1. Summarizing a Passage M.S 181 Reading Comprehension Tutorial
Chris Warnock, Principal
Marlon P. Williams, Assistant Principal

2. Summarizing M- identify the main idea by looking at the topic sentence
I- identify supporting details
D- disregard irrelevant information
A- Analyze relevant information (who, what, when, where, why, how)
S- Simplify the information by categorizing, labeling the relevant details

3. Sample Passage
Josh had a problem. He’d forgotten all about his grandmother’s birthday in two weeks. He had planned on buying her a pin he’s seen at an antique store. She pointed it out to him in the store window when they were shopping one day. Josh spent all his money on the new jeans he was wearing. On his way into school that day, Josh saw a sign on the school’s bulletin board. “Teens needed to help elderly residents with errands. Work after school and make good money. See Ms. Hicks in the main office.” Josh smiled as he raced off to find Ms. Fritz. She gave him the name of a woman who needed help cleaning out her basement. “You can start immediately,” she said.

4. Main Idea: What does the topic sentence tell you ?
Applying the Skill
Main Idea: What does the topic sentence tell you ?
Identifying Relevant Information:
What are the supporting details
(Who, what, when, where, why, how)?
Analyzing Relevant Details:
What is the final outcome of this situation?

5. Let’s Practice Which sentence best summarizes this passage?
Josh had a problem. He’d forgotten all about his grandmother’s birthday in two weeks. He had planned on buying her a pin he’d seen at an antique store. She pointed it out to him in the store window when they were shopping one day. Josh spent all his money on the school’s bulletin board. “Teens needed to help elderly residents with errands. Work after school and make good money. See Ms. Hicks in the main office.” Josh smiled as he raced off to find Ms. Fritz. She gave him the name of a woman who needed help cleaning out her basement. “You can start immediately,” she said.
Which sentence best summarizes this passage?
Josh had a problem.
Josh’s grandmother will not have a gift for her birthday because Josh spent the money on jeans.
Josh did not have enough money to buy his grandmother a gift, but eventually finds a job.
Josh finds a new job working with elderly residents.

6. Summary
Choice C : Josh did not have enough money to buy his grandmother a gift, but eventually finds a job.
Topic Sentence (Main Idea):
Josh had a problem.
Supporting Details:
Josh forgot about his grandmother’s birthday.
Josh’s grandmother had pointed out a pin in the antique store, but Josh spent his money on jeans.
Josh sees a bulletin with a job message to work with elderly residents.
Narrowing the Information (Summarizing)
Josh did not have enough money to buy his grandmother a gift, but eventually finds a job.

7. For more practice please refer to www.181elaresources.weebly.com