TEACHING SUMMARIZING A STORY

If you ask a child to summarize a book they read, they go on and on without any idea of how to retell the story briefly. This project will help students learn how to summarize.
Brief highlights of summarizing: (make a chart)
1. Title
2. Author
3. Setting - where/when the story takes place
4. Main Characters
5. Goal - what character wants
6. Problem - Conflict
7. Outcome - how conflict ends
8. Sequence of Events: first, next, then, later, after, last, finally, afterwards...

Detailed Explanation of Summary: (make a chart)
1. Give the title of the story and its author.
2. Tell who the main character/s is/are and where/when the story takes place (setting).
3. Tell what the main character wants (goal).
4. Tell how the main character tries to get what he wants.
5. Tell the problem the main character may have in trying to reach his goal (conflict).
6. Tell if the main character finally reaches his goal (outcome).
7. Tell the events in time order sequence (first to last). Use clue words, like: first, next, then, finally, at the end...

Summary Teaching Chart I:
Title: __________________________________________________
Author: ________________________________________________
Characters: _____________________________________________
Setting: ________________________________________________
Goal: __________________________________________________
Conflict: _______________________________________________
Outcome: ______________________________________________

Summary Teaching chart II:
First, _________________________________________________

Next, ________________________________________________

Then, ________________________________________________

Later, ________________________________________________

Finally, _______________________________________________


Explain that commas set off time order words.