As we read How They Croaked, you will need to know how to summarize each story. A summary is a significant reduction of the original source. To write an effective summary, follow these guidelines: Determine the main idea of the piece you have read or viewed. Determine the main idea of the piece you have read or viewed. Write one sentence that captures that main idea. Write one sentence that captures that main idea. As you read or view, note the major areas of evidence that the piece provides. As you read or view, note the major areas of evidence that the piece provides. Then write one sentence that communicates the gist of each of these major areas. Then write one sentence that communicates the gist of each of these major areas. Avoid these common problems To avoid plagiarizing, do not look at the source while you are composing the summary. Use what you remember from the reading or viewing. Write the summary in your own words. After you have written the summary, you can revisit the source to confirm facts. Do not express an opinion about the source. Neither disagree... nor sing its praises. Do not open the summary with In this article, it says... or This video is about Stinks! Stinks! Use this formula: Specific name of piece + strong action verb + main idea. That sounds so much better ! That sounds so much better ! Show me what you can do! First Summary Directions Determine the main idea. Determine the main idea. Decide the areas of evidence. Decide the areas of evidence. Write a summary of the article in 3 to 4 sentences. Write a summary of the article in 3 to 4 sentences. Be sure to follow the format guidelines Be sure to follow the format guidelines Ever wonder what's really underneath that 5,000-year-old mummy's elaborate wrapping? There will be a rare chance to find out. "Mummies: New Secrets From the Tombs" opens Sept. 18 at Los Angeles' Natural History Museum. Using state-of-the-art CT scans, exhibition curators have looked right through the wrappings of some two-dozen mummies from Egypt and Peru. The researchers want to learn how the ancient people lived and died. Thanks to large, tabletop computers placed alongside the mummies and their artifacts, museum visitors will be able to do the same. The show is aimed at providing a greater understanding of ancient peoples and their cultures. It is curated by Chicago's Field Museum. The Chicago museum has one of the country's largest mummy collections. After leaving Los Angeles in January the mummies will travel to several other cities.