Original Reading Selection

Have volunteers read each paragraph of the article. Before moving on to the summary, ask students "What is the main point of that article?" Take their suggestions and write them on the board. Then look at the suggestions and say, "How could we sum up these ideas in a single sentence?" Work with the class to create a single summary sentence.

Then say, "Now, let's see how another writer summarized the main point in the first sentence of the sample summary." Have a volunteer read the sample summary. Compare your summary sentence to the one in the book. Then ask, "What details did the writer choose as the most important supports for the summary sentence? Do you agree or disagree? Why?"