Summarizing and Details

Find the central idea.

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business

• Being a clown isn't all fun and games.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Rodeos are exciting.

• Clowns are good at riding bulls.

What is the Central Idea of the passage? What's that humming sound? Could it be hummingbird, the only bird capable of backward flight? Hummingbirds have many unique flight habits that distinguish them from other birds. Most birds flap their wings up and down to fly, but the hummingbird moves its wings forward and backward very rapidly in a figure eight pattern. This allows the hummingbird to hover in position, fly upside down, and move about very rapidly. And while other birds have to push off with their feet to begin flying, and work their ways up to their top speeds, the hummingbird can both start flying at maximum speed and stop flying instantaneously. After you've seen a hummingbird in flight, it's unlikely that you'll mistake them for another bird.

• Birds and hummingbirds are very different.

• Hummingbirds make a humming sound.

• Hummingbirds wings fly in figure eight patterns.

• The hummingbird flies in a totally unique and unusual way.

What is a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about called?

• Topic

• Claim

• Main Idea

• Transitional sentence

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?

• What is the main event?

• What is one important detail?

• What point is the author trying to make?

When summarizing key details, it is important to:

• Include all names, dates, and places

• Select only the details that support the main idea

• Rewrite the text in a complex manner

• Focus on decorative language to enhance the summary

In summarizing, it is crucial to:

• Focus solely on the introduction and conclusion

• Capture the essence of the text while omitting minor details

• Include detailed critiques and analyses

• Rewrite the text in the first person perspective

When summarizing a story, what is the most important information to include?

• The names of all the characters

• Every detail of the setting

• The main events and their outcomes

• Descriptions of what each character wore

Which of the following is NOT a key detail in a summary?

• Main characters in a story

• Background settings

• Minor characters' favorite colors

• Major events

Which of the following is NOT a step in creating a concise summary?

• Identifying the thesis statement or main idea

• Listing every character and their actions

• Eliminating redundant or unnecessary information

• Keeping the summary proportional to the original text

In a summary about the water cycle, which detail is most important?

• The names of scientists who studied the water cycle

• The process of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection

• The history of how the water cycle was discovered

• The different types of clouds involved in the water cycle