What is a Summary???
A story summary is a brief review of a story's most important ideas.
Let's read this story about Carolyn and the lost kitten.
Carolyn woke up early. She sat up in her bed. Something
wasn't right. Then she realized what had awakened her so early.
There was an unfamiliar sound. She listened closely and realized it
was coming from outside. She climbed out of bed and slipped into
her robe and slippers. Looking out of her window she spotted a
small kitten near the tree outside her window. She watched it for
a few moments, but it didn't move. It looked so small and helpless
standing beside the big oak tree. The kitten seemed to be calling
to her.
"I wonder where you came from," she murmured to herself.
Carolyn could hear her mother in the kitchen. She walked down the
stairs and said to her mother, "Mom, look outside. There's a kitten
in our yard. I'm going outside."
"I'll go with you," her mom replied. Together they walked
into the back yard. The kitten was still there, standing by the oak
tree. To Carolyn the quiet meows seemed to be calling to her. It
seemed as though the helpless kitten was asking her to help him.
She picked him up and held him in her arms. She'd always wanted
a kitten. It was so soft and warm. She wondered if her mother
would let her keep him.
"Let's take him inside and find him something to eat,"
Mom said. "I'll make a few calls and see if we can see where he
came from. He certainly looks like he's looking for a home."
Carolyn smiled to herself. Maybe she'd get to keep the kitten
after all.
wasn't right. Then she realized what had awakened her so early.
There was an unfamiliar sound. She listened closely and realized it
was coming from outside. She climbed out of bed and slipped into
her robe and slippers. Looking out of her window she spotted a
small kitten near the tree outside her window. She watched it for
a few moments, but it didn't move. It looked so small and helpless
standing beside the big oak tree. The kitten seemed to be calling
to her.
"I wonder where you came from," she murmured to herself.
Carolyn could hear her mother in the kitchen. She walked down the
stairs and said to her mother, "Mom, look outside. There's a kitten
in our yard. I'm going outside."
"I'll go with you," her mom replied. Together they walked
into the back yard. The kitten was still there, standing by the oak
tree. To Carolyn the quiet meows seemed to be calling to her. It
seemed as though the helpless kitten was asking her to help him.
She picked him up and held him in her arms. She'd always wanted
a kitten. It was so soft and warm. She wondered if her mother
would let her keep him.
"Let's take him inside and find him something to eat,"
Mom said. "I'll make a few calls and see if we can see where he
came from. He certainly looks like he's looking for a home."
Carolyn smiled to herself. Maybe she'd get to keep the kitten
after all.
Now...
How would we write a summary of what we just read?
Let's look at what to include in your summary:
Setting - Early morning at Carolyn's house
Main Characters - Carolyn, Mom
Problem - Carolyn finds a lost kitten
Events- 1. Carolyn tells her mother about the kitten.
2. She and her mother go outside to check on the kitten.
3. They bring the kitten inside.
Solution - Carolyn thinks she may be able to keep the kitten.
Setting - Early morning at Carolyn's house
Main Characters - Carolyn, Mom
Problem - Carolyn finds a lost kitten
Events- 1. Carolyn tells her mother about the kitten.
2. She and her mother go outside to check on the kitten.
3. They bring the kitten inside.
Solution - Carolyn thinks she may be able to keep the kitten.
Summary:
Carolyn woke up early at home. She hears a kitten outside. She tells her mother about it. She and her mother go outside to investigate. Her mother tells her she can bring the kitten inside. Carolyn thinks she'll be able to keep the kitten.
Now it's your turn....
Click the button and read the story about Pete and his grandfather. Fill out the Summary Chart worksheet to write your summary.