Writing an Objective Summary

An objective summary should

• include quotes from the text.

• be brief, accurate, and objective.

• include small details from the text.

• include the reader's opinion of the text.

A good objective summary....

• Is a summary sentence of the text that covers the key details.

• Identifies the topic, has all the key words, and is a complete sentence.

• Focuses on the central idea of the text and only the details that support it. 

• Uses direct quotes from the text in order to let the audience know what it was about. 

When writing objective summaries, students should pull details from each ____________ of the text.

• section

• author

• illustrator

• title

What are the two things an objective summary should never have?

• Supporting ideas and opinions

• The word "I" and your opinion

• Facts and Statistics

• The author's name and title of the article

What does "objective" mean?

• No opinions or reactions, just the facts.

• Giving your personal reflections on the topic. 

• No statistics used to support the idea.

• Having plenty of evidence to support your opinion.

Which one of the following is NOT a part of a summary?

• using your own words

• summary being shorter than the text

• quotes words from the text

• including main ideas only

What is the purpose for using transitional words?

• To create more work

• To become a successful writer

• To help your reader follow your ideas

• To create a disconnect

What should the third piece of your topic sentence do?

• Explain the central idea of the text. 

• Use a verb that communicates the purpose of the original text. 

• Tell the audience a short summary about what they're about to read. 

• Identify the text (author and source)

Does your concluding sentence have to be a rephrased version of your topic sentence?

• Yes, it should summarize what the paragraph was about. 

• No, it can be your last detail as long as it's clear the paragraph is coming to an end. 

• Sometimes depending on the material you're summarizing. 

What should be included in an objective summary?

• The important parts of the story.

• Your thoughts about what happened

• Your opinion about the characters

• The details that make the story interesting