Summary Writing What is a Summary In a

Summary Writing

What is a Summary? § In a summary the reader… – Identifies the central or key ideas in text – Puts the text into their own words – Organizes the text into a condensed version

Why Write a Summary? § Summaries help the reader … -Score well on the WASL and on class summarizing assignments -Identify and remember the main ideas of a selection – Logically condense information into a shorter version using their own words so they can remember the information

Purpose for Today Learn to write a summary that has a summarizing statement and at least three main events. To learn a strategy for writing summarizing statements To be able to decide if an event is a main event

Washing the Willow Tree Loon By Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Writing a Summary

Start your summary with a summarizing statement What can help you to make a summarizing statement- I + V+ FT= A summarizing statement

I= Introduce § Answer these questions. What is the title? What format is it written in (article, book, poem, etc…) Who is the author? For example, Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin….

V= Verb § Use a verb (action word) Some to consider. Describes Explains Shows Tells Convinces For example. Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martins tells….

FT= Finishing thought § The main thing that happens in the story (the gist). For example, Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin tells how a group of people attempt to save a loon soiled from an oil spill.

Figuring out the main events

MAIN EVENTS You know it is a main event when…. . If you took it out the whole story would change The housepainter's grandfather taught him how to be quiet around birds vs. Many swimming and floating birds were covered with oil from an oil spill.

Putting it all together § Begin with the summarizing statement. Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin tells how a group of people attempt to save a loon soiled from an oil spill. § Then add the three main events. Link them with transitions. Once soiled, the loon is eventually captured by humans, placed in an empty box, and transferred by truck to an old school building. At the school, a barber wipes oil from the loon’s mouth and eyes. In addition, an animal doctor examines the loon for broken bones and gives him water and medicine. Later that night, others come to clean more oil off of the loon and give it a bath. Next, an old woman takes the loon to a deep pool and lets him swim, dive, and eat. Lastly, an artist releases the loon back into the wild. He watches the loon swim away. First event Second Event Fourth Event Fifth Event Sixth Event Third Event

Full summary without notes Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin tells how a group of people attempt to save a loon soiled from an oil spill. Once soiled, the loon is eventually captured by humans, placed in an empty box, and transferred by truck to an old school building. At the school, a barber wipes oil from the loon’s mouth and eyes. In addition, an animal doctor examines the loon for broken bones and gives him water and medicine. Later that night, others come to clean more of the oil off of the loon and give it a bath. Next, an old woman takes the loon to a deep pool and lets him swim, dive, and eat. Lastly, an artist releases the loon back into the wild. He watches the loon swim away.

Summary Scoring Guide § 2 includes a summary statement and 3 main events from the selection. § 1 includes a summary statement AND 1 or 2 main events from the selection OR 3 main events, but no summary statement § 0 1 or 2 main events and no summarizing statement or only minor events

Sample One § In Washing the Willow Tree Loon by Jacqueline Martin, a loon is rescued from an oil spill and cleaned up by many caring people.

Sample Two § In Washing the Willow Tree Loon, a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin a terrible oil spill soils many innocent birds. This story focuses on one loon and its fight for survival.

Sample Three § In Washing the Willow Tree Loon , a picture book, by Jacqueline Martin, a loon is covered with oil caused by an oil spill in Turtle Bay. Through the efforts of many caring people, the loon is captured and sent to a schoolhouse for cleaning. A barber cleans the loon’s eyes and mouth while an animal doctor gives the loon water and medicine. Once free from oil, the loon is released back into the wild.

Sample 4 § This book is about a loon who is in trouble. The loon becomes very dirty because it is caught in an oil spill. Many people work very hard to clean the loon up. Eventually, the loon is sent back to wild into the water it came from.

Sample Five In Washing the Willow Tree Loon a bird gets oily. A housepainter tries to capture the oily loon but he is not successful. Also, a baker doesn’t make cakes when she sees the many oily birds that need help. Lastly, one of the young men who came to the schoolhouse to clean birds decided to call the oily birds Ralph. It is a very good book.

The Three Wishes by Ricardo E. Alegria

I+V+FT= Summarizing Statement §I= §V= §FT=

What are our three main events? § Beginning. Main event #1§ Middle. Main event #2§ End. Main event #3 -

Let’s put it all together Sentence #1 - Summarizing statement Sentence #2 - First main event Sentence #3 - Second main event Sentence #4 - Third main event

Your Turn… § As a table group, write a summary (summarizing statement and three main events) § When you are done let me know and I will hang your summary on the wall § Decide who in your group is going to read the summary to the class § Each summary will be scored to see if it meets standard § Class goal- Let’s try and have all summaries get a 2!!!

You Do On your own, read the selection and write a summary that includes a summarizing statement and three main events