Economic, political and social life in the Middle Ages: Directions READ your assigned topic with your partners. Or read alone, and summarize together. DEFINE any unfamiliar vocabulary on your reading. Circle the word, look up its definition and write the definition on the reading packet in your own words. THEN, summarize the information into your section of the chart. You need to be able to TEACH your peers the information from your section. This means that you will give them an overview, while they take notes and ask you questions. You will not simply trade papers and copy someone else’s notes.