Main Idea and Summary

Which is true about writing a summary?

• Write in chronological order

• Include unimportant ideas

• Don't write in complete sentences

• Add your own opinions

What did we draw to help us remember what the main idea is?

• A stool

• A chair

• A shelf

• A table

A summary should be taken straight from the back cover of a book

• True

• False

A main idea is...

• OPINION BASED evidence

• The main point or most important idea that the writer is communicating

• The key points, examples, evidence to support or elaborate on the main idea.

• A summary of a text  that only includes factual information.

An objective summary is...

• OPINION BASED evidence

• The main point or most important idea that the writer is communicating

• The key points, examples, evidence to support or elaborate on the main idea.

• A summary of a text  that only includes factual information.

What is this passage mostly about?

• How Ben Franklin created eletricity.

• How Ben Franklin was a diplomat, scientist, and inventor.

• How Ben Franklin became the face of the dollar bill.

What is a summary?

• Retells the main events of the story in a shorter version.

• Tells the people in the story.

• Tells where the story takes place.

• Tells us the theme of the story.

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!
What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.

• The author enjoys spending time with her family.

• The author's grandparents live far away.

• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

What is this selection mainly about?

• Robots will serve us in the future.

• We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.

• You should give up if the Robots will look and behave much like real humans.

• Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.