How to Summarize

State the Main Point The idea of a summary is to decide what about an article, novel, chapter, etc is actually important. To do this, first determine what the point of the chapter is.

Make it Simple Use a lower level of technicality than the author does. Do NOT write a summary your reader cannot understand. Make the summary clear and easy to understand to someone who has not read the original chapter or article. Your summary should stand on its own. Write a summary, not a table of contents.

Example Wrong: This chapter covers point X. Then the chapter covers point Y. Finally the chapter talks about point Z. Right: The island becomes increasingly more aggressive as _________ does __________ causing __________.

Do Not Add New Information Add no new data and none of your own ideas in the actual summary. Use simple organization Main Point Main Results Conlusion

Directions for Jigsawing Each student will be given a chapter to cover (Ch. 5, 6 and 7 for each group…decide diplomatically who gets what to read). Read your chapter and summarize. Keep your summary short: 5 to 10 sentences. Think through your chapter from beginning to end. What happened that moved the story forward? What was unique or compelling? Done Include everything. Make it clear and don’t include too much information. Add your own insight at the end.

What to do with your Group Once you’ve summarized you need to share that information with your group in chapter order. You are not only required for your own chapter summary, but for taking notes on your groups summaries as well. We will begin today (Tuesday) and finish Thursday. Due at the end of class Thursday.