TEACHING SUMMARIZATION

Summarization is an important reading strategy.

The most important information is called the main idea. So, we will “summarize” the paragraph in order to tell (or write) the most important information or main idea.”

Day 1

DAY 1 – (continued)The reason we are learning about summarization is because it will help us understand what we are reading. Let’s learn some facts about a summary.

- A summary should be shorter than the original text.

How much shorter? It depends. A fifteen-page article could be summarized in one page, two pages, or even a single paragraph, depending on the purpose of the summary and the needs of the audience.

- A summary should include the main ideas of the text.Although this sounds easy enough, it’s where most students, and most adults, have trouble. Stating the main ideas of a text is easy when the author comes out and states them. The task becomes much more difficult when the main ideas are implicit, or unstated, as is usually the case in fiction.

- A summary should reflect the structure and order of the original text.This can become another stumbling block. Fiction text written in chronological order is easiest for students to summarize. When it comes to nonfiction, however, authors use a variety of structures. Most students are used to the form of text that states a main point and then supports that point with detailsHowever, if a text is written in compare and- contrast order, the summary should follow suit.

- A summary should include important details. “But how do I know which details are important?” students ask, and research shows that adolescents don’t always agree with adults on the importance of specific ideas. But summaries do need to include the details that support an author’s main points. A summary, therefore, is a shortened version of an original text, stating the main ideas and important details of the text with the same text structure and order of the original.

Now, let’s practice learning how to summarize.

DAY 1 – (continued)

Before we begin the task of summarization, we will be reading the passage, “Dance With Me!”

Here is some background information about ballet:

• Ballet is a form of dance that began in Europe more than 500 years ago. A ballet has music and usually tells a story.

• Ballet dancers must practice hard to keep their bodies strong and flexible.

• Professional ballet dancers are usually part of a group called a “company.” Only a few dancers ever get jobs with ballet companies.

Day 1 (continued)

The article, “Dance With Me!” is about a young girl who takes ballet classes.

A good way to check your understanding of this passage is to summarize, or retell the important ideas in your own words. As you read this passage, you will be asked to jot down the most important idea in each paragraph.We will work through these paragraphs together. Do not work ahead.

Now, let’s read paragraph #1.

DAY 1 – (continued)Paragraph #1: In the right-hand column of our notes, jot down the important fact your learned about Shara’s life.

…talk with the student in front of you to see if you agree

Now, read paragraph #2

Paragraph #2: From the information in this paragraph, what can you tell about how Shara feels about her ballet class? Write it down in our notes.

…talk with the student in back of you to see if you agree

Now, read paragraph #3 - #5

DAY 1 – (continued)Paragraph #3 - #5: Which details tell you more about Ms. Byer?

Which details tell you more about the students?

…talk to the student in front of you to see if your answers agree.

Now, read paragraph #6

Paragraph #6: The goals of Project Lift are important. What is one goal of Project Lift?

Now, read paragraph #7

DAY 1 – (continued)Copy down the following graphic organizer in our notes.

I want you to skim the article again and look at the information you wrote down that was important.

Important Idea Important Idea

Important Idea

SUMMARY

Important Idea

DAY 2Yesterday we worked on summarization skills. Today we will be doing the same but with a different passage.

The title of our passage today is, “The Eyes Have It.” This passage contains information about the human eye. The way we will keep track of the information presented in this passage is to summarize each paragraph.

Before we start, reading about eyes, I would like for you to finda partner and determine how many times their eyes blink in one minute. Whey do you think we blink our eyes? Here are some facts about “blinking.”

• A blink is an involuntary reflex, or a reaction that the body doesn’t control. A sneeze is another example of an involuntary reflex.

• Blinking protects our eyes. We blink when our eyes areirritated by dust or dirt, or when they become dry.

(handout) DAY 2 – (continued)Read one paragraph at a time. Before going to the next paragraph, you will find a partner (the same partner all through this activity), and restate the answer to each question in your own words – not exactly as written.

Read Paragraph #1

Paragraph #1: What is this paragraph mostly about? WhyDo people’s eyes blink? What are some things that make a person’s eyes blink? Highlight your 3 answers with your blue highlighter. Find a partner and restate the answer to this question in your own words.

Read Paragraph #2

Paragraph #2: What happens when your eyes blink? Why are tears important? Highlight your 2 answers with your yellow highlighter. Find the same partner and restate the answer to this question in your own words.

