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?

Today’s Writing Assignment

Y

ou will be assigned to writing a summary and a

critique for The Outsiders.

S

o, take good notes, for you can use them to do

today’s assignment (how did you like my

FANBOYS usage? )

A summary does

not…

judge or evaluate what

you read. – no opinions!

use irrelevant or

unnecessary details.

Summaries

A summary does…

Begin with a topic

sentence, telling the reader

what they are about to read

restate what you

read/saw in your own

words.

maintain a neutral and

objective stance.

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 critique does not…

restate what you read—it

is not a summary!

repeat unimportant or

irrelevant details.

have an overly biased tone

or style.

use slang or overly casual

language.

Critiques

A critique does…

Begin with a topic sentence,

telling the reader what they are

about to read

Assess or analyze what you

read/saw.

offer interpretations, opinions, and

judgments about what you read/saw.

give evidence, from the text or

media, to support your evaluation.

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

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.

b

egin with a topic sentence, telling the reader what they are about to read• Example Topic SentencesExample Topic Sentences• Summary = The Outsiders, by SE Hinton, is a story about the three Curtis boys that find

family with a town gang called the Greasers. The novel begins…• Critique = The Outsiders,by SE Hinton, is an entertaining novel that grabs the attention of

it’s readers in the exposition with a wonderfully exciting scene. The visual and sound effects were done well considering….

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.

Fashion PoliceI

n a summary,

T

he fashion police

would just describe

what they see

people wearing.

They would not say

whether or not they

liked the outfit.

Fashion PoliceI

n a critique,

T

he fashion police would pick a part of

the outfit they didn’t like and explain

why they didn’t like it. Then, they

might tell a part of the outfit that

they liked and explain why. They

would end with a final judgment or

rating of the outfit. They would not

describe the whole outfit first!

Now it’s your turn…

Y

ou will be assigned to writing a summary or a critique for The Outsiders.

I

n your writing, be sure to use correct grammar, spelling, caps, and punctuation.

Y

ou must also use a topic sentence that shows if the paragraph will be a summary or a

critique. Use your notes!

Y

ou have 15 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!