Item description

A strong summary highlights the most important information presented in a logical organization. Often students recall the less-than-important information in an illogical order.

Support students to generate stronger writing by explaining that their summaries should match the text structure of the passage. The framework or organization of their writing should include the same transition words as used in the original passage. Here are common transitions sorted by text-structure frame.

 

  • Chronological structure: In the beginning…, the problem was…, next,…, then,…, after that,…, finally,…
  • Main Idea-Supporting Details structure: …is the most important…, an example, another reason…, another illustration…, therefore…, …is important because…
  • Compare-Contrast structure: …and…are alike…, both have…, they differ in…, …as well as…, another way they are…, only…is the –est
  • Cause-Effect structure: The reason…happened…, if…hadn’t happened…, one effect of…, another result…, due to…occurring…, this explains why…
  • Problem-Solution structure: Somebody (person or object), …wanted…, …but…, so…, then…

After reading a passage, provide students with the appropriate text-structure frame. (Download the frames and cut the transition strips apart.) Model how to retell the text using the sentence starters/transition words to link facts and details together. These transitions will support an organized summary of the most important information. 

Subject
Grade levels Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Resource types , , , ,
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Is editable content included? No
Supported file formats .pdf

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