LESSON SIX: Writing A Summary
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Students summarize a passage or novel by using the “Sum It Up” strategy as they consider the question, “Why is it important to have the freedom of choice?”
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
W3D Write a summary/retell main ideas of written text
LESSON MATERIALS
§ Sources of Literature
o None
§ Supplies
o chart paper
o overhead transparency
§ Handouts provided
o Reading passages on the topic of freedom
§ Words to know
o summarize
o summary
o main idea
Write a 20 word Main Idea Summary Statement. Scoring guide provided.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Introduce the lesson by asking, “Why is it important to summarize text?” Discuss as a group.
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Questions for Students |
What is a summary? When do you summarize text? How is “outlining” a form of summarizing? Not everyone summarizes the same. Why? |
2. Show students how to use the “Sum-It-Up” summary strategy by charting directions and steps.
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Strategy Sum-It-Up The “Sum It Up” summary can be any amount of money based on the difficulty of the task. (For example $3.50 Summary made from 35 words.) The teacher tells the students that they are going to place a classified ad in the local newspaper and each word they use will cost 10 cents. They only have $2.00 to spend. They will need to have only 20 words, no more or no less, to use in their summary.
Steps: 1. Read Part A of the text British Raids. 2. While you are reading, list key words or phrases in the blank space provided on the “Sum It Up” table. The words must convey the main idea of the passage. 3. Use the main idea words listed from the table to write a 20 word Main Idea Summary Statement. (Teachers: Use very short passages or a multi-paragraph passage from a magazine, newspaper, social studies text, or novel etc.) www.readingquest.org
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3. Place students in groups of three with a passage and chart paper. One student is the reader of passage, one is the writer, and the third student is the presenter. Each group uses the “Sum-It-Up” strategy steps and shares summary with whole group.
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Questions for Students |
How are the summaries alike/different? Did you include all of the main points? How do you know? How can you delete or change the wording to make it more precise or vivid without changing meaning? How can you revise your summary to make the most sense without changing the meaning of the original text?
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4. Students independently read Part B of the passage British Raids. Follow steps 2 & 3 above to complete the Sum-It-Up chart for the formative assessment.