What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

A summary captures the key ideas of a text briefly and in your own words — it is not a copy

Main ideas are the essential points the author is making; supporting details give evidence or examples

Effective summaries are objective — they do not include the reader's opinions

Paraphrasing (restating ideas in different words) is a key skill for writing accurate summaries

Key Vocabulary

Summary

A brief restatement of the main ideas of a text in your own words

Main idea

The central or most important point an author is communicating

Paraphrase

To restate someone's ideas in different words while keeping the original meaning

Supporting detail

A fact, example, or explanation that develops or backs up a main idea

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

What is the main purpose of a summary?

To list every fact mentioned in the text To share your personal opinion about the text To briefly restate the key ideas of a text in your own words To copy the most interesting sentences

Question 2

Which of the following is a main idea rather than a supporting detail?

The koala was photographed eating eucalyptus leaves. Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day. One study counted 200 koalas in a national park. Koalas are marsupials threatened by habitat loss.

Question 3

A student writes: "The author says, 'Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today' and it is causing many problems." Is this a good paraphrase?

No, because it still uses the author's original words directly Yes, because the student has added their own ideas Yes, because the student changed some words No, because the student forgot to include the date

Summary Writing