Summarizing a Text – Playlist and Teaching Notes

In this playlist, students explore standard RL.4.2. They learn how to provide a summary of a literary text. Students are guided through examples of what to include in a summary, how to determine which details from the passage should be included in the summary, and how to write a summary. Students apply what they learned by writing a summary of a book they recently read. Students also have the option to view instructional videos and complete practice quizzes or activities.

The playlist includes:
• One link to a practice quiz or activity
• Three links to instructional videos or texts
• Definitions of key terms, such as summary and paraphrasing
• Examples of how to determine what should be included in a summary
• Aesop’s fable “The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse” and a sample summary of the passage
• A self-check quiz, consisting of story passages, such as “A Legend on the Ice,” “A Modern Day Tale of Gift of the Magi,” and others, and five multiple choice questions.

Accompanying Teaching Notes include:
• Explanation of the difference between a theme and a summary
• Links to additional resources for teaching summarization to students
• An accompanying answer guide with correct answers, answer choice rationales, and DOK level

For more teaching and learning resources on standard RL.4.2, visit Wisewire.com.