Mastering Summaries: Skills & Strategies for English Language Arts Classrooms

Summarize Like a Pro: 10 Skills for Stellar Summaries in Secondary ELA Classrooms

The summary assignment in the upper elementary and middle school classrooms often doesn’t get talked about much in professional development materials, but it is one of the MOST assigned assignments during a given school year. Teachers are focusing on skills surrounding retelling, comprehension, and checking for understanding regarding genre. Summary writing is one of the cornerstone types of assignments that need to be mastered before moving to more complex material. Often, as a new teacher, you may not know where to begin. This post is an introduction to teaching the narrative summary and the nonfiction summary in grades 4-8. You will find the difference between narrative and nonfiction summaries, strategies for tackling both assignments, and then example assignments you can use now.

Narrative Summary:

In a secondary ELA (English Language Arts) classroom, a narrative summary refers to a concise and coherent retelling or overview of the key events, characters, and main ideas of a narrative text. It involves condensing the essential elements of a story into a shorter form while maintaining the overall narrative structure and preserving the central themes and plot progression.

Nonfiction Summary:

A nonfiction summary in a secondary ELA (English Language Arts) classroom refers to a concise and objective overview of the main ideas, key details, and central arguments or themes presented in a nonfiction text. It is a written or verbal summary that captures the essential points and purpose of the nonfiction work, allowing readers to quickly grasp the main concepts without delving into the entire text.

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What is the purpose of a  narrative summary?

The purpose of a narrative summary is to demonstrate reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and the ability to extract important details from a text. It allows students to showcase their understanding of the narrative's main components, such as the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

A narrative summary in a secondary ELA classroom typically requires students to identify and prioritize significant events, characters, and plot points. It should capture the essence of the story while omitting less crucial details and subplots. The summary should be written in the student's own words, reflecting their understanding and interpretation of the narrative.

By engaging in the practice of creating narrative summaries, students develop skills in summarization, critical thinking, and concise writing. This exercise helps students refine their ability to comprehend complex texts, analyze story structures, and effectively communicate the main ideas of a narrative in a condensed format.

What is the purpose of a nonfiction summary?

A well-crafted nonfiction summary should accurately represent the author's intentions and provide a condensed version of the original work. It should focus on the most important information and effectively communicate the core ideas, supporting evidence, and any significant insights or implications found within the text. While maintaining objectivity, a nonfiction summary should avoid personal opinions, biases, or interpretations.

Nonfiction summaries play a crucial role in secondary ELA classrooms as they help students develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and concise writing. Summarizing nonfiction texts enhances students' ability to extract relevant information, identify main ideas, and summarize complex ideas in their own words. It also encourages students to engage with nonfiction literature, extract key information, and effectively communicate that information to others.

What are the main skills I need to keep in mind when I am teaching students how to do both a narrative and nonfiction summary?

1. Read and Analyze the Text: 

1. Narrative Summary:  If reading fiction, read to understand the characters, plot, and key events to gain a comprehensive understanding of the story. 

2. Nonfiction Summary: If reading nonfiction, read to find the main ideas, key details, and the author's argument or purpose.

2. Identify the Main Elements/Ideas: 

1. Narrative Summary: Identify the main elements of the narrative, including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This will help you structure your summary effectively.

2. Nonfiction Summary: Determine the central ideas or arguments presented in the text. Look for recurring themes, key concepts, or overarching messages.

3. Focus on Key Events/Supporting Details: 

1. Narrative Summary: Select the most significant events and plot points that drive the narrative forward. Highlight those events that contribute to the development of the characters or the resolution of the conflict.

2. Nonfiction Summary: Identify and highlight the most important details, examples, evidence, or statistics that support the main ideas or arguments in the text.

4. Use Concise Language: All summaries should use clear and concise language. 

1. Narrative Summary: Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy descriptions. Focus on conveying the main ideas and essential aspects of the story. 

2. Nonfiction Summary: Summarize complex ideas or passages by paraphrasing them in your own words. Simplify the language and structure to ensure clarity and conciseness.

5. Maintain Objective Tone: When writing either a narrative summary or a nonfiction summary, maintain an objective tone. Stick to summarizing the events and avoid inserting personal opinions or interpretations.

6. Follow Chronological Order: 

1. Narrative Summary: Arrange the summary in chronological order, reflecting the sequence of events in the original narrative. This helps readers follow the storyline and understand the progression of the plot.

2. Nonfiction Summary: Consider the structure of the nonfiction text (e.g., headings, subheadings, transitions) and use it as a guide for organizing your summary.

7. Omit Irrelevant Information: Exclude any details or examples that are not crucial to the main ideas or arguments. Focus on the most significant information that contributes to the understanding of the text. 

8. Avoid Spoilers (Narrative Summary Only): Be mindful of spoilers if summarizing a narrative that others may not have read or experienced yet. Provide enough information to give a sense of the story without revealing major surprises or plot twists.

9. Review and Revise: After completing the summary, review and revise your work. Ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy of the summary. Edit any grammar, capitalization, or spelling errors. 

10. Summarize in your Own Words: Summarize the narrative in your own words, avoiding direct quotations or copying from the original text. This demonstrates your understanding of the story and allows you to present a unique interpretation.

What are some assignments I can use to teach summaries in my classroom?

Example Narrative Summary Strategies

1. Strategy #1: SWBST Narrative Summary Assignment

1. SWBST Summary Writing Template

2. Somebody (Main Character)

3. Wanted (Goal)

4. But (Conflict)

5. So Reaction/Falling Action

6. Then (Resolution)

2. Strategy #2: Main Idea + Details Assignment

1. First line-TSAM-Title, Source, Author, and Main Idea

2. Second & third lines-Supporting details

3. Plot Elements Review Assignment-Plot, Character, Conflict, Setting, and Theme (Elementary calls this a 5 finger retell)

Example Nonfiction Summary Strategies

1. Strategy #1: 10% Summary from John Collins Writing Program

2. Strategy #2: Main Idea + Details Assignment

1. First line-TSAM-Title, Source, Author, and Main Idea

2. Second & third lines-Supporting details

Writing Mindset Reflection: How do you teach summary writing in your classroom? What assignments and strategies work for you?

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