snow crystals that are stuck together. Also, it is sometimes believed that no two snowflakes can be the same. This may be up for debate, but it is possible for two snowflakes to be exactly alike. It’s just that the odds are very low. There are actually six main types of snowflakes. Finally, there is a myth about snow and the groundhog. On Groundhog’s Day it is believed that if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. According to the National Climatic Data Center, the groundhog has a 39% success rate. Clearly, snow is a fascinating form of precipitation.

• Clearly, snow is a fascinating form of participation.

• There are some misconceptions about snow.

• They are frozen crystals formed when water vapor freezes.

• It is possible for two snowflakes to be alike.

What is an important detail from this passage and needs to be included in an effective summary?

************************************************

Some people believe that snow is the most beautiful type of precipitation. However, there are some misconceptions about snow. First of all, snowflakes are not frozen raindrops. They are frozen crystals formed when water vapor freezes. This process all happens in the clouds. Snowflakes are made of many snow crystals that are stuck together. Also, it is sometimes believed that no two snowflakes can be the same. This may be up for debate, but it is possible for two snowflakes to be exactly alike. It’s just that the odds are very low. There are actually six main types of snowflakes. Finally, there is a myth about snow and the groundhog. On Groundhog’s Day it is believed that if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. According to the National Climatic Data Center, the groundhog has a 39% success rate. Clearly, snow is a fascinating form of precipitation.

• Clearly, snow is a fascinating form of participation.

• This process all happens in the clouds.

• Some people believe that snow is the most beautiful type of precipitation.

• It is possible for two snowflakes to be alike.

A good sentence to include in a summary from the passage above would be...

• There are a few misunderstandings when it comes to snow.

• "This may be up for debate, but it is possible for two snowflakes to be exactly alike."

• A lot of people think snow is beautiful.

• "Clearly snow is a fascinating form of precipitation."

Which of the following should we NOT use in our summaries? (2 answers)

• The main idea of the text.

• Inferences we draw from the text.

• Supporting details from the text.

• Connections to other texts.

I feel confident in my abilities to write an effective, non-fiction summary according to 6th-grade standards.

• Yes, I feel confident!

• I may need a refresher first.