Lesson title: Cycle 5, Reading Session: Summarizing Materials:

Techniques References:
https://www.colorincolorado.org/artic
Lesson Objectives: le/reading-comprehension-strategies-
english-language-learners
1. To recall techniques in summarizing texts. https://www.ereadingworksheets.co
2. To apply techniques in summarizing texts. m/free-reading-worksheets/reading-
3. To self-evaluate needs in reading comprehension comprehension-
skills. worksheets/summarizing-
worksheets-and-activities/

Productivity Tip: It is important to separate your studying and leisure spaces to avoid
distractions. Your ideal studying area should be quiet, organized, free from distractions
and comfortable: so avoid studying in your bed as you might be tempted to take a nap!

Welcome to session 18! This is the start of Cycle 5. One cycle will have the 4 macro language skills
of Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. Today is a reading session.

LESSON TARGETS
Read: Lesson targets are skills and knowledge you want to be able to accomplish at the end of the
session. Keep today’s lesson targets in mind as we go through today’s session:

✓ To summarize texts
✓ To complete answering a reading comprehension practice test in 45 minutes
✓ To reflect and list the kind of comprehension skills I need to work on

A. LESSON REVIEW/PREVIEW
Activity 1: One strategy to improve your reading comprehension skills is learning how to
summarize. Writing a good summary is not always easy. Based on your own experience, how
do you summarize text?
First thing I do is read the whole text, then I get the main idea, divide the sections, get its key words and
supporting details. Afterwards I write the summary by simplifying /shortening it but not leaving out the general context of the
passage/paragraph.

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 B. DEVELOPING THE SKILL
Activity 2: Concept Notes
Instruction: Read the concept notes pre-printed below. While reading, highlight key information
found in the text.

Summarizing can be a challenging task. It requires a combination of the different skills previously
learned in reading comprehension. Here are some strategies that will improve your summarizing
skills.
1. Retell what you read but keep it short.
2. Include only important information.
3. Leave out less important details.
4. Use key words from the text.
5. Express this information in your own words.

Summaries should NOT contain opinions, background knowledge, or personal information;

rather, a summary should be entirely text based.

Take a look at this example below:

When one hears the term “reality” applied to a television show, one might expect that the
events occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted, but this is not always the
case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like rented mansions occupied by
film crews. These living environments do not reflect what most people understand to be
“reality.” Worse, there have been accusations that events not captured on film were later
restaged by producers. Worse still, some involved in the production of “reality” television
claim that the participants were urged to act out story lines premeditated by producers. With
such accusations floating around, it’s no wonder many people take reality TV to be about as
real as the sitcom.

Summary: Reality TV shows are not very realistic because they are filmed in unrealistic
places, may contain restaged events, and may be scripted.

The skill of writing summaries is necessary to improve your memory of what you have read, such
as when you are studying or preparing for an exam.

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 Activity 3: Check for understanding
 Instructions: Write a summary of the following texts. Each summary should a complete
sentence or two. It should cover main points and key ideas. It should be in your own words. It
should NOT be just a word or two.
1. There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger
carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Males carry a
venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that paralyzes victims with excruciating pain. Stranger
still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. What this means is that
the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of
its prey. The platypus neither sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather,
pursues it through electroreception. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal
that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. The platypus is an odd creature
indeed.

Summary:
The platypus in an odd, venomous creature in the animal kingdom because it is a mammal but it lays
eggs. The male platypus uses electroreception as its way to tame its prey.

2. Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is located
in the state of Montana. The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through
the southwestern part of the park. The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, which is an
average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level. This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides
by mountain ranges. There are 290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the
highest being the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet.

Summary: Yellowstone National Park is in Wyoming and partly in the state of Montana. It has
waterfalls, a plateau bounded in mountain ranges, and the Continental Divide of North America is in
the southwestern part of the park.

3. Screech! When a driver pushes on the brake pedal, it starts a process that causes the
vehicle to stop. You literally trust braking systems with your life every time you get into a

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 vehicle or cross a busy intersection, but how does this process work? It begins when the
pedal is pusthehed. At this moment brake fluid is released into the area where the
braking

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 mechanisms are located. As the fluid collects, leverage is created, which causes a friction
to be applied. If the braking system is functioning properly, this friction will create a force
that will cause the wheels to stop and allow you to reach your destination safely.

Summary: The braking system is a process of stepping on the brakes and then the releasing of fluid
in the chamber which prompts the car to stop.

✓ Check your answers with the Key to Corrections (sample answers) found in the last pages
of this SAS.

Activity 4: Practice Test (25 mins)

Activity 4.1 Reading Comprehension Test
1. When you are ready, flip to the Reading Test found at the end this SAS.
2. Read the test materials carefully and answer the questions as best as you can. Work only on
questions #1-21.
3. Write the letter of your answers in the “answer sheet” below.
4. Time yourself. After 20 mins, finished or not, stop working and proceed to the next activity
which is checking your work.
Score: 18

1. D 11. D 21. B
2. A 12. A 22.
3. A 13. C 23.
4. B 14. D 24.
5. D 15. D 25.
6. B 16. C 26.
7. C 17. D 27.
8. B 18. B 28.
9. D 19. C 29.

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 10. B 20. C 30.

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 Activity 4.2: Checking your work
1. Turn to the reading test answer key and check your work.
2. Give yourself 1 point for every correct answer. Write your score.
3. Study the explanation for answers, especially for answers that you got wrong. This will guide
your thinking for the next practice test.

C. THINKING ABOUT LEARNING

Activity 5: My Learning
Think about the following: Is summarizing an easy task? What did you get wrong in the
exercises? What should you do to help yourself?
It isn’t an easy task because you have to really determine which key points to include and which to leave out without compromising the
whole passage or article. I should always note that the main idea shall be written despite summarizing it and to check if the summary and the original text
are completely synonymous in thought.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
Example Answers:
1. The platypus is a strange mammal because it has venom, uses its beak to sense prey,
and lays eggs.
2. Yellowstone Park, in Wyoming, is on a large plateau & has a bunch of waterfalls.
3. When you step on the brakes, fluid is stored in a chamber that allows the car to stop.

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