Summarizing Nonfiction

Which of the following is true about SUMMARIZING?

• A summary should include many key details.

• A summary should be a complete retell of the text.

• A summary never includes the main ideas.

• A summary is a shortened version of the text.

A good summary includes only __________ .

• The most important details

• Key Words

• The first sentence

• A photograph

What is the central idea of a nonfiction text?

• The big idea the author wants you to take away from the text

• Main character of the text

• Author's favorite color

• Date of publication

How can supporting details help in understanding the central idea of a nonfiction text?

• Supporting details help in understanding the central idea by providing context, evidence, and examples that support and explain the central theme or argument of the text.

• Supporting details confuse the reader by contradicting the main idea of the text

• Supporting details are unnecessary and do not impact the comprehension of the main idea

• Supporting details hinder the understanding of the main idea by providing irrelevant information

The explorer Marco Polo left his home in Italy in 1271.  After many years of traveling, his party reached the summer palace of Kublai Khan in what is now China.  Polo remained at the court for seventeen years.  He marveled at things not yet seen in Europe. For example, common people bathed daily.  Roads and bridges were paved.  People used paper money as currency.  They also burned coal as a fuel.  When Polo finally returned to Europe, it took a while before people believed the stories he told or the book he wrote about his travels.  Which title best summarizes this paragraph?

• What Marco Polo Was Like
• Meeting Kublai Khan
• A Wanderer from Italy
• The Travels of Marco Polo

You know that spiders spin silk, but do you know what spiders do with their silk? Mother spiders keep the eggs they lay in silk sacs. Spiders also use their silk to make webs or homes. Many spiders have hideouts in places such as window corners or under sills. They line the entrances to these places with silk. Spiders also use silk threads to drop straight to the ground when enemies appear. And, of course, spiders can spin silken traps and nets to catch their dinner.

Which title best summarizes this paragraph?

• How Spiders Find Food

• A Spider's Use of Silk

• Spinning Silken Clothes

• Outwitting Spider Enemies

March 2nd was a great day at the New York Public Library. More than 250 first and second graders wore red-and-white-striped stovepipe hats. They were celebrating The Cat in the Hat's 50th birthday. Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat picture book has been published for 50 years now. The famous feline danced with children racing around him. At the same time, pink, purple, and white confetti rained down.

Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders. They sat on brightly-colored rugs around her. Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair. Pink and purple umbrellas hung from the ceiling. The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high for the many characters in the story.

After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!" The students took off their hats and waved them excitedly.

Which sentence should be included in the summary of the passage above?

• After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!"

• Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair.

• The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high

• Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders.

Which of the following sentences should be included in a summary of this text?

When some people think about Texas, they think of cowboys on the open range-herding cattle up a dusty trail. However, Texas has much more than open prairie with large herds of cows. There are the mountains of West Texas, the piney hills of east Texas, and the emerald waters off the coast of Padre Island. Texas also has large coastal harbors with numerous sailboats, powerboats, inland lakes, rivers, swamps of southeast Texas with alligators and other exotic wildlife.

• Texas is one of the biggest states in the United States.

• There are a lot of cows in Texas.

• There are many different and varied parts to Texas.

• There are alligators in the swampland of southeast Texas.

What is the best summary for this passage?

YouTube Red members now get an additional exciting feature: YouTube Red Originals. YouTube Red members now have access to original movies and series created by YouTubers. The goal of YouTube Red Originals is to create longer video experiences that have bigger and bolder stories. It also gives YouTubers an opportunity to pursue their dreams even more! 

• YouTube Red Originals allows users to create big, bold stories.
• YouTube Red Originals are series and movies that YouTube creators provide for Red members.
• YouTube Red Originals allow Youtubers to follow their goals and dreams online. 
• Youtube is adding new features to their site to make it more exciting for users. 

Right now Jason was playing right field. He really wanted to play third base. Earlier this year, coach had put him in left field and second base in a game, but never at third base. Once in practice, coach let him play third base, but he kept missing ground balls. When he did stop one, he made a bad throw to first base. Maybe if he kept practicing, Jason would be good enough to play third base. That was his dream.
The Summary of this passage is:

• Jason really wanted to play third base.
• Jason was the best player on his team.
• Jason had trouble catching ground balls.
• Jason was too lazy to practice.