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How to Summarize a Selection

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How to Summarize a Selection
5th Grade

/Summarize Main Idea


Summarize the main ideas and supporting details Summarize stated and implied themes Identify the main incidents of a plot sequence and explain how they influence future action Clarify steps in a set of instructions or procedures for proper sequencing and completeness and revise if necessary Summarize the information in texts, recognizing that there may be several important ideas rather than just one main idea and identifying details that support each List questions and search for answers within the text to construct meaning Distinguish relevant from irrelevant information in a text and identify possible points of confusion for the reader

• •









What Students Need to Know:
• • • main idea supporting details theme • • • • • • stated implied

What Students Need to be Able to Do:
• • summarize (main ideas/supporting details; theme) identify (plot sequence, details that support important ideas, possible points of confusion to reader) explain (incidents in plot sequence influence future actions) clarify (instructions) revise (instructions) recognize (several important ideas, not just one) list (questions) search (for answers) distinguish (relevant from irrelevant information)

plot sequence instructions procedures information • • relevant irrelevant

• • • • • • •

• • • • • •

questions answers meaning points of confusion proper sequencing completeness

Important Vocabulary
Main idea—The gist of a passage; the central thought; the chief topic of a passage expressed or implied in a word or phrase; the topic sentence of a paragraph; a statement in sentence form which gives the stated or implied major topic of a passage and the specific way in which the passage is limited in content or reference. Theme—A topic of discussion or writing; a major idea or proposition broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work or work of art. Note: A theme may be stated or implied, but clues to it may

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