Grade 7 English: Summary writing poster

1What is a summary?

A summary gives the main points of a text in your own words. It is much shorter than the original. It keeps the order of the ideas and does not add your own opinion.

2Steps to follow

• Read the whole text carefully, twice.
• Find the main idea of each paragraph. It is often in the topic sentence, at the start.
• Underline or note the key words.
• Cross out examples, repeated ideas and descriptions.
• Write the points in your own words.
• Count the words and check the length.

3Keep or leave out?

• Keep: the main ideas, important facts, names and numbers that matter.
• Leave out: examples, small details, descriptions, quotations and repeated ideas.

4Use your own words

Do not copy sentences. Use your own words and join short ideas into one sentence.

5Writing it well

• Use full sentences, unless you are asked for point form.
• Use linking words such as because, so, but and after.
• Keep to the word limit.

6Worked example

Paragraph: Bees do important work. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen, and this helps plants to make fruit and seeds. Many of the foods we eat depend on this. Bees also make honey, which people enjoy.