Drafting a strong first sentence for a summary is an important step. Writers can use the formula presented on this handout to get started. The resource lists three steps to put together a strong topic sentence, as well as tips and hints for the remainder of the summary.

Concepts

summaries, summarizing

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Additional Tags

summarize, writing summary, summary, english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Individuals can keep this sheet in their binders or notebooks for reference when composing summaries

Pros

• The steps are clearly shown on the reference page
• Includes a list of verbs that pupils can use in their topic sentences

Cons

• Only scratches the surface about the other parts of writing a summary
• Learners will need more instruction on how to determine the main idea or concept of a text; it's not always as simple as the handout implies