Level 2 Reading & Writing
What is a Summary? A short statement statement that that gives the the most important information about something.
How do you summarize?
In your own words, tell something again with fewer words.
Note: You do not give your opinion!
Length of Summaries •
One sentence or multiple pages.
(It depends on what you are summarizing and what your professor asks for)
•
We will look at short paragraph summaries.
Summaries of Fiction vs. Non-Fiction •
•
When summarizing Fiction or Stories, Stories , you re-tell the MAIN EVENTS. EVENTS. When summarizing Non-Fiction or Academic Writi Writing ng,, you re-tell the MAIN POINTS or IDEAS. IDEAS.
Structure 1. Topic Sentence 2. Supporting Details 3. Concluding Sentence
Topi opic c Sen Senten tence ce
Include the title, author, and what the writing is about (you can usually find what the writing is about by reading the thesis statement and looking at the title)
Example: Example: The article “A Fragile Land” by Laurie Barton is about why Antarctica Antarctica should be closed to tourists.
The article ___________ by _____________ is about___________________________.
Supporting Details
Write the main supporting ideas in your own words.
(These can usually be found in the body paragraph paragraphs’ s’ topic sentences)
Example: Barton gives gives three reasons for her opinion. She says that Antarctica Antarctica needs to be preserved for scientific research, that tourists can hurt the environment and scientists’ research, and that there is no government to protect it.
Concluding Sentence
State the overall idea of the writing or give the “so what” idea in the conclusion. Example: Example: Overall, the author says the best way to protect Antarctica is to close it to tourism. tourism.
Helpful words to start this sentence with are: “Overall”, “Ultimately”, “Ultimately”, and “All in all”
Example 1:
The article “Tourists in a Fragile Land” gives three reasons why tourists shouldn’t to go to Antarctica. Antarctica. Tourists influence scientific research. Tourists destroy the Antarctic environment. Tourists can’t be managed because there is no government. Overall, the author explains her opinion that the best way to protect Antarctica is to close it to tourism.
Example 2:
The essay “A Fragile Land” is about why Antarctica Antarctica should be closed to tourism. The author says that Antarctica needs needs to be preserved preserved for scientific scientific research, that tourists can hurt the environment and scientists’ research, and that there is no government to protect it. it . Overall, the author explains her opinion that the best way to protect Antarctica is to close it to tourism.
Example 3:
In the article “A Fragile Land,” Laurie Barton talks about tourism in Antarctica. She gives three reasons why Antarctica should be closed to tourism. First, she argues that Antarctica Antarctica needs to be preserved for scientific research by identifying the work of many scientists. Second, she explains that the environment and scientists’ research is fragile and can be easily damaged by tourists. Finally, she identifies that Antarctica has no government to protect it like other tourist destinations.. All in all, the author expresses destinations expresses her opinion that the best way to protect Antarctica is to close it to tourism.
Can you identify the topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences of the example paragraphs?
Can you identify the similarities and differences differe nces between the examples?
Let’s Review
What is a summary?
What is the structure of a short paragraph summary?
What information do you include in the:
Topic sentenc sentence? e? Supporting sentences? Concluding sentence?
How are Non-Fiction Summaries different than Fiction summaries?
