Writing an Objective Summary
Introductory Unit: What Lies Ahead?
Writing an Objective Summary
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Writing an objective summary involves recording the
main ideas of a text while showing your
understanding of the topic.
Objective means:
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No opinions
No reactions
No personal connections
Just the facts!
What is an objective summary?
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A good objective summary:
 Focuses on the main idea and only the details that
support it
 Brief
 Accurate
 Objective
What to Avoid in an Objective Summary
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Do not copy any part of the original source.
Is not long and detailed
Does not include any opinions or reactions
What should a complete paragraph include?
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At least five sentences:
 Main Idea sentence
 Most important idea of original source
 Three supporting detail sentences
 Three details that relate to and support the
main idea
 Concluding sentence
 A summarizing sentence
Your turn:
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You will watch the first half of “Mowgli’s Brothers” by
Rudyard Kipling
Then, you will write a five sentence paragraph
summarizing what you watched.
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Make sure you do not include opinions or reactions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXw30qq9xM
Now what?
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Turn to page lxi in the Prentice Hall Literature book.
Read the example and notes.
Now, makes similar notes on your own summary.
Last, swap papers with someone sitting near you and have
them read your summary and make notes.
Now, let’s do the second half…
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Watch the second half of “Mowgli’s Brothers”.
Write a five sentence paragraph of the second half,
following all the guidelines for an Objective Summary.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7-oscst2ac
Keep this activity with notes and paragraphs in
the Writing section of your notebook.
 Label the assignment “Objective Summary
Notes and Practice”
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