Gist Statements Worksheet

How do gist statements help during class discussions?

• They provide detailed notes for every topic.

• They help keep discussions focused and clear.

• They allow students to avoid participating.

• They make discussions longer.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What should you do after identifying the main subject and what happened when creating a gist statement?

• Write a paragraph with as many details as possible.

• Put it together in one clear sentence, 10–20 words.

• List all the events in order.

• Ask a friend to summarize for you.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

Dogs are popular pets around the world. They need food, exercise, and care. Many people train dogs to do tricks or help with work.

• Dogs like to eat food every day.

• Dogs are popular pets that need care and training.

• Dogs bark when they want to go outside.

• Dogs are the only animals that can be pets.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

Honeybees live in hives with thousands of other bees. They collect nectar from flowers and make honey. Bees are important because they help pollinate plants.

• Honeybees sting people when they are scared.

• Honeybees make honey and live in small groups.

• Honeybees live in hives and are important for pollination.

• Honeybees are the most dangerous insect in the world.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

The Wright brothers built the first airplane that could fly in 1903. Their invention changed travel forever. Today, airplanes carry people and goods all over the world in just hours.

• The Wright brothers invented airplanes, which changed travel.

• The Wright brothers liked to build bicycles.

• Airplanes are the fastest way to travel across the ocean.

• Airplanes carry people and goods every day.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

The Amazon rainforest is home to more species of plants and animals than any other place on Earth. It produces much of the world’s oxygen and helps regulate climate. Deforestation, or cutting down trees, threatens this important ecosystem.

• The Amazon rainforest is home to many animals and is threatened by deforestation.

• The Amazon rainforest is the biggest forest in South America.

• The Amazon rainforest has trees that are cut down to make money.

• The Amazon rainforest is only important because it produces oxygen.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was a major achievement for the United States during the space race. His famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” are remembered around the world.

• Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon, a major U.S. achievement.

• Neil Armstrong gave a speech about mankind.

• Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon in 1969.

• Neil Armstrong became the leader of NASA.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

The Great Depression began in 1929 after the U.S. stock market crashed. Millions of people lost their jobs, banks closed, and families struggled to survive. The government created programs to provide jobs and rebuild the economy, which slowly recovered in the years that followed.

• The Great Depression lasted until World War II.

• The Great Depression was the only time people lost jobs in the U.S.

• The Great Depression was caused by the government creating programs.

• The Great Depression began after the stock market crashed and caused economic hardship

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. Rising global temperatures cause glaciers to melt, leading to higher sea levels that threaten coastal cities. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and wildfires, are becoming more common. Scientists agree that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to slowing climate change, but governments and industries debate how to balance environmental protection with economic growth.

• Climate change is caused by glaciers melting every year.

• Climate change happens because hurricanes and wildfires destroy cities.

• Climate change is a global challenge causing serious environmental problems, and solutions are debated.

• Climate change can only be stopped if industries stop growing.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which is the best gist statement?

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century transformed the spread of knowledge. Before printing, books were copied by hand, making them expensive and rare. The printing press made books faster and cheaper to produce, allowing ideas to spread widely across Europe. This innovation fueled the Renaissance and later the Scientific Revolution, as scholars could share discoveries and challenge old beliefs.

• The printing press changed Europe, though it mainly helped wealthy people who could already afford books.

• Gutenberg’s printing press made books easier to produce, spreading ideas and fueling major changes in Europe.

• Gutenberg’s printing press was an important invention, but books were still copied by hand for many years.

• The Scientific Revolution and Renaissance were times of change, but the printing press was not the main reason.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2