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Reading – Summarizing

Reading · Level 5 · CCSS: RI.5.2, RL.5.2 · Worksheet 2 of 5 · Practice Set 5

Level 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practice SetsSet 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9 Set 10

1 Read the Story

📖 Read this story carefully. You will write a summary of it!

The Library Book Mystery

At Fairview Public Library, a librarian named Mr. Chen noticed that several mystery novels kept disappearing from the shelves without being checked out. He decided to investigate by checking the security cameras near the mystery section.

The footage showed a young boy named Eli carefully hiding books behind other books instead of stealing them. When Mr. Chen asked Eli about it, Eli admitted he was saving his favorite books so no one else could borrow them first. Mr. Chen explained that hiding books wasn't fair to other readers.

Instead of getting in trouble, Eli was given a special job as a "junior librarian helper" who could request books be held for him properly. Eli was thrilled with his new responsibility, and the mystery novels stopped disappearing from the shelves.

2 Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then

🎯 Use the SWBST strategy to organize your summary.

Somebody → Wanted → But → So → Then

Part	Fill In
Somebody (Who?)
Wanted (What did they want?)
But (What was the problem?)
So (What did they do?)
Then (How did it end?)

3 Write a Summary

✍️ Now write your summary in 2–3 sentences. Include only the MOST important parts — leave out small details!

Tip: A good summary does NOT include: the exact camera brand used, what time Mr. Chen checked the footage, or the titles of every hidden book.

4 Summary vs. Detail

📋 Decide: does each statement belong in a summary, or is it just a detail?

Statement	Summary or Detail?
Mystery novels kept disappearing from the library shelves.
Mr. Chen checked the security cameras to investigate.
Eli was hiding books so he could read them first.
Eli became a junior librarian helper instead of getting in trouble.
Mr. Chen explained that hiding books wasn't fair.
The mystery novels stopped disappearing.

5 SBA Performance Task: Extended Response

This section is like a performance task on the state test. Read carefully, find evidence, and write a complete response.

Question: Write a summary of this passage that includes the main idea and the most important supporting details. Leave out minor details.

My claim or answer:

Evidence 1: (Quote or detail from the text)

Evidence 2: (Another quote or detail)

My explanation: (Connect the evidence to your claim in 2-3 sentences)

+ Bonus Reading Practice

Use this short practice to extend Set 5.

Topic words: beach, shell, wave, pattern

1. Write one sentence using two of the words above.

2. What detail would you expect to find in a passage about this topic?

3. Write one inference a reader could make from a text about this topic.