Day 1: Organize and plan your summary
Here is my example passage (Mammals: The Highest Class of Animals) and organizer. Look over them if you need - we'll reference them throughout the page.
1. Read over your entire fluency passage. Make sure you've read the whole thing, beginning to end.
2. Identify your topic and circle it in your fluency passage. Mine was mammals, yours might be Benjamin Franklin, pizza, Greek columns, etc.
3. Write the topic on the first line. This should be 1-3 words only.
2. Identify your topic and circle it in your fluency passage. Mine was mammals, yours might be Benjamin Franklin, pizza, Greek columns, etc.
3. Write the topic on the first line. This should be 1-3 words only.
4. Turn your topic into a topic sentence. This should be a "duh" sentence - if someone had NO idea what your topic was, how would you describe it in the most basic terms? The words I, me, my, or passage should not be here. You should probably use the words is/are/were ("Mammals are..." "Ben Franklin was..")
Example topic sentences:
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5. Use a dry erase marker to draw a line between each paragraph on your fluency passage. How many paragraphs do you have? You will need that many sections on your paper. You may end up leaving 1 or 2 sections blank. If you have more paragraphs than will fit, you can use a sticky note or notebook paper.
6. For each paragraph, decide on a sub-topic. What was that paragraph mostly about? What was your author trying to teach you in that section? Write the sub-topic on each line.
6. For each paragraph, decide on a sub-topic. What was that paragraph mostly about? What was your author trying to teach you in that section? Write the sub-topic on each line.
7. Read each paragraph and decide on 2-4 key details. What are the most important words, phrases, or facts someone would need to know to understand that sub-topic? You can pull vocabulary words and phrases straight from the text or rephrase ideas using your own words. Be sure to write short phrases only, not whole sentences (we'll do that later).
8. When you've filled out the entire front, you're done! Put it on the corner of your desk and start working on comprehension. Mrs. A will come around to check your work. We'll do the actual summary writing on the back tomorrow.