When we are trying to save our audience a good bit of time, we might favor creating a summary of what ever subject we are exploring. A written summary is just a shortened form of an original text. For the most part, summaries are a paragraph in length, but they can be long. The goal of any summary is to introduce the audience to all the major points of a work. This must be done accurately, but concisely. Meaning do not use too many words, but make sure you cover all the finer points of the work. The last major consideration when writing a summary is to remain objective. If you insert an opinion statement it may taint the audience view of a work.
A well written summary tends to have several solid components. Your paragraph should start will an introductory sentence that examines the name of the author and title. In that same sentence you should elude to the setting or main theme behind the work. The summary should be all your original work, in your own words. As you move on to the setting remember that a summary does not require you to explore the characters specifically. Make sure to finish your summary with a nice closing that rephrases the main idea of the work. These worksheets will help you learn to write well developed summaries of written work. This series of worksheets will run you through the basic process of forming and writing a summary of text that you are exploring. Make sure to pay attention to all the details along the way and if something seems out of place, go back and reread what is unclear. I find it helpful to have students write a very brief outline as they read when forming summaries. You will find these worksheets invaluable for helping you develop these skills. We are constantly updating this section, so make sure to check back often.