Summarizing Longer Passages Step One: Read the an article of your choice several times.

Step Two: Find the key words (the ones that repeat, the synonyms, the pronouns) Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Paragraph 6

Step Three: What is the organizational pattern (signal words, too) for each paragraph? (Comparison-Contrast, Sequence, Cause-Effect, Problem-solution, Illustration-Description, Definition, Classification, Journalistic-Pyramid) Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Paragraph 6

Step Four: What are other words/synonyms/expressions you could use to say the main idea/key words in each paragraph? Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Paragraph 6

Step Five: Write a summarizing sentence for each paragraph. Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Paragraph 6

Step Six: Write a paragraph summarizing the longer passage by connecting your sentences from step 5. Make sure they flow together smoothly. 2011 Charles Voth