Nonfiction

In summarizing nonfiction texts, introduce these steps:

 Skim the text to get a general idea of the topic

 Delete unnecessary or redundant material

 Find the main ideas in the text

 Find or create a topic sentence

 Substitute general or "umbrella" terms when appropriate (for example, trees instead ofoak, maple, and pine)

 Mark key words and phrases and jot down notes about the main idea. Instruct students to look for signal
words such as therefore, in conclusion, or in summary.