Key Word Summarizing
Name_____________________
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Main Idea- Read your article for the general idea and then write the topic sentence, the most
general statement, which guides your summary paragraph.
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Most Important Details- Next, read the text of your article slowly and study the vocabulary and key
ideas. Write these down to create a word bank.
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Check Your Work- Read a third time. Have you written only the most important points and
vocabulary?
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Close the Book/Put Away the Article-If you look at the original work, you are more likely to
plagiarize.
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Write your Summary-With your topic sentence and word bank, summarize the most important ideas
of the passage.
Checking Your Summary
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Skim through the original work. Does your summary make sense?
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Use only one example.
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Would the original author recognize this passage?
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Have you remembered to include bibliographical information, including the page numbers in your
summary? It will make writing your in-text citations and bibliography much easier.
Getting Started
1. 1st reading. Write main idea statement.______________________________________________
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2. Read. Write word/concepts here.
3. Read again. Close the book. Write your summary.
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4. Repeat for each section.