Based on information from www.readingquest.com SUMMARIZING Based on information from www.readingquest.com
What is summarizing? “general idea in brief form” Webster’s Dictionary taking the main points and key ideas from a larger text Restating the important information in a short, new and efficient manner.
When we summarize we: Strip away extra verbiage and extraneous examples. Focus on the heart of the matter. Find key words and phrases that captures what is read. LOOK for the main ideas and crucial details necessary for supporting them.
Things you should do: Pull out main ideas Focus on key details Use key words and phrases Break down the larger ideas Write only enough to convey the meaning. Take concise but complete notes. DO NOT add new information of your own. Use unbiased statements of fact - NO OPINION!
The MIDAS Touch Main Idea - Identify in topic sentence or use the 5W’s & H Identify supporting details. Disregard unimportant information Analyze redundant information Simplify, Categorize, & Label important information.
AVOID UNIMPORTANT DETAILS!!! STEPS Read and re-read the article. Underline important ideas and key terms. Place a next to the main point of the article. Group similar ideas together. Write one or two sentences that state the central idea of the text per grouping. Combine information accurately and concisely to captures author’s message. Review and Revise - Keep it btwn. 3 sentences to a paragraph - depending on the length of what you are reading. AVOID UNIMPORTANT DETAILS!!!
Tornado A tornado is a powerful, twisting windstorm. It begins high in the air, among the winds of a giant storm cloud. People who have watched a tornado’s howling winds reach down from the sky have said it’s the most frightening thing they have ever seen. In some parts of the United States, these windstorms are called twisters or cyclones.
Rewrite In the article, the author states that tornadoes, sometimes called twisters or cyclones are frightening, powerful, twisting windstorms that start in giant storm clouds.