Summarizing/ParaphrasingSummarizing/Paraphrasing

SummarizingSummarizing A A summarysummary is a short is a short

piece of writing about piece of writing about a longer piece. A a longer piece. A summary includes summary includes only the only the most most important detailsimportant details or or main ideasmain ideas. .

How to summarize:How to summarize:

1. Pick out the main idea. 1. Pick out the main idea. Ask yourself, “What is this Ask yourself, “What is this

mostly about? What is the most mostly about? What is the most important piece of information?”important piece of information?”

2. Ignore supporting details. 2. Ignore supporting details. These are anything that helps to These are anything that helps to

describe the main idea or give describe the main idea or give additional information.additional information.

3. Rewrite ONLY the 3. Rewrite ONLY the main main idea(s)idea(s) in your own words. in your own words.

Just focus on the 5 Ws and the H!

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

To Summarize, answer these questions!

Mallory took a road trip around the state of Texas this Mallory took a road trip around the state of Texas this summer with her family. They visited Houston, Austin, and summer with her family. They visited Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Her family wanted to see as many historical Dallas. Her family wanted to see as many historical landmarks as possible. Near Houston, the toured the Old landmarks as possible. Near Houston, the toured the Old Spanish Cemetery, Fort Houston, and Sabine Pass. In the Spanish Cemetery, Fort Houston, and Sabine Pass. In the Austin area, they visited Austin College and the Mary Austin area, they visited Austin College and the Mary Street Stone House. In the Dallas area, they went to the Street Stone House. In the Dallas area, they went to the Flippen Homestead, the Alexander Mansion, and the Flippen Homestead, the Alexander Mansion, and the Matthews-Atwood House.Matthews-Atwood House.

I ask myself, “What is this paragraph mostly about? What I ask myself, “What is this paragraph mostly about? What is the main idea?is the main idea?

Who? Mallory What? Road trip Where? Texas When? Summer Why? Historical Landmarks How? N/A N/A Now, I can write my brief summary.Now, I can write my brief summary.

Mallory took a road trip to Texas this Mallory took a road trip to Texas this summer and visited many historical summer and visited many historical landmarks.landmarks.

Guided PracticeGuided Practice ““I tied them silently together, twining I tied them silently together, twining

cords of willow from the ogre’s bed; cords of willow from the ogre’s bed; then slung a man under each middle then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded let one to ride there safely, shielded let and right. So three sheep would and right. So three sheep would convey each man. I took the woolliest convey each man. I took the woolliest ram, the choicest of the flock, and ram, the choicest of the flock, and hung myself under his kinky belly, hung myself under his kinky belly, pulled up tight, with fingers twisted pulled up tight, with fingers twisted deep in sheepskin ringlets for an iron deep in sheepskin ringlets for an iron grip. So, breathing hard, we waited grip. So, breathing hard, we waited until morning…”(767)until morning…”(767)

Guided PracticeGuided Practice

What is the main point? What is the main point? What is happening?What is happening?

Restate it in 1-2 sentences.Restate it in 1-2 sentences. Odysseus hid himself and Odysseus hid himself and

his men in between sheep his men in between sheep to escape detection by the to escape detection by the Cyclops.Cyclops.

Group Work

With your group, you will choose an article from a magazine and read it together.

You will then identify the 5 W’s and the H of the article.

Then you will write a 20-word summary of the article. ONLY 20 WORDS!!

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

What is What is paraphrasingparaphrasing?? Paraphrasing is taking a section of a text and Paraphrasing is taking a section of a text and

restating it in restating it in your OWN wordsyour OWN words..

Paraphrase PracticeParaphrase Practice Paraphrase the old saying, “Don’t Paraphrase the old saying, “Don’t

count your chickens before they count your chickens before they hatch.”hatch.”

Don’t just write: “Wait until the Don’t just write: “Wait until the chickens have hatched before chickens have hatched before counting them.”counting them.”

Instead, examine the idea behind Instead, examine the idea behind the phrase and restate it in more the phrase and restate it in more direct terms.direct terms.

““Never assume you’ll get Never assume you’ll get something you want until you have something you want until you have it.it.

Paraphrase PracticeParaphrase Practice As we have all read it, let’s As we have all read it, let’s

paraphrase an excerpt from paraphrase an excerpt from Romeo Romeo and Julietand Juliet..

““Two households, both alike in dignity Two households, both alike in dignity / In fair Verona, where we lay our / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, / From ancient grudge break scene, / From ancient grudge break to new mutiny/ Where civil blood to new mutiny/ Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” makes civil hands unclean” (Shakespeare 3).(Shakespeare 3).

In the beautiful city of Verona, where In the beautiful city of Verona, where our story takes place, a long-standing our story takes place, a long-standing hatred between two families erupts hatred between two families erupts into new violence, and citizens stain into new violence, and citizens stain their hands with the blood of fellow their hands with the blood of fellow citizens. citizens.

Group Work

Your group will receive a sheet of paper with song lyrics.

As a group, you will paraphrase the song lyrics.

Get ready to perform!

Quick ReviewQuick Review

What is summarizing?What is summarizing? How long should a How long should a

summary be if we are summary be if we are looking at a short passage?looking at a short passage?

How is it different from a How is it different from a paraphrase?paraphrase?

summarizing guidelines