Duck Overboard

Summarising the Main Idea

L.I. To look for keywords and phrases

Good readers notice key words.  Here are some clues to help you find key words:

• Key words are directly connected to the topic
• Key words are often repeated in the title and the text
• A key word helps you to remember an important idea

Use this table to help you summarise the main ideas in a text in your own words.  It is important that you use your own words to show your understanding and to avoid plagiarism.  If you don’t know what some words mean, look them up.

Keywords from the title overboard

Keywords from subheadings Duck

New words I need to look up Undoubtedly authorities Invaluable    corroded

Read the text and record key words/phrases that answer these questions:

What? In January 1992 a stupendous storm washed three containers off a ship.

Where? Hong Kong to Tacoma, Washington in the United States.

When?  In January 1992

Who?  Curtis Ebbesmeyer

Why?After falling overboard, the sea water destroyed  the card-packaging and the plastic  ducks,  turtles and  frogs broke free and began to float.

How? One container spilled its contents into the sea

Now using the words you wrote down summarise the text in 25 words or less.

Curtis Ebbesmeyer	January	Overboard	Turtle	Duck’s
Frog’s	1992	United state’s	Destroyed	Plastic
Titanic sank	stamped	beachcombers	Elements.	seale

Spilled	Sea	Stupendous	Great Britain	Washington
Contents	Thousands	children	landing	Undoubtedly