SHORT SUMMARY & OPINION ESSAY

10th Grade English – Mr. Suarez

The basic five-paragraph essay structure, works very well for an opinion essay. It’s a good starting
point.
A summary/opinion essay exists to prove your main point. This should be clearly stated in your
opening paragraph. Don’t leave the reader to guess what your position is on the issue – make a
clear stand!
Next, develop your argument in the body of your essay. Each paragraph should contain a single,
clear idea that support your point of view. You can use examples and illustration, cause-and-effect
reasoning, comparison/contrast or other methods of development to support your argument.
Research: Any statements you make that would cause a reader to say, “Wait, how do you know
that’s true?” need to be backed up with documentation from outside sources (“I saw something on
TV about it one time” would not be considered adequate documentation). Refer to the handout
“What is Research?” for further details.
Remember that a paragraph is five to seven sentences that develop a single, clear idea. A good
paragraph often begins with a topic sentence that sums up your main idea.

Paragraph One -- The introduction.

In this first paragraph you give a short summary of the story. A summary is condensed version of
a larger reading. A summary is not a rewrite of the original piece and does not have to be long.
To write a summary, use your own words to express briefly the main idea and the important details
of the piece you have read. Your purpose in writing the summary is to show the basic ideas of
the original reading. You want to answer the question: What was it about and what did the author
want to communicate?
While reading the original work, take note of what or who is the focus and ask the usual questions
that reporters would use: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Using these questions to
examine what you are reading can help you to write the summary.
In writing the summary, let your reader know the piece that you are summarizing. Identify the title,
author and source of the piece. You may want to use this formula:
In "Title of the Piece" (source and date of piece), author shows that: central idea of the piece. The
author supports the main idea by using _____________________ and showing that________
Remember:
1) Do not rewrite the original piece.
2) Keep your summary short.
3) Use your own wording.
4) Refer to the central and main ideas of the original piece.
5) Read with who, what, when, where, why and how questions in mind.
6) Do not put in your opinion of the issue or topic discussed in the original piece. Often,
teachers ask students to put their opinions in a paragraph separate from the summary.

NEXT, state the main idea of your entire essay -- the point you are trying to make or prove. This
paragraph should include your thesis statement plus three reasons why you believe this statement
to be true.
Paragraphs Two, Three and Four.
These are the body of your essay. Remember back in Paragraph One, you gave three reasons for
your opinion? Three reasons, three body paragraphs. Each of the body paragraphs should take one
of your reasons and explain it in more detail, citing sources where necessary.
Paragraph Five - The conclusion.
In the conclusion, sum up your argument by restating your objective and reminding the reader
what your three reasons were.
NAME:_______________________________GROUP_______ DATE:__________________