Writing a Summary
The Summary A summary is a piece of writing in which the original document is reduced in length. Think of it this way: A friend spent 30 minutes telling you a story. You want to retell this story to another friend but you only have 10 minutes. What do you do? To make sure you do not miss any significant details, include key points from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
When Writing a Summary 1. Reduce the length to approximately ½ to ¼ of its original length. replace longer words and phrases with shorter ones eliminate less important details/examples 2. Do not confuse the topic with the main idea. The topic answers, “What is this article about?” The main idea answers, “What does the author say about the topic?” 3. Use complete, grammatically-correct sentences. 4. Use transitional words and phrases (like therefore, similarly, in the same way, on the other hand, etc.) to give your summary coherence (a smooth flow from sentence to sentence, making your summary seem to be a consistent whole).
Steps Before Writing a Summary 1. Read the passage. 2. Comment on the title. Are there any words you do not understand Is the title asking a question Does the title state a position 3. Highlight the first and last sentence of the passage. Identify the MAIN ideas. Distinguish the main ideas from the details. 4. Highlight keywords. Think about who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Writing the Summary 1. Look at the highlighted sentences and words. 2. Write a topic sentence that includes the main idea. You will usually find the main idea in the first and last sentences. "This text is about ..." 3. Rewrite the highlighted information in your own words; they should be arranged in the same order as they are in the passage. 4. Do not include your personal opinion. 5. Your summary may have a concluding sentence.
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War 2, so a 1943 copper penny is ultra rare. Another rarity is the1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny. (82 words)
This text is about two very rare and valuable pennies. The 1943 copper penny is worth a lot of because copper was hard to get during the war. The 1955 double die penny is worth a lot too. These pennies were stamped twice by accident. (44 words)
The History of the Spokane Indian The Spokane Tribe of Indians has a rich history and culture spanning hundreds of years in the Northwest. Known as the “Children of the Sun” the Spokane Tribe of Indians prides itself on preserving its culture and language for new generations. Originally, the Spokane Tribe of Indians lived along the Spokane River in three bands known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Spokane Indians. Spokane Tribal members hunted, fished and collected roots and berries to feed their families throughout the year. Today, many of the same fishing and hunting practices are used, just as the same roots and berries are collected by modern Spokane Tribal families. Spokane Tribal Elders continue to teach the Salish language to the youngest members of our tribe. Salish language classes are held within the classrooms on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Oral history remains the main source of history preservation. (130 words)
This text is about the Spokane Tribe of Indians who have a rich cultural history spanning hundreds of years in the Northwest along the Spokane river. Today many of the same cultural practices, such as hunting, fishing, are practiced. As well, Spokane Tribal elders continue to teach the Salish language to the younger generation. Oral history remains the main source of history preservation. (60 words)
The Native American Reservation System The term"Indian reservation"refers to the ancestral territory still occupied by a Native American nation. While there are approximately 565 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., there are only about 310 reservations. This means that almost one-third of all currently federally recognized tribes have lost their land bases as a result of colonization.
Indigenous Peoples of Canada In Canada, the term Indigenous Peoples (or Aboriginal peoples) refers to First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Indigenous people are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. First Nations is a term used to describe Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are not Métis or Inuit. In 2011, there were more than 1.3 million people in Canada who identified as being of First Nations heritage. There are 634 First Nations in Canada, speaking more than 50 distinct languages. The First Nations were called "Indians" by Christopher Columbus when he landed in North America because he thought he had reached India.
In the 1960s many activists in the United States and Canada rejected the phrase American Indian because it was seen as a misnomer and sometimes carried racist connotations. In these countries Native American soon became the preferred term of reference, although many (and perhaps most) indigenous individuals living north of the Rio Grande continued to refer to themselves as Indians. Reserve: Defined by the Indian Act as “... tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band.” A result of the definition of reserve land in the Indian Act is that reserve land cannot be privately owned by the Band or Band members. “Reservation” is an American term.
What is a Residential School? Residential schools were government-sponsored religious schools established to assimilate Aboriginal children into Euro-Canadian culture. Although the first residential facilities were established in New France, the term usually refers to the custodial schools established after 1880.
World Children's Day has been held every year since 1954 "to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare." The day is marked every Nov. 20 to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Pop star Pink teamed up with UNICEF, the UN’s children’s charity, to release a new version of her recent hit "What About Us,” with a video that features children across the globe putting their spin on the song. Pink said she agreed to lend the song to UNICEF “to remind the world that children and young people’s voices matter and that their perspectives must be included in the decisions that will shape their future."