Writing an Objective Summary What? Why? How?

What does it mean to be “objective”? Without personal feelings or biases

Why write an objective summary? You write an objective summary because you want to get what is most important in the text into a manageable amount of information.

How to Write an Objective Summary: Step-by-Step

Step One: • Write down the main ideas from the text.

Step Two: • Take out anything that is: Minor Repetitious or Redundant A supporting idea Not directly related to the text

Step Three: • Organize the information clearly

Step Five: DO NOT include any opinions or personal thoughts. Delete any of the following: Personal pronouns (ex: “I,” “we,” “my,” etc.) Any phrases that signal opinion (ex: “I think,” “I believe,” “In my opinion,” etc.)

Step Four: A. Name It B. Verb It C. CI (central Idea)

Step Four cont.: A. Name It: Identify the title of the text and the author. B. Verb It: Use one of the following “summary” verbs: shows, describes, explains, discusses, lists, explores, illustrates, teaches, compares, states. C. CI (central Idea): Put the information you have gathered into your own words--DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. Keep your re-statement to, at most, five sentences.

Step Four cont: Name it: In the Associated Press’ November 17, 2017, article “Teen suicide rates rising, study says social media use could be a factor,” the writers or In the November 17, 2017, article “Teen suicide rates rising, study says social media use could be a factor,” the Associated Press writers

Step Four cont: Verb it: shows, describes, explains, discusses, lists, explores, illustrates, teaches, compares, states In the Associated Press article “Teen suicide rates rising, study says social media use could be a factor,” the writers discuss or _____

Step Four cont: Add your Central Idea to your stem. CI (central Idea): Put the information you have gathered into your own words--DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. Keep your re-statement to, at most, five sentences.

Step Five: Add essential details: 2-3 Important supporting point(s) Suggestions: look at subheadings take one idea from the beginning, middle and end of the article

Putting it all together: A. Name It B. Verb It C. CI (central Idea) + Essential points = Objective Summary

Step Six: Proofread: For personal opinions (Any phrases that signal opinion (ex: “I think,” “I believe,” “In my opinion,” etc.)) For personal pronouns (ex: “I,” “we,” “my,” etc.) For appropriate MUGs

Bibliography “Writing an Objective Summary.” http://www.warrencountyschools.org/userfiles/3255/Classes/130709 /WritinganObjectiveSummary%20.pdf?id=434926