How to Summarize Literary Texts for 5th Grade

**Use the "Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then" Strategy** This helps students structure their summary: - **Somebody** (Who is the main character?) - **Wanted** (What did they want?) - **But** (What was the problem?) - **So** (What did they do to solve it?) - **Then** (How did it end?)...

**Use the "Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then" Strategy** This helps students structure their summary: - **Somebody** (Who is the main character?) - **Wanted** (What did they want?) - **But** (What was the problem?) - **So** (What did they do to solve it?) - **Then** (How did it end?) **3. Keep It Concise** A summary should be **short and to the point**. Encourage students to **leave out unnecessary details** and focus on the most important information. **4. Use Their Own Words** Students should **restate** the story in their own words instead of copying sentences from the text. **5. Check for Understanding** After writing their summary, students should ask:\ ✅ Does it include the main idea of the story?\ ✅ Does it make sense?\ ✅ Is it brief but complete? ### A sample summary using a specific text **\"Charlotte's Web\" by E.B. White** as an example. **Example Summary Using "Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then"** **Somebody** -- Wilbur, a young pig,\ **Wanted** -- to avoid being slaughtered and find friendship,\ **But** -- he was small and weak, and the farmer planned to kill him,\ **So** -- his friend Charlotte, a wise spider, spun words into her web to make Wilbur seem special,\ **Then** -- Wilbur was saved, but Charlotte passed away, leaving her babies behind to continue her legacy. **Concise Summary:** Wilbur, a runt pig, fears for his life until Charlotte, a kind spider, uses her web to make him famous. Her plan works, and Wilbur is saved. Though Charlotte dies, her children carry on her memory.