It’s Time to Summarize, not

Plagiarize! “...but I didn’t mean to!”

Tips to Help You Out

Before You Take Notes:

1.) Read your material before you write anything.

2.) If you don’t understand what you’ve read, read it again; look up words or concepts you don’t understand. If needed ask someone else to help you understand it.

Tips to Help You Out

Time to take notes:1.) Put the article away before you start taking notes. If you understand it, you shouldn’t need it.2.) Only look back at it if you need to reread it or get a name or date. Don’t keep looking back too often, chances are you’ll copy.3.) Go back to the article one last time to make sure you took notes on all the main points.

Tips to Help You Out

Time to write!1.) Again, make sure you understand what you have read. 2.) Before you start writing, plan out what you’re going to say, how you’re going to say it, and in what order. (Pre-write. Web, Graphic Organizer, Outline.)3.) Look your notes over. PUT THEM AWAY! Gasp! NEVER have your document out when writing. You can go back and look at your notes, but just in case you didn’t put things in your own words, you’re better off not having them right next to you.

Summarizing an Article

Your summary should:• identify the title, author, and topic in the first sentence• state the main idea in the second sentence• be shorter than the original article (duh, but just thought I’d point that out!)• include 3-5 sentences (after the first two sentences) in which you explain, in your own words, the author’s point of view• include one or two interesting quotations or details• include transition words • include strong verbs

Strong Verbs:

The author...argues assertsconcludesconsiders discusses emphasizes

examines explores focuses onimplies mentions notes

points out statessuggests

Transition Words

Transition words and phrases are like road signs. They help the reader understand the direction of your thought. Here’s a good source!

Sources (images all creative commons)

Yes, I still need to cite them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Prohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Note-takinghttp://www.taylorapp.com/taylor/notes/trans.pdfwww.qacps.k12.md.ushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concurrency_(road)