Strategy #1: GIST Summaries
GENERAL SUMMARY:
Writing a summary can be a daunting task when there is a lot of information in a text. GIST stands for “Generating Interaction between Schemata and Text” and is an effective way to help students learn to write summaries. Summary writing helps students learn to use concise and clear language and to pay attention to word choice. GIST summaries is a strategy to help those who struggle to find the “big idea” of a text, or simplifying what they have just read. It simplifies summary writing and creates a type of formula for creating summaries. This would be an effective strategy to use during a difficult text or during a difficult or confusing part of a novel. It requires the students to read the portion of text multiple times which will help with those who are having trouble comprehending. It can be a beneficial tool not just for those who are struggling, but for every student.
Writing a summary can be a daunting task when there is a lot of information in a text. GIST stands for “Generating Interaction between Schemata and Text” and is an effective way to help students learn to write summaries. Summary writing helps students learn to use concise and clear language and to pay attention to word choice. GIST summaries is a strategy to help those who struggle to find the “big idea” of a text, or simplifying what they have just read. It simplifies summary writing and creates a type of formula for creating summaries. This would be an effective strategy to use during a difficult text or during a difficult or confusing part of a novel. It requires the students to read the portion of text multiple times which will help with those who are having trouble comprehending. It can be a beneficial tool not just for those who are struggling, but for every student.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT GIST:
GIST is best used with shorter texts or excerpts from larger texts because the students will have to read the text multiple times. First introduce this activity by reading some well written summaries. This will help the students see what they are aiming for. Make sure to point out important elements of a good summary: word choice, conciseness, key information. Then, follow the steps below.
GIST is best used with shorter texts or excerpts from larger texts because the students will have to read the text multiple times. First introduce this activity by reading some well written summaries. This will help the students see what they are aiming for. Make sure to point out important elements of a good summary: word choice, conciseness, key information. Then, follow the steps below.
The chart above suggests using this as a full classroom discussion and activity. This could also be implemented on an individual scale. Have the students write a summary containing a certain number of words. After all the students have done so, have them rewrite what they have just written but in even fewer words.
ASSESSMENT:
Teachers can use this to monitor progress by keeping track of the conciseness of the summary by setting goals for students such as writing a summary in 50 words, 20 words, 15 words etc. Rubrics can also be created that require certain criteria such as limiting the number of words taken from the text that are used in the summary. Here is an example of a GIST Summary rubric:
Teachers can use this to monitor progress by keeping track of the conciseness of the summary by setting goals for students such as writing a summary in 50 words, 20 words, 15 words etc. Rubrics can also be created that require certain criteria such as limiting the number of words taken from the text that are used in the summary. Here is an example of a GIST Summary rubric:
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE/RESEARCH:
"The ability to write accurately and efficiently for the purpose of reporting information is a gateway skill for other types of writing, particularly research reports and persuasive essays."
"What's the Gist?" Summary Writing for Struggling Adolescent Writers, Frey, Nancy; Fisher, Douglas; Hernandez, Ted. Voices From the Middle11. 2 (Dec 2003): 43-49.
"Gist summaries are those in which students use single sentences to summarize information found in single paragraphs. Bean and Steenwyk (1984) found this strategy to be effective in increasing reading comprehension with general education sixth graders who read isolated expository paragraphs. A similar approach was used as part of a multicomponent, peer-mediated instructional package developed by Simmons, Fuchs, Fuchs, Hodge, and Mathes (1994) in which students with low achievement, average achievement, and learning disabilities in Grades 2 through 5 created gist summaries of main ideas in single paragraphs."
Teaching Effective Comprehension Strategies to Students with Learning and Reading Disabilities, Swanson, Philip N; De La Paz, Susan. Intervention in School and Clinic33. 4 (Mar 1998): 209.
"The ability to write accurately and efficiently for the purpose of reporting information is a gateway skill for other types of writing, particularly research reports and persuasive essays."
"What's the Gist?" Summary Writing for Struggling Adolescent Writers, Frey, Nancy; Fisher, Douglas; Hernandez, Ted. Voices From the Middle11. 2 (Dec 2003): 43-49.
"Gist summaries are those in which students use single sentences to summarize information found in single paragraphs. Bean and Steenwyk (1984) found this strategy to be effective in increasing reading comprehension with general education sixth graders who read isolated expository paragraphs. A similar approach was used as part of a multicomponent, peer-mediated instructional package developed by Simmons, Fuchs, Fuchs, Hodge, and Mathes (1994) in which students with low achievement, average achievement, and learning disabilities in Grades 2 through 5 created gist summaries of main ideas in single paragraphs."
Teaching Effective Comprehension Strategies to Students with Learning and Reading Disabilities, Swanson, Philip N; De La Paz, Susan. Intervention in School and Clinic33. 4 (Mar 1998): 209.