Transcript How to Write an Objective Summary

6 Steps to Writing an
Objective Summary
What is an objective summary?
objective
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Unbiased
Without your own opinions
Not influenced by personal feelings
Provides just the facts.
What is an objective summary?
summary
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Shortened retelling of the text
Includes most important points
Written in your own words
Step One- Determine the Central Idea
The central idea can also be called
the main idea. It is the chief, key,
most important, most vital, most
basic reason for reading the text.
Step One- Determining the Central Idea
To determine the central idea, we look at:
 The author’s purpose of the text (entertain, persuade,
inform, show cause/effect, compare/contrast, express
an opinion, etc.).
 the organization (structure) of the text. Is it written in
chronological order (time), order of importance, or by
description?
Step One- Determining the Central Idea
Ask yourself,
 What are the three most important points being made
in the text? Often the main ideas are given in the first or
the last sentence of the text.
 What is the CENTRAL idea of the text? (three main
points)
Step Two- Write 3- Part Topic Sentence
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Name It: Identify the title of the text and the author.
Verb It: Use one of the following “summary” verbs:
shows, describes, explains, discusses, lists, explores,
illustrates, teaches, compares, states.
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State It: State the central idea of the text.
Step Two- Write a 3- Part Topic Sentence
Name It
Verb It
News article
“One family’s journey to
food freedom” by John
Knowles
State It
describes
one couple gave up
grocery shopping, saved
thousands of dollars, and
became healthier by
planting their own garden
Key Points
• Visited local farm; inspired
• Planted a small garden; grew over the years
• Produced all food; stopped shopping
• Saved money
• Healthier
Step Two- Write 3- Part Topic Sentence
In his article, “One family’s journey to food freedom,”
John Knowles describes how one couple gave up grocery
shopping, saved thousands of dollars, and became
healthier by planting their own garden.
Step Three: Writing the Body of Your Summary
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Go back to the big ideas/key points.
Write these big ideas in your own words.
Use transition words to make your summary cohesive.
Make sure the order and structure of your summary
follows the order and structure of the original text. For
example, if the original text is in chronological order, the
summary should be as well.
Leave out minor details found in the text.
Step Three- Writing the Body of Your Summary
In his article, “One family’s journey to food freedom,”
John Knowles describes how one family gave up grocery
shopping, saved thousands of dollars, and became
healthier by planting their own garden. The Jones family
decided to start a small family garden. Their garden grew
while their grocery bill disappeared. They produced
enough food to meet all of their family’s needs. The family
encourages others to begin gardening as a way to not
only save money but to become healthier by consuming
more organic, locally grown food.
Step Four- Add Transition Words and Phrases
In his article, “One family’s journey to food
freedom,” John Knowles describes how one family
gave up grocery shopping, saved thousands of
dollars, and became healthier by planting their own
garden. After a field trip to a local farm, the Jones
family decided to start a small family garden. Over
the next three years, their garden grew while their
grocery bill disappeared. They eventually produced
enough food to meet all of their family’s needs. The
family now encourages others to begin gardening
as a way to not only save money but to become
healthier by consuming more organic, locally grown
food.
Step Five- Check for Bias
In his article, “One family’s journey to food freedom,”
John Knowles expertly describes how one smart family
gave up costly grocery shopping, saved thousands of
dollars, and became healthier by planting their own
garden. After a life- changing field trip to a local farm, the
Jones family made the best decision ever when they
decided to start a small family garden. Over the next
three years, their garden grew while their insanely high
grocery bill disappeared. They eventually produced
enough food to meet all of their family’s needs. The family
now encourages others to begin gardening. Growing your
own food is not only a great way to save money, but it is
the best way to eat healthy, organic, locally grown food.
Step Five- Check for Bias
In his article, “One family’s journey to food freedom,” John Knowles
expertly describes how one smart family gave up costly grocery
shopping, saved thousands of dollars, and became healthier by
planting their own garden. After a life- changing field trip to a
local farm, the Jones family made the best decision ever
when they decided to start a small family garden. Over the next
three years, their garden grew while their insanely high
grocery bill disappeared. They eventually produced enough food
to meet all of their family’s needs. The family now encourages
others to begin gardening. Growing your own food is not
only a great way to save money, but it is the best
way to eat healthy, organic, locally grown food.
Step Six- Evaluate Your Summary
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Did I convey the information accurately?
Is my summary too narrow or too broad?
Would someone who has never read the original piece
be able to understand the text’s key ideas?
Are the ideas in the right sequence?
Did I leave out my opinion?
Did I use my own words and style?
Did I use transition words to tie my summary together?