1. Writing an Effective Summary

2. As you collect sources for your research essay or summary,
you will need to summarize the research that you find.

3. A summary is a significant reduction of the original source.

4. To write an effective summary, follow these guidelines:
Determine the main idea of the piece you have read or viewed.
Write one sentence that captures that main idea.
As you read or view, note the major areas of evidence that the piece provides.
Then write one sentence that communicates the gist of each of these major areas.

5. Avoid these common problems …

6. To avoid plagiarizing, do not look at the source while you are composing the summary.

7. Use what you remember from the reading or viewing.

8. Write the summary in your own words. (Ms
Write the summary in your own words. (Ms. Paquin can copy and paste easily)

9. After you have written the summary, you can revisit the source to confirm facts.

10. Do not express an opinion about the source. Neither disagree ...

11. … nor sing its praises.

12. Do not open the summary with “In this article, it says
Do not open the summary with “In this article, it says ...” or “This video is about …”

13. Specific name of piece + strong action verb + main idea.
Use this formula:
Specific name of piece + strong action verb + main idea.
The 60 Minutes story “Thrift Shop Masterpiece” explains the controversy surrounding a possible Jackson Pollack painting.

14. That sounds so much better!

15. Show me what you can do!

16. First Summary Directions
Write a summary of 2-5 sentences about The Warning the we read yesterday.

17. Second Summary Directions
You will hand in a portfolio at the end the novel with a summary that you wrote of each chapter.
The other assessments for this novel will be chapter quizzes and a final portfolio of writing, including summaries.