In this course, students will learn to summarize expository text using the main ideas in ways that maintain the meaning and logical order. They will learn these summarizing skills by examining two different articles. The instructional methods used to facilitate learning include teacher modeling (I do, we do, you do), guided practice, and independent practice activities used to assess knowledge.  Successful participation in the class requires students to have a basic understanding of the differences between the main ideas and details as presented in the expository text. Students also need an understanding of how to place information in a logical order from the beginning, the middle, to the end.  

How to Summarize What You Read
Strategies for Writing and Identifying Summaries of News Articles

What Students Will Learn:
Objective #1—Students will summarize the main idea and supporting details in the text in ways that maintain the meaning and logical order. 
Objective #2—Students will use the main ideas found in the text to write a summary in order from the beginning, middle, and end. 
Objective #3—Students will identify new vocabulary and use that vocabulary in their written summaries. 
Objective #4—Students will be able to define summary as a method of retelling the main events of a story or an article in a shorter version by adding together the details and main ideas from each paragraph to create summary statements. 

Background Knowledge Needed: Students should be familiar with the differences between the main ideas and details as presented in textual information. Students also need an understanding of how to place information in a logical order (what comes first, second, third, and so on). 

Vocabulary: 1) main idea/central idea,2) details, 3) summary, 4) relevant details, 5) irrelevant details, 6) side notes

Materials Needed:
•	Pencils
•	Highlighter
•	Lined paper
•	Copies of the article, “How to Make a Habit of Reading.”
•	Text, “ Alligator Nests.”
•	The sequence of events chart and the summary map graphic organizer.

How They Will Learn the Objectives - Learning Activities:
Session #1: Direct Instruction & Guided Practice
1.  The teacher introduces the four organizational elements of a summary 1) topic sentence/ main idea, 2) transitions leading to details, 3) interesting facts, and 4) the conclusion.
2.	The students and teacher choral read “Alligator’s Nest” to help students become familiar with text and vocabulary.
3.	Guided practice: The teacher will guide the students in completing the main idea summary page with the details provided for the article "Alligator's Nest."

Learner Evaluation for Session #1: 
4.	Students will identify transitions that point out details and complete a summary chart for the article, "Alligator's Nest."

Session #2 – Guided Instruction: Strategies for before, during, and after reading 
1.	Reading Strategy - BEFORE we start reading: Students will read the title, subtitle, analyze the photograph and caption, and then write what the passage is going to be about in the space under the title. 
2.	 Next, the teacher will direct the students to read the quiz questions at the end-of-the article, but NOT the answer choices, and number the paragraphs in the article. 
3.	The teacher models the side notes & numbering strategy for students with the introduction paragraph of the article. 
4.	Students are assigned paragraphs to read aloud and identify the main ideas and details needed to create summary statements. 
5.	Reading Strategy – DURING reading: students should take side notes, number the details, and circle any sections or words they may need to clarify. 
6.	Reading Strategy – AFTER reading: Students will use either the graphic organizer strategy as used for Alligator's Nest or the side notes and numbering system used for the article, How to Make a Habit of Reading, to write a summary of the article.

Learner Evaluation for Session #2: Before exiting the classroom, each student should answer the following questions
•	What are the four elements of writing an effective summary?

Session #3– Independent Work and Wrap-UP 
1.	Begin the class by having students share their summaries and discuss similarities and differences. 
2.     Next, the teacher will share sample summaries and identify characteristics of the summary elements.
3.     Learner Evaluation for Session #3: Students will complete a timed summary fluency activity using the article Roly Poly Pill 
        Bugs. After summarizing the article, students will share with the class.
4.     If time allows, a brief paraphrasing practice will be offered.



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