Writing an Objective Summary

Writing a Summary Topic Sentence Supporting Detail Specific Example Concluding Sentence

Parts of a Summary Topic Sentence Supporting details Specific Example Includes the main idea clearly stated in your own words Supporting details Examples or explanations that support the main idea Specific Example A detail from the text that better describes/explains the main idea Concluding Sentence A sentence to end the paragraph that ties together the main idea and supporting detail

Example Topic Sentence Supporting Detail Specific Example Concluding Sentence Grade: _____/4 There were many reasons that the Chicago fire of 1871 was so bad. Wood in the city made the fire worse. A barn fire started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Example 2 Topic Sentence Supporting Detail Specific Example Concluding Sentence Grade: _____/4 Chicago was a recipe for disaster. There were 334,000 people in Chicago. A lot of the buildings were made of wood, people used candles. The O’Leary’s barn caught on fire.

Example 3 Topic Sentence Supporting Detail Specific Example Concluding Sentence Grade: _____/4 There were several reasons why fire spread easily in Chicago in 1871. Many of the structures in the city were made of wood which of course burns easily. People also used candles and oil lamps which could also be a fire hazard. The fire department didn’t have enough equipment and had been busy fighting frequent fires. With all of these dangers, a fire easily broke out and spread in October of 1871.