SUMMARIZING TEXT

is a text that restates the ideas from a different text in a new way

• includes the main idea of the original, include info about the supporting details as well

summary

what must a summary contain?

objectivity, restates the main ideas in a new but objective way. Does not exaggerate, judge, or distort the authors original ideas

Many ineffective summaries attempt to imitate the structure of the original text and change only individual words

plagiarism

how to summarize fiction and poetry

can mention ideas that are clearly implied but not stated outright in the original text. Cannot go on to say how the character feels unless the author describes it

how do nonfiction writers do sequences

texts present events out of order to create an effect on the reader. Journalists and history writers use this strategy to create surprise or bring particular ideas to the forefront

how do fiction writers do sequences

can interrupt the flow of a plot to interweave bits of a character’s history or to provide flashes of insight into future events

other than in fiction and nonfiction, what else would we see sequences in and what is an example

in reading technical and functional documents such as recipes and other instructions.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Break the eggs into a separate bowl. Add milk and oil to the beaten eggs. Combine dry and liquid ingredients and stir. While you are doing the above, put a small amount of oil into a pan and heat it on medium heat. When it is hot, spoon batter onto the pan.

what phrases are used in sequence passages?

first, next, then, finally, before, and after

presents a picture with labels that shows the parts of an object or functions of a mechanism

diagram

shows a sequence of actions or decisions involved in a complex process

• shapes that ask yes or no questions and gives an instruction

• helps to solve a problem, or illustrate how complex systems work

flowchart

uses bars of different sizes to represent numbers.

Large bars express large numbers to covey magnitude of differences between 2 numeric values at a glance

bar graph

is useful for representing all of something. Large wedges mean larger percentages. % can be written on the chart of in a key to the side

pie chart

what makes an effective summary

• the key ideas from the original text

• new wording/phrasing/sentence structure

• an objective/neutral tone

what makes an ineffective summary

• outside information that wasn’t in the original text

• judgments about the original text (good or bad)

• phrases/structure lifted or closely copied from the original text

• every detail from the original text

• unimportant details from the original text