Choosing the Key Details

Pick the details that matter most when you retell.

Key details are the parts of a story you need so it still makes sense. If you leave a key detail out, the listener gets confused. Read: 'Max wanted a pet. He saved his coins for a long time. He bought a goldfish and named it Bubbles.

Bubbles had orange fins. ' The key details are that Max wanted a pet, saved coins, and bought a goldfish. 'Orange fins' is fun, but the story still works without it. To test a detail, ask, 'If I leave this out, does the story still make sense? '

• 1Key details are needed for the story to make sense.
• 2Some details are fun but not needed.
• 3Test: would the story still make sense without it?