Now that you know about the parts of a summary, there's one more thing to remember when summarizing: Should you write an objective or subjective summary? Recall that an objective summary only includes the facts, and a subjective summary is a mix of the facts and the writer's opinions.
Most summaries you will write will be objective. In fact, if no direction is given about what kind of summary to write, leave your opinions out of it—in other words, make it objective. You should write subjective summaries when you are specifically asked to review or interpret literature or when you’re asked to give your thoughts and opinions about a text in a summary.
Try this activity to ensure you know when to write objective and subjective summaries.
You are asked to write a review of a movie.
Think about what should be included in the summary.
Think about what should be included in the summary.
You are asked to summarize an online news article.
Think about what the directions are telling you to do.
Think about what the directions are telling you to do.
You are asked to summarize a short story.
The directions do not ask for your thoughts and opinions on the story.
The directions do not ask for your thoughts and opinions on the story.
You are asked to summarize and interpret a poem.
The important word to note in the directions is interpret.
The important word to note in the directions is interpret.
You got # out of # correct. Click the Retry button for another attempt.
You got a perfect score. Great job!
Read this excerpt from Wikipedia's article on fireworks. First, find the passage's main idea and supporting details and add them to a web organizer by clicking the Activity button below. Then, write a very short objective summary of the article beneath the web in the worksheet. Be sure to include only the information that should go in a summary. After completing the activity, submit your graphic organizer worksheet to your teacher.
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic, cultural, and religious purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics) is a display of the effects produced by firework devices. Fireworks competitions are also regularly held at a number of places. Fireworks take many forms to produce the four primary effects: noise, light, smoke, and floating materials (confetti, for example). They may be designed to burn with flames and sparks of many colors, typically red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and silver. Displays are common throughout the world and are the focal point of many cultural and religious celebrations.
The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th-century China, where they were invented. The fireworks were used to accompany many festivities. The use of fireworks is a part of the culture of China and had its origin there; eventually it spread to other cultures and societies. The art and science of firework-making has developed into an independent profession. In China, pyrotechnicians were respected for their knowledge of complex techniques in mounting fireworks displays.
During the Song Dynasty (960–1279), many of the common people could purchase various kinds of fireworks from market vendors, and grand displays of fireworks were also known to be held. In 1110, a large fireworks display was included in a martial demonstration held to entertain Emperor Huizong of Song (r. 1100–1125) and his court. A record from 1264 states that a rocket-propelled firework went off near the Empress Dowager Gong Sheng and startled her during a feast held in her honor by her son Emperor Lizong of Song (r. 1224–1264).
Your work on this assignment will be graded according to the following rubric.
| Criteria | |
| Graphic Organizer 2 points |
1 Point: You identified the passage’s main idea correctly and placed it in the correct part of the map. |
| 1 Point: You identified the passage’s supporting details and placed them in the correct part of the map. | |
| Summary 3 points |
1 Point: Your summary included all of the ideas in the graphic organizer. |
| 1 Point: Your summary provided the right amount of detail and did so in a concise (not wordy) way. | |
| 1 Point: Your summary is objective and does not include personal opinions. |
