1. Summary Challenges

2. Predictable problems
Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap

3. Predictable problems Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
Confused main ideas and details

4. Predictable problems Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
Confused main ideas and details
No connection between main ideas

5. Predictable problems Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
Confused main ideas and details
No connection between main ideas
Details don’t fit with main ideas

6. Predictable problems Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
Confused main ideas and details
No connection between main ideas
Details don’t fit with main ideas
Too many supporting details

7. Predictable problems Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
Confused main ideas and details
No connection between main ideas
Details don’t fit with main ideas
Too many supporting details
Author is absent from summary

8. Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
The octopus has a body unlike nay other animal
The octopus’s body is amazing on the inside as well.
The octopus’s body helps it defend itself from predators
The octopus’s body helps it to be a skilled predator and hunter
The octopus is intelligent
The octopus, like people, has feelings, too

9. Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
The octopus has a body unlike nay other animal
The octopus’s body is amazing on the inside as well.
The octopus’s body helps it defend itself from predators
The octopus’s body helps it to be a skilled predator and hunter
The octopus is intelligent
The octopus, like people, has feelings, too
NOW WHAT?

10. Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
The octopus has a body unlike nay other animal
The octopus’s body is amazing on the inside as well.
The octopus’s body helps it defend itself from predators
The octopus’s body helps it to be a skilled predator and hunter
The octopus is intelligent
The octopus, like people, has feelings, too
Maybe: ask HOW DO THESE IDEAS FIT TOGETERH? ARE THERE MAIN IDEAS THAT ARE SIMILAR THAT I CAN GROUP TOGETHER?

11. Too many main ideas or main ideas overlap
The octopus has a body unlike nay other animal
The octopus’s body is amazing on the inside as well.
The octopus’s body helps it defend itself from predators
The octopus’s body helps it to be a skilled predator and hunter
The octopus is intelligent
The octopus, like people, has feelings, too
Maybe: ask HOW DO THESE IDEAS FIT TOGETHER? ARE THERE MAIN IDEAS THAT ARE SIMILAR THAT I CAN GROUP TOGETHER?
New main idea: The octopus has an amazing body, both inside and out, and the octopus is an intelligent creature with feelings like humans.

12. Confused main ideas and details
Re read what you have written and determine,
Does this fit with, or support, one of the other ideas I’ve found while reading? If so, it is more than likely a detail than a main idea.

13. Author is absent from summary
Referencing the author is important in informational writing.