Today you will focus on three powerful ways of presenting textual evidence in an opinion editorial: quotation, paraphrase, and summary. You will look closely at how these methods appear in sample paragraphs and how they support a clear main idea. You will also practice choosing which method to use in different situations, so your writing sounds accurate and honest. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to turn source material into well–integrated evidence that strengthens your own opinion and avoids plagiarism.
🎯 Learning Goals
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify whether a sentence or paragraph presents textual evidence as a quotation, a paraphrase, or a summary.
- Transform a short source passage into one quotation, one paraphrase, and one summary that follow basic guidelines.
- Decide which method of presenting textual evidence is most appropriate in simple opinion-writing situations and explain your choice.
🧩 Key Ideas & Terms
- Textual evidence – Information taken from a text and used to support your own claim or explanation.
- Quotation – Textual evidence copied exactly from the source and placed inside quotation marks.
- Paraphrase – Textual evidence restated in your own words and sentence structure, about the same length as the original idea.
- Summary – A shortened restatement of a text that keeps only the central idea and key points in your own words.
- Signal phrase – A phrase that introduces evidence and shows whose words or ideas you are using (for example, “The article explains that…”).
- Attribution – Giving credit to the original source of a quotation, paraphrase, or summary.
- Plagiarism – Using someone else’s words or ideas as if they were your own, without proper credit.
🔄 Quick Recall / Prior Knowledge
Review key ideas from Day 1 before you deepen your work with textual evidence today.
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In your own words, what is an opinion editorial?
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An opinion editorial is an article where the writer expresses a clear point of view about an issue and tries to convince readers using reasons and evidence. -
How did you distinguish facts from opinions in yesterday’s lesson?
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Facts could be checked in reliable sources, while opinions showed judgments or beliefs, often using words like “should,” “best,” or “worst.” -
What is textual evidence, and why did we say it is important?
Show Answer
Textual evidence is information taken from another text to support your ideas. It is important because it makes your argument stronger and more believable. -
Name the three main ways of presenting textual evidence that you will focus on this week.
Show Answer
Quotation, paraphrase, and summary.
📖 Explore the Lesson
Checkpoint 1 – Seeing the Three “Voices” of Evidence
Mini-goal: Review what quotation, paraphrase, and summary look like in real sentences.
Imagine you are reading an opinion editorial about traffic and city planning. The writer wants to convince readers that city leaders should improve public transport and local services. To make the argument stronger, the writer uses information from another article about “15-minute cities” and the daily experience of commuters.
When the writer copies the original author’s words exactly, the writer is using a quotation. The sentence will usually have quotation marks and a signal phrase such as “According to…” or “The report states…”. When the writer keeps the idea but changes the wording and sentence structure while staying about the same length, that is a paraphrase. When the writer wants only the central idea of a longer passage, the writer uses a summary, which is shorter and more general.
All three methods rely on the same starting point: a careful reading of the source text. You must be able to understand the central idea and supporting details before you decide how to bring them into your own writing. You also need to be honest about where the ideas came from, which means using signal phrases and attributions.
Real-life tie-in: When you tell a friend about an article you read, you sometimes repeat one strong line exactly, sometimes retell a part in your own words, and sometimes just say what it was “basically about.” You are already switching among quotation, paraphrase, and summary in conversation.
Mini-summary: Quotation, paraphrase, and summary are three “voices” for using textual evidence. They differ in how closely they follow the original wording and how much detail they keep, but they all require clear understanding and honest attribution.
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If you copy a sentence from an article word-for-word, what must you always include?
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You must use quotation marks and a signal phrase that shows where the sentence came from. -
How is a paraphrase different from a summary in terms of length and detail?
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A paraphrase stays about the same length as the original and keeps most details, while a summary is shorter and keeps only the main idea and most important points. -
Why do all three methods require you to read the source text carefully first?
Show Answer
Because you cannot choose the right method or restate the ideas correctly if you do not fully understand what the original text is saying.
Checkpoint 2 – Working with Model Paragraphs
Mini-goal: Practice spotting quotation, paraphrase, and summary inside short paragraphs.
Let’s imagine three short paragraphs from a student’s opinion editorial about city traffic. Each paragraph uses information from the same source about city design, but each one uses textual evidence in a different way. Your task is to look at the clues—quotation marks, wording, and amount of detail—to decide what is happening.
| Paragraph | Textual Evidence Used |
|---|---|
| A. The article by Moreno says that “shorter distances between homes and services can greatly improve city life.” This supports my view that people should not have to travel far for basic needs. | ? |
| B. One writer explains that in a well-planned city, people can reach most of their daily needs in just a few minutes of walking or biking, instead of sitting in traffic for long hours. | ? |
| C. Several urban planners argue that designing cities so that services are near homes can reduce traffic and improve people’s quality of life. | ? |
Paragraph A clearly uses a short piece of exact wording from the original article, with quotation marks and a signal phrase. Paragraph B keeps a similar level of detail as the source but uses the student’s own words and structure. Paragraph C shrinks the idea into a general statement that covers the main point only. These are typical patterns you will see when reading and writing opinion editorials.
Real-life tie-in: When you write in English class or other subjects, teachers may ask, “Where did you get that idea?” Being able to say, “I quoted this line,” “I paraphrased this part,” or “I summarized this report” shows that you are using evidence responsibly.
Mini-summary: You can recognize quotation, paraphrase, and summary by looking at how closely a paragraph follows the original wording and how much detail it keeps.
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In the table, which paragraph is mainly a quotation, and what clue tells you this?
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Paragraph A is a quotation because it includes exact words from the source inside quotation marks introduced by “The article says that…”. -
Which paragraph is a paraphrase, and how can you tell?
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Paragraph B is a paraphrase. It keeps the idea of people reaching daily needs by walking or biking but expresses it in new words and sentence structure without quotation marks. -
Which paragraph is a summary, and what happened to the details?
Show Answer
Paragraph C is a summary. It combines the main point of the source into one shorