SUPERLATIVE SENTENCESE

yes wide, mouth full, you’ll feel like you are in Italy.

O

n the hot platter from the oven, breadsticks are a wonderful addition to this meal.

W

hen your guests smell this food, they will come running as fast as Usain Bolt on

the track.

T

o ensure a great meal, the chicken is cooked to perfection.

A

s the scent goes through the air like a lit candle, you might feel like you are in

Italy when you eat this meal.

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?

These are

other types of media that can be summarized or critiqued:

M

ovies

A

rticles

M

agazines

T

.V. shows

S

peeches

A summary is an abbreviated retelling of the book.

A good summary will include:

title, author, setting

character’s names and how they are related to each other

the main conflict

the main events in the order they occur

the climax

the resolution

A summary does not…

misrepresent what you

read.

use irrelevant or

unnecessary details.

analyze what you read.

judge or evaluate what

you read.

SUMMARIES

A summary does…

restate what you read

in your own words.

present on the main, or

important details.

maintain a neutral and

objective stance.

A critique does not…

restate what you read.

cover on the main points

of what you read.

repeat unimportant or

irrelevant details.

have an overly biased tone

or style.

use slang or overly casual

language.

CRITIQUES

A critique does…

move beyond summary.

assess or analyze what

you read.

offer interpretations and

judgments about what you

read.

give evidence to support

your evaluation.

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.

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.

W

hat is the difference between a summary

and a critique?

-

Which piece of writing is a summary or a

critique?

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 summary is an abbreviated retelling of the book.

A good summary will include:

title, author, setting

character’s names and how they are related to each other

the main conflict

the main events in the order they occur

the climax

the resolution

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

A critique requires you to share your

opinions about the book.

These are some suggested areas in which you could share

your opinion:

D

id you enjoy the book?

I

n your opinion, what is the best part of the book?

W

hat do you feel this book teaches about life (theme)?

D

o you recommend this book to others?

R

ead the following example of a

summary of the movie Avatar.

When his brother is killed in battle, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the

precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora. Written by The Massie Twins

N

ow read a critique of the movie Avatar.

This is a 'Must see' movie, innovative, and extraordinary. I think it will be regarded by most cinema goers as another milestone in the history of the art. The level of realism achieved is remarkable, and although the film is relatively long in real time, it retains it's excitement and holds the audience's attention to the end.

Performances are good, but this is not the sort of film that dwells on big star value for the actors, although Sigorney Weaver does shine and delivers a very convincing performance, as do the rest of the cast. But as there is so much entertainment and action value on screen the human element does not dominate in the usual way.

As Writer/Director, James Cameron deserves high praise for this creation and in my opinion it will break box office records. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

W

hat were some of the

d

ifferences that you noticed between

the summary and critique of Avatar?

Now it’s your turn…

Y

ou are either going to be writing a summary and a critique.

I

n your writing, be sure to use correct grammar (present tense).

Y

ou must also use at least three of the comma rules that we have discussed in class

and on your flip book.

Y

ou have 20 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!