Prewriting for Summaries
Prewriting is your first step in writing a summary. These prewriting activities will help you read closely and pick out the important details for your summary.
Prewriting to Read Closely
Before you can write a great summary, you need to read closely. To do so, use a close-reading strategy called SQ3R—Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review.
Survey, question, and read.
Follow these instructions before you read the article below.
- Survey the article: Place a check mark by the title and author.
- Question the topic and purpose: Write notes on the document.
- Read the text: Underline the focus statement and topic sentences.
Listen to "The Modern Day Magellan' "
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The Modern Day Magellan
By Lizbeth Mitchell
You may have read in history books about European explorers, like Ferdinand Magellan, who sailed around the world by ship. But your history books probably have not taught you about the man who traveled around the world by motorcycle. In 2008, a British man named Jonathan Yates rode his motorcycle across six continents and 35 countries in just one year.
Yates was inspired to make the journey after reading a magazine article about a motorcycle trip in Australia. After getting his motorcycle license, he left his comfortable job in England and hit the road on his newly bought Yamaha Tenere motorcycle.
Starting in Europe, he drove east all the way through Asia until he arrived in Beijing, China. From China, Yates made his way through Southeast Asia and down to Australia. From Australia, he flew to Argentina and headed south to the tip of South America. Then he traveled north along the Pacific coast through Central America and Mexico, before finishing his journey in North America.
Along the way, Yates stored his essential belongings in containers hanging from the sides of his bike. At night, he mostly camped in his tent. On rare occasions, he slept in hostels or hotels.
While riding, Yates encountered every type of weather condition, from scorching tropical heat in Indonesia to strong winds and freezing rain in Patagonia. He experienced passport trouble at national borders, suffered mechanical difficulties, and dealt with multiple language barriers. But Yates also saw many of the planet’s most beautiful places and met amazing people during his trip around the world.
Prewriting to Gather Details
Recite and review.
Answer the following questions to gather important information from the article. Reread the article as necessary.
- What is the title and author of the article?
- What topic does the article describe?
- What main idea does the article address about the topic?
- What are the most important details that support the main idea?
Teaching Tip
Topic sentences, headings, and repeated words and phrases offer clues for important information in a reading text.