Theme, Main Idea, Summary

Definitions

100

What does it mean to "summarize" something?

To tell, in your own words, what has happened in the story.

200

What is a "main idea"?

What the story is mostly about.

300

What is meant by "important details"?

Important details support the main idea of the story.

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.

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.

Theme

100

What does "Don't judge a book by its cover" mean?

Do not judge people by their outer appearance.

200

What is Theme?

The lesson or moral of the story

300

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.

400

Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Messy Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Missy ate a bag of hot chips on Katie Clean’s white bedspread without asking, and Messy Missy is a sloppy eater, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Missy’s sloppy behavior, but then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended that she was sick and asked Messy Missy to leave. The next day Katie Clean asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment.

What is the theme?

500

Mr. Pig and Mr. Dog were hanging out at the food court of the animal shopping mall. Mr. Pig was eating a huge feast of pizza and drinking a large jug of fruit punch and Mr. Dog was watching him eat. “Hey, Mr. Pig. If you give me a slice of your pizza, I’ll let you have the next bone I find.” Mr. Pig declined, even though it hurt his stomach to eat the last three slices of pizza. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dog,” Mr. Pig said, “but I paid for this pizza and it’s all mine.” Mr. Dog sighed and waited for Mr. Pig to finish, and then they left the animal mall together. On the way out, a hunter spotted them and gave chase. Mr. Pig normally could have escaped the hunter but since he was weighed down by such a large meal, Mr. Pig collapsed and the hunter killed him. Mr. Dog easily escaped. Later that night while returning to the scene, Mr. Dog caught the scent of something delicious and began digging around a trash can. He found a large ham bone with lots of meat and marrow still stuck to the bone. Mr. Dog happily ate.

What is the theme?

Summary

100

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

BME or Somebody Wanted But So Then

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.

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.

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

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:

Main Idea

100

a. who is the main character . b. what the story is mainly about. c. the details of the story. d. nothing The main idea of a story tells us__________________.

b

200

A. True B.False When summarizing a story or a passage, you are tell what the main idea is.

300

A. True B. False The main idea is ALWAYS the first sentence of the paragraph.

B

400

A. draw a picture of the character B. remember details that make the story interesting C. mentally summarizing it in 2-3 sentences D. think about what you plan to do after the test. A test-taker can remember the main idea of the story by

b

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. D. The writer is sad to leave her cousins

B

POV

100

What are the pronouns for 1st person point of view?

I, my, we, mine etc.

200

What are the pronouns for 2nd person point of view?

You and Your

300

What are the pronouns for 3rd person point of view?

He, She, It, They, the character's name etc.

400

What does 3rd person limited mean?

You only know the thoughts of a single character.

500

What is 3rd person omniscient point of view?

The narrator knows the thoughts, feelings etc. of all the characters in the story.