Main Idea for Nonfiction

When Summarizing a non-fiction text the first piece of evidence you should look at is

• The table of contents

• The author

• The title

• The key words

Which of the following is true about SUMMARIZING?

• A summary should include many story details.

• A summary is always found in the first sentence of a paragraph or chapter.

• A summary should always be fiction.

• A summary includes only the most important elements of a story (The BIG apples).

Which best describes what a non-fiction summary is?

• The most important parts of a story written in a short paragraph.

• A really long detailed piece of writing

• A dumb thing teachers make you write

• The entire text in your own words

A key detail is...

• A life lesson that the author is trying to communicate to us.

• An important point in the text that might be used in the summary.

• Reveals the main characters in the story.

• Is the main point the author is trying to make about the topic.

The Central/Main idea is...

• The order in which events happen in a story.

• A series of important details identified in a nonfiction text.

• The big idea or life lesson that the author wants us to take away from a fictional story.

• A brief statement that shows/reflects what a nonfiction text is mainly/mostly about.

The first and last sentences in a text can help you find the Central/Main Idea.

• True

• False

The Headings in a text can help you find the Central/Main Idea.

• Falso

• True

A good summary is as _____________ as possible.

• detailed

• short

• long

• colorful

A good summary includes only __________ details.

• The most important details

• Key Words

• The first sentence

• A photograph

A good summary is short and includes only the most important details.

• True

• False

• Sometimes