Definitions
Summary
Main Idea
100
What does it mean to "summarize" something?
To tell, in your own words, what has happened in the story.
100

What strategy can you use to help you write a summary?

Somebody Wanted But So Then (SWBST)

100
What is the difference between theme and main idea?
Theme is the moral or lesson of the story. Main Idea is what the story is about.
200
What is a "main idea"?
What the story is mostly about.
200
What is the difference between summary and main idea?
Summary included BME. Main Idea is what it is mostly about in 10 words or less.
200

When summarizing a story or a passage, you are telling what the main idea is.

A. True B.False

True

300
What is meant by "important details"?
Important details support the main idea of the story.
300
After you have written your summary, what should you make sure you have included?
The beginning/middle/end (sequence), the problem/solution, the name of the text and the main character(s) in it.
300

The main idea is ALWAYS the first sentence of the paragraph.

A. True  B. False 

False

400
What's the difference between "retelling" and "summarizing" a story?
A retelling is when you describe the story in complete detail from start to finish. A summary includes only the details that support the main idea.
400

3. Which of the following statements about summarizing is NOT true? 

a.The summary is what the text is mostly about. 

b.The summary is what all or most of the sentences are about. 

c.The summary is one small part in a sentence.

C

400

What does it mean to make a connection?

To connect what you're reading to something in your life, the world, or another text.

500
When you write a summary, it must be written in the correct sequence of events. What does sequence mean?
Sequence means the order in which an event takes place.
500

Summarize this story: 

Zoe woke up in the middle of the night. She'd had a bad nightmare. She was so afraid that she could not fall back asleep. Zoe got out of bed and made her way through the dark hall to her big sister's bedroom. Her sister sighed sleepily when Zoe crawled in beside her. Zoe was asleep in just a few minutes.

answer:

500

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

The main idea of this passage is:

A. Weekends are times to travel.

B. The writer enjoys spending time with family.

C. The writer’s grandparents live far away.

B

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