DAY 2 – (continued)

Read Paragraph #3

Paragraph #3: Summarize this paragraph by stating the most important idea in your own word. Highlight the answer with your green highlighter. Find your partner and restate the answer to this question in your own words.

Read Paragraph #4

Paragraph #4: What is the most important idea in thisparagraph? How can you figure out which of your eyes is stronger? Highlight your two answers with your pink highlighter.

Find your partner and tell each other your answers in your own words.

DAY 2 – (continued)I would like for you to reread the article and look at the ideasyou have highlighted in each paragraph. Get back with yourpartner and narrow down your answers to what you feel iscorrect.

Now, let’s complete this graphic organizer. (handout)Important Idea

Important Idea

Important Idea

Important Idea

Important Idea

Day 3

Today you are going to start practicing some summary skills on your own.

You are going to read a selection called, “The Work ofMatthew Brady.” This passage is a biography and when you summarize it, you should keep the ideas in sequence. As you read, keep this question in mind: If you were telling the story of Matthew Brady’s life to a friend, which events would you include?

Day 3 – (continued)

Before you begin reading about Matthew Brady, let me share some background information that will help you to understand this story.

• In the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865), the northern states (Union)fought against the southern states (Confederacy).

• The Daguerreotype was the first popular method of photography. It was very popular in the U.S. during the 1840’s and 50s. It was eventually replaced by other methods of photography, primarily because it produced no negatives from which copies could be made.

Day 3 – (continued)(handout)

You will not work with a partner today, but I would like for you to highlight the answers to the following questions in 3 colorsof your choice. After you have highlighted the answers, you will make your best attempt to fill out your graphic organizer.

Read “The Work of Matthew Brady.”

Part 1: What is this section about? (stop and highlight)

Part 2: Why did Brady decide to start an “Illustrious Americans”Project, as well as make a photographic record of the Civil War? (stop and highlight)

Which photos from these projects changed Brady’s career?What was special about Brady’s war pictures? (highlight)

Part 3: What happened to Matthew Brady after the Civil War?(stop and highlight)

Day 3 – (continued)

(handout – graphic organizer)

Now I want you to fill out the graphic organizer to the bestof your ability in regard to the story you just read.

Remember to take your important details (as asked in eachof the questions) and put them together to write a summary.It is important to put this summary into your own words.

When you are finished doing this graphic organizer andwriting your summary, I would like for you to hand itin to be graded.

Day 4Today we will continue with our lesson on summarizing, butthis time you will do it without guidance. Remember theway we worked through this in the past several days and doyour best job in writing your summary.

Today you will do the following:

1. Identify the most important ideas in an article2. Summarize ideas in order of importance

The article that you will be reading today is: “UnderwaterWork.” Before you start, I will give you some backgroundInformation about this story.

Think of everything you know about oil spills. What might happen to animals that fall victim to an oil spill? How might they be saved?

• The largest U.S. oil spill was in 1989. The oil tanker ExxonValdez crashed in Prince William Sound in southeastern Alaska. Hundreds of thousands of fish and seabirds and thousands of otters were killed.

Day 4 – (continued)(handout – Underwater Work)

The following story is divided into THREE Parts.

Answer these questions:

Part 1: What kind of doctor is Greg Bossart? What do aquavets do? Which detail would you include in a summary of this passage: What Dr. Bossart’s job is or what he likes about it? Why?

Part 2: How would you sum up the most important idea in the first paragraph? What is the most important idea in the next paragraph? Which is the most important idea in this section? Why?

Part 3: Why is being an aquavet an important job? Which idea tells about an important contribution Dr. Bossart made?

Day 4 – (continued)

After you are finished reading, I will hand out a graphic organizer for you to complete. This will help you organizeyour thoughts for the summary you will write. Here are somequestions that might help you focus on some important to include in your summary ….

What is Dr. Bossart’s jobWhat does an aquavet do?What did Dr. Bossart do in 1991?Where do aquavets work?

Day 4 – (continued)

(Handout – graphic organizer)

After reading, fill in the graphic organizer. Make sure younarrow your answers to the most important details.

At the end of your graphic organizer, you will once again be asked to write a summary. Take your time, look at yourimportant ideas, and write in a way that a person will knowwhat this article is about – even if they haven’t read it before.

When you are finished with the graphic organizer and thesummary, please hand it in to be graded.