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Summaries and critiques
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the
difference between a summary and a
critique.
What do you think is the difference
between a summary and a critique?
Today’s Writing Assignment
Y
ou will be assigned to writing a summary and a
critique for The Outsiders.
S
o, take good notes, for you can use them to do
today’s assignment (how did you like my
FANBOYS usage? )
A summary does
not…
judge or evaluate what
you read. – no opinions!
use irrelevant or
unnecessary details.
Summaries
A summary does…
Begin with a topic
sentence, telling the reader
what they are about to read
restate what you
read/saw in your own
words.
maintain a neutral and
objective stance.
W
e first meet our narrator, fourteen-year-old Ponyboy, as he's
walking home from the movies – alone, which is something we
know he's not supposed to be doing. Ponyboy lives in a
dangerous area. His East Side neighborhood is patrolled by
bullying Socials, rich kids from the West Side of town. Pony's a
Greaser and defenseless Greasers are the Socials' favorite
targets. Sure enough, Ponyboy is attacked by a carload of
Socials when he's in a vacant lot, just minutes from his home.
Luckily his older brothers – Darry and Sodapop – and the rest
of his gang – Steve, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dallas – come to his
rescue and chase away the Socials. We learn that Ponyboy and
his brothers lost their parents recently in a car accident.
Summary
A critique does not…
restate what you read—it
is not a summary!
repeat unimportant or
irrelevant details.
have an overly biased tone
or style.
use slang or overly casual
language.
Critiques
A critique does…
Begin with a topic sentence,
telling the reader what they are
about to read
Assess or analyze what you
read/saw.
offer interpretations, opinions, and
judgments about what you read/saw.
give evidence, from the text or
media, to support your evaluation.
P
arents need to know that this story of peer pressure, rebellion, and
identity centers on two rival groups of teens, the lower-class
"outsider" Greasers and the more well-heeled, popular Socs (short
for Socials). It includes fighting, underage drinking, delinquent
behavior, a rumble, a fatal stabbing, and a suicide. But the indelible
characters and compelling story have consistently hooked middle
school kids, teens, and reluctant readers since The Outsiders was
first published in 1967. This book appeals to preteens (many read it
in sixth grade) because that's the time when kids break into social
cliques and life becomes tribal. The feelings of being ostracized are
timeless -- which is why this book is still so relevant more than 40
years after its original publication. Kids may also want to check out
Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film version.
C
ritique
Both should…b
e written using the present tense (he remembers, she points out, the essay has).
i
nclude the title of the piece you’re writing about and the author’s name.
b
egin with a topic sentence, telling the reader what they are about to read• Example Topic SentencesExample Topic Sentences• Summary = The Outsiders, by SE Hinton, is a story about the three Curtis boys that find
family with a town gang called the Greasers. The novel begins…• Critique = The Outsiders,by SE Hinton, is an entertaining novel that grabs the attention of
it’s readers in the exposition with a wonderfully exciting scene. The visual and sound effects were done well considering….
a
fter the initial introduction of the author, you should refer to him or her by last name only.
b
e proofread before the final draft.
Fashion PoliceI
n a summary,
T
he fashion police
would just describe
what they see
people wearing.
They would not say
whether or not they
liked the outfit.
Fashion PoliceI
n a critique,
T
he fashion police would pick a part of
the outfit they didn’t like and explain
why they didn’t like it. Then, they
might tell a part of the outfit that
they liked and explain why. They
would end with a final judgment or
rating of the outfit. They would not
describe the whole outfit first!
Now it’s your turn…
Y
ou will be assigned to writing a summary or a critique for The Outsiders.
I
n your writing, be sure to use correct grammar, spelling, caps, and punctuation.
Y
ou must also use a topic sentence that shows if the paragraph will be a summary or a
critique. Use your notes!
Y
ou have 15 minutes!
I
f you finish early, go back and proofread your writing and make any necessary corrections.
Exit ticket
R
ead your shoulder partner’s writing.
T
hen, decide if the piece is a summary or a critique.
A
fter deciding, explain why you believe the piece of writing
is a summary or a critique. Cite evidence from their paper
to prove your answer!