Learners convey the gist of what they have read by summarizing the content in 20 words.

Learning Outcomes

• Summarize
• Selective rereading
• Assess
• Explain

Implementation

1. Distribute copies of brief content (1–1 ½ pages). The content must be divided into four or five sections that embody logical summarizing points, indicated by a wavy line or the word “STOP” in the margins.
2. Explain that learners will read a portion of the text, stop, and write a sentence that summarizes the “gist” of that section. At the end of the content, learners will have written four or five sentences or a concise summary of the content.
3. Introduce the content to be read, build prior knowledge, and discuss essential vocabulary. Read aloud the first passage of the content while learners read along silently.
4. Lead class discussion about essential facts from the passage, writing their ideas on the board.
5. Lead the class discussion about how to turn ideas into a sentence, allowing learners to share ideas and negotiate these ideas to craft an accurate and precise sentence.
6. Write the agreed-upon sentence on the board, giving it #1. Learners write the sentence on the GIST Summary Writinggraphic organizer (Click here to access all of our graphic organizer forms).
7. Read aloud the second passage, following the sequence above and numbering the agreed-upon sentence #2. Repeat cycle until the content is finished.
8. Discuss how the class has compressed a page of text into a limited number of sentences.
9. Reread the series of sentences and ask learners to help you underline the keywords in each sentence.
10. Lead a class discussion about how to format a concise written summary utilizing the underlined keywords.