Summarizing Nonfiction: Keep the Big Ideas

Write a short summary of a nonfiction text that keeps the main ideas and leaves out small details.

A summary is a short retelling of the most important ideas in your own words. For nonfiction, a good summary includes the topic, the main idea, and the key supporting points, and leaves out small details, examples, and your opinions. Read: 'Camels are well suited to desert life. Their humps store fat, which their bodies can use for energy when food is scarce.

They can go many days without drinking. Their long eyelashes and closable nostrils keep out sand. A camel can drink a huge amount of water in just a few minutes. ' Summary: 'Camels are adapted to deserts. They store fat in their humps, survive long without water, and have features that block sand. '

• 1Include the topic, main idea, and key points.
• 2Leave out small details, examples, and opinions.
• 3Use your own words and keep it short.