1. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: Writing the Objective Summary

2. What is informational text?  It is non-fiction writing, meaning it is based in reality.  It includes biographies, memoirs, newspaper articles, magazine articles, etc.  It is the basis for the Common Core Curriculum and the central writing of the benchmark exams and the PARCC exam that you will take to graduate.

3. What should I look for when I read informational text?  Title  Main points  Sub-headings  Experts and statistics  Reasons and logic  Structure  Patterns/motifs

4. What are the steps to write about informational text?  STEP 1: Read article, highlighting or underlining only one or two phrases or clauses per paragraph.  STEP 2: Write a summary based on your recognition of patters, structure and meaning of the article—try to cover only major points. Instead of relying on quotes, use paraphrasing instead.  STEP 3: Check to make sure you have answered the following: What? Who? Where? When? How? Why?

5. What should I look for when I read informational text?  Title: “Candy Crush Saga: The Science Behind Our Addiction”  Main points: “first game ever to be no.1”  Sub-headings: “It makes you wait”  Experts and statistics: “Tommy Palm, one of the games designers”  Reasons and logic: “You always want what you can’t have”  Structure: “What the King team did to get us hooked”  Patterns/motifs: “candy”, “rewards”, “distraction”