Summarizing
CTE READS: Summarizing
Written by: Carilyn Knill, Peggy LaShier, Ann Tebo, Kathy Wooton
School: Skyline Grade Level and/or Subject: High School Length of Study: 15-30 minutes
Content Objective: TSW
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Comprehend the text more efficiently by using summarizing materials.
Compose a graphic organizer to see the structure of concepts and the relationships between ideas.
Classify what is important to know and remember
Identify that summarizing is a learning tool to make learning is a more realistic and manageable task
Lesson or Performance Objective:
Summarizing - A summary is a shortened version of another's text, explanation, argument, or narrative.
It includes the main points of the original, but reduces the detail.
Summaries should include one idea that is touched on in every paragraph.
A rule of thumb to use is that a summary should be about 1/10 the number of words that is in the original
text. Don’t get too hung up on counting words – this is just a guideline.
Standards Addressed: Aims Connection:
Strand 1: The Reading Process
Concept 6: Comprehension Strategies
PO 3. Use graphic organizers in order to clarify the meaning of the text.
Strand 3: Comprehending Informational Text
Concept 1: Expository Text
PO 1. Compare (and contrast) original text to a summary for accuracy of the main ideas, inclusion of critical
details, and the extent to which it conveys the underlying meaning of the original text.
Strand 3: Comprehending Informational Text
Materials, Resources and Technology Needed:
An article which outlines a subject in your CTE Area.
Instructional Procedures or Anticipatory Set:
See the last page of this lesson for an example of an acceptable summary for a sample passages.
Presentation Skills
 Make a transparency or copies of the Summarizing Rules to go over with students.
 Have copies of blank graphic organizers available for students that work for Main Ideas and
Supporting Details. If you don’t have a favorite organizer that your students are accustomed
to using, there is one included in this lesson.
 Choose a selection for your students to summarize or use the attached article which was
previously read for the Main Idea lesson.
Have students read the article, complete the graphic, and write their summaries.
Assessment:
Completed attached graphic organizer and summary. Keys are at the end of this file.
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Summarizing
Summarizing Rules
To effectively summarize, after reading each
paragraph, you must be able to:
 keep information
 delete information
 substitute information
Keep the main idea from the topic sentence
Keep important supporting details (2-4 per
paragraph)
Delete anything that is not important
Delete anything that repeats what has already been
stated
Substitute lists of examples with a description of
the category (ie: “hardware” for monitor,
keyboard, and printer)
Hints about finding a main idea:
 It is usually a noun (This paragraph tells me
about……)
 It is usually contained in the first sentence
 The word or its synonym most likely is repeated
several times in the paragraph
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Summarizing
Competitive Advantage
Q & A with Skills USA Director, Tim Lawrence
Q. How can I prepare for the changes and downsizing workforce in the current crisis?
Tim: The work force is suddenly more competitive than ever before. Students will need an extra
edge to get (and keep) the best jobs. You’ll also need it to get into the best college and
postsecondary training programs. Whatever your career path, SkillsUSA’s competitive events
can help you get that edge.
This is one of the most exciting times of the SkillsUSA year as students prepare for competitions
at the local, district and state levels. By now, many of you are halfway through your training
program for this year. Your chapter advisor, who has likely been a strong mentor for you, knows
the next step in your development will be enhanced by another group of mentors: those who
manage and run our contests.
When you go into a technical or leadership development competition, you’ll find a network of
professionals standing behind you. Through these partners, SkillsUSA provides national
standards developed by business and industry — in tandem with leadership and character
development skills that are so important to the 21st-century work force. And by competing in
SkillsUSA events, you can network with some of the finest role models anywhere.
In this issue of SkillsUSA Champions, many of our industry leaders advise how to make yourself
competitive in our championships and tell how this preparation can help later in your career.
They and other role models, such as Kelly Bever from State Farm Insurance, also explain why
they became involved in SkillsUSA.
Working with our national partners over the past several years, I’ve noticed one thing they all
have in common. They’ve worked hard throughout their lives to become the best at their craft.
Now, they’re looking to pass on what they’ve learned to the next generation. They’re looking to
you to carry on the mantle of leadership and pay it forward as the next wave of mentors.
In the current environment, the best career opportunities will go to those who are prepared with
excellent technical, professional and academic skills. SkillsUSA can help you hone all three. In
time, you’ll find that life is a continuous competition, and I hope your SkillsUSA experience will
help mold and prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you’ll face along the way.
Lawrence, Tim. (2009, Winter). Competitive advantage. SkillsUSA Champions, 43, (2), 7.
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Summarizing
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Summarizing
The Frame Routine Reading Strategy
Directions: Use the graphic organizer above to record the main ideas and important
details of the selection you have been assigned to read. The small circles to the left of the
essential details boxes are for you to “self check” that each detail gives specific information
about the main idea listed above it. All boxes will not necessarily be used.
After completing the graphic organizer:
The summary is a statement combining the main ideas of all parts of the article. Write
your summary of the reading selection in the space below.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Summarizing
Competitive Advantage
Students preparing themselves to get and keep good jobs.
Arm yourself to
compete effectively
Secure mentors
Prepare for
competition
teachers
Participate in
competition
Contest
managers
Network
Develop personal
character
Aim high /
be the best
Work hard
Business
professionals
Pay it
forward
The best jobs will go to the students who are best prepared.
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Summarizing
The Frame Routine Reading Strategy
Directions: Use the graphic organizer above to record the main ideas and important
details of the selection you have been assigned to read. The small circles to the left of the
essential details boxes are for you to “self check” that each detail gives specific information
about the main idea listed above it. All boxes will not necessarily be used.
After completing the graphic organizer:
The summary is a statement combining the main ideas of all parts of the article. Write
your summary of the reading selection in the space below.
Today’s work place is very competitive. Students who want to get and keep good jobs
should spend time preparing for employment. Participating in local, district and state
competitions is good practice for the real world. Meeting and connecting with various
mentors is also helpful. Finally, working hard to become the best at the trade and being
willing to train the next generation will make a student not only a good employee, but also
a good citizen. Life is a continuous competition, and preparation now will help you become
successful in the future.
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