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Writing a Writing a Summary is Summary is Like Eating Like Eating at a Buffetat a Buffet

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Original text

Summary

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A good summary is like a A good summary is like a healthy meal.healthy meal.

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5 Ws + H5 Ws + H::Six questions to help Six questions to help you select informationyou select information

Who?What?When?Where?Why?How?

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Summarize in 3 StepsSummarize in 3 Steps1. Read the entire text and

highlight the main ideas and the key words and phrases:

- nouns & adjectives

- verbs & adverbs

2. Make a “5 Ws + H” chart

3. Write your summary

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1st: Read & Underline1st: Read & Underline

Literary detectives have uncovered many facts about William Shakespeare. Still, the most important questions of all remains: Did he really write the Shakespeare’s plays? Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, the Earl of Southampton (Shakespeare’s patron), and even Queen Elizabeth herself have at times been suspected of writing them. The sheer volume of Shakespeare’s work- 37 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 other poems, and an elegy- has led to suggestions that “William Shakespeare” was actually several people, not one.

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2nd: The 5 Ws + H2nd: The 5 Ws + H Who? What?

When? Where? Why?

How?

“Shakespeare”Debate on who Shakespeare’s plays

Before and now

N/AN/A

N/A

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3rd: Summarize3rd: Summarize

Literary researchers have revealed many things about William Shakespeare. But did not answer the most important question about whether he wrote Shakespeare’s plays. It is said that Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, the Earl of Southampton and queen Elizabeth wrote them.

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Now practice with a partner:Now practice with a partner:

1. Read one paragraph while highlighting the key words.

2. Fill-out “5 Ws + H” handout.

3. Summarize the whole passage.

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