Students fix three errors — a volcano summary listing every lava fact, a vitamin C detail called the main idea, and a summary longer than the original. Part B has four fill-in-the-blank questions about summaries, main idea location, and minor details. Part C has two short-answer questions about what to leave out and where to find the main idea.
Identifying what belongs in a summary versus what to cut is the core skill this sheet establishes.
Style:
Main Idea and Summarizing
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should list every fact about lava temperature.
Rewrite: A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should tell the key points about how volcanoes form and erupt.
2. Fix the sentence:
The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that apples have vitamin C.
Rewrite: The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that a balanced diet keeps your body strong.
3. Fix the sentence:
A summary should be longer than the original passage so no information is left out.
Rewrite: A summary should be shorter than the original passage and include only the key information.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A summary is a short retelling of the most important parts of a text.
2. The main idea can often be found in the first sentence of a paragraph.
3. Minor details are interesting but not essential to the main idea.
4. Key details help support or explain the main idea of a passage.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. What should you leave out when writing a summary?
You should leave out minor details, repeated information, and personal opinions that do not support the main idea.
2. Where in a paragraph can you usually find the main idea?
The main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, but sometimes you must figure it out from all the details together.
Main Idea and Summarizing
★ Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1) Fix the sentence:
A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should list every fact about lava temperature.
Rewrite: A good summary of a chapter about volcanoes should tell the key points about how volcanoes form and erupt.
2) Fix the sentence:
The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that apples have vitamin C.
Rewrite: The main idea of an article about healthy eating is that a balanced diet keeps your body strong.
3) Fix the sentence:
A summary should be longer than the original passage so no information is left out.
Rewrite: A summary should be shorter than the original passage and include only the key information.
★ Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1) A summary is a short retelling of the most important parts of a text.
2) The main idea can often be found in the first sentence of a paragraph.
3) Minor details are interesting but not essential to the main idea.
4) Key details help support or explain the main idea of a passage.
★ Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1) What should you leave out when writing a summary?
You should leave out minor details, repeated information, and personal opinions that do not support the main idea.
2) Where in a paragraph can you usually find the main idea?
The main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, but sometimes you must figure it out from all the details together.
Ready to Practice?
Complete each section carefully.
9 Questions
15-20 minutes
Auto-graded
Retry anytime
🏆
Questions Correct
0
Correct
0
Incorrect
0
Skipped
0:00
Time
0%
Score
Review Your Answers
See what you got right, missed, or skipped.