Summarization Anchor Chart

School elections were next week. Mary had tried her best trying to convince her classmates to vote for her. She was running for school president. Mary had prepared a great election speech. Her friends made election posters and displayed them in all the halls throughout her school. School elections were set to be on Friday. The day finally arrived, everyone in school was eager to go vote. By the end of the day, the principal made an announcement. Mary had won the election and would be the new president for the school! She jumped with joy when she heard the announcement.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Mary won for school president. Elections were on Friday. She jumped for joy when she heard the announcement.

• Mary’s friends prepared posters. Mary prepared a great speech. Mary won the school election for president.

• Mary ran for school president. She prepared a great speech and her friends helped her prepare election posters. On election day, everyone voted and Mary won for school president.

Pablo and Nancy are in the same classroom. On Monday, Pablo forgot to take his homework home. He became worried the moment he learned he forgot his homework at school. Luckily, his friend Nancy, who is also his next door neighbor, had her homework calendar. He was able to read what the assigned homework was for Monday and he managed to do his homework. On Tuesday morning, when his teacher asked to check his homework, Pablo he had it all done!

What is the best summary of this selection?

• On Tuesday morning Pablo had his homework done.

  Pablo forgot to take his homework on Monday. His friend

  Nancy had her homework calendar.

• On Monday, Pablo forgot to take his homework home. His friend and classmate Nancy, showed him her homework calendar. Pablo managed to complete his homework and had it ready for the next day.

• Pablo was worried because he forgot his homework. Pablo and Nancy are in the same class. Nancy is Pablo’s neighbor.

Susan asked her mom for an ice cream cone when she was at the park on a hot summer afternoon. The ice cream truck had just parked to sell ice cream. Susan’s mom gave her money for an ice cream. On her way back from buying the ice cream cone, Susan tripped and her ice cream fell to the ground. Her ice cream quickly started to melt and Susan began to cry. Luckily, the ice cream truck was still parked at the park and Susan ’s mom was able to buy her another ice cream cone.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Susan tripped and began to cry. The ice cream truck parked

  at the park to sell ice cream. Susan’s mom gave her money.

• Susan asked her mom for ice cream. When Susan bought an ice cream cone, she tripped and her ice cream cone fell down and quickly melted. Susan’s mom bought her another ice cream cone.

• Susan’s mom gave her money for ice cream. Susan asked her mom for ice cream. Susan tripped.

On the first day of school, Brenda felt very nervous to go into her classroom since it was a new school for her. She was afraid that she would not have any friends to talk too. She was also scared to meet her new teacher. Her mom walked her into her new classroom. As she walked inside her classroom, she was greeted by a nice and charming teacher. On every desk was an apple with a tag that said, “Welcome to your new classroom!” A girl quickly came up to Brenda and told her to sit next to her desk. By lunch time, Brenda had made several new friends.

• Brenda made new friends. She felt nervous on the first day of school. She was greeted by a nice teacher.

• Brenda’s mom walked her to her new classroom. On every desk was an apple. Her teacher was nice and charming.

• Brenda felt nervous on her first day of school. She was greeted by a nice and charming teacher. By lunch time, she had made several friends.

Lori’s mom was running late in the morning to go to work. Before she left the house, she needed to feed her two outdoor cats. When she opened the back door, both cats came running indoors. She managed to get one cat to go out of the house, but the other cat didn’t want to go outside. Lori’s mom was running even more late. Finally, the second cat went outside to eat his food. Lori’s mom finally locked the door and went to her car. When she started the car, she saw that she had very little gas! Lori’s mom would definitely be late to work since she had to make a quick stop at the gas station for gas.

• Lori’s mom made a quick stop to the gas station. Her mom was running late in the morning. She fed her cats.

• Lori’s mom was running late in the morning for work. Before she left the house she fed her outdoor cats. As soon as she got in the car, she saw she needed gas and had to make a stop at the gas station.

• Lori’s mom stopped for gas. She was running late in the morning. She fed her outdoor cats.

On Saturday morning, Rick had a baseball game at the park. His parents took him early so he could practice. This game would determine if his team would win the championship. Rick was up next to bat. His hands were sweaty and his heart was pounding. He had to hit the ball and run to first base. All bases were full and his team was about to make the winning homerun. Suddenly, Rick hit the ball and quickly ran safely to first base while his team member, who was in third base, made the final homerun. Rick’s team won the championship game! What is the best summary of this selection?

• Rick was up next to bat. Rick’s team won the championship

  game. On Saturday morning, Rick’s parents took him to his

  baseball game.

• Rick safely ran to first base. His hands were sweaty and his heart was pounding. Rick’s team won the championship game.

• Rick had his last baseball game on Saturday morning. He felt

  nervous when he hit the ball and ran safely to first base. His team member ran and made the last homerun winning the

  championship game.

Tony woke up feeling very excited because it was his birthday. His parents had planned a birthday party for him at a party place. He had invited several of his school friends to his party. The night before he had helped his mom organize all the candy bags for the party. He couldn’t wait for it to get started. His mom had ordered a birthday cake of his favorite super hero character and bought balloons to decorate. During the party, Tony had fun playing with his school friends. After they played, Tony’s friends and family sang happy birthday to him as he cut his cake. Tony had the best party ever.

• Tony’s mom ordered a cake for his party. His friends sang happy birthday to him. Tony woke up very excited.

• Tony woke up very excited because it was his birthday. Tony’s

  mom organized a party for him and he fun playing with his friends. Tony had the best party ever.

• Tony had fun playing with his school friends. He helped his mom organize candy bags. Tony woke up very excited.

When you summarize, you take a text

• and make it briefer and more concise, telling the most important details.

• and elaborate on it and make it longer, filling in details.

• and change the seasons to summer.

• you take a text and ADD details to it to improve upon it.

When you make a summary you should:

• try to elaborate

• try to be proactive

• try to be safe

• try to be concise.

When you are concise, you

• take forever to give others information.

• get to the point quickly.

• are longwinded and bore others.

• are beautiful and trustworthy.