1. Summaries

2. What is a summary?

3. A summary covers the main points of a work (writing, movie, speech, article, etc.)

4. You will be writing summaries using the IVF format.
Why write a summary?
Find main (key) ideas
Leave out extra & unimportant information
Demonstrate that you understand what you read
Increase comprehension
You will be writing summaries using the IVF format.

5. What does IVF mean?
I = Identify
V = Verb
F = Finish the thought

6. How to set up your paper for an IVF summary

7. Step 1: Fold your paper burrito style (3 columns)
Name
Period
Date

8. Step 2: Label the columns
Name
Period
Date
Identify
Verb
Finish the thought

9. Step 3: Prepare the information
Name
Period
Date
Identify Verb (choose 1) Finish the thought
· Author describes
· Genre (type explains
or kind) tells
· Title
Identify as many of
these as possible!!

10. VERBS TO USE tells explains compares
Lists shows defines acknowledges evaluates classifies adds defends asserts features
depicts identifies entertains confirms names considers
offers judges contrasts praises demonstrates provides recommends endorses asks
suggests entices

11. Example IVF summary Identify
Daphine du Maurier’s short story, “The Birds”
Verb (choose one)
describes
tells
depicts
Finish the thought
a series of attacks on people by huge flocks of birds.
about sudden and vicious attacks on people by large flocks of birds.
large flocks of birds viciously attacking people.

12. Now what do I do? Identify
Daphine du Maurier’s short story “The Birds”
Verb (choose one)
describes
tells
depicts
Finish the thought
large flocks of birds viciously attacking people.
Write your IVF summary sentence:
Daphine du Maruier’s short story, “The Birds,” depicts large flocks of birds, viciously attacking people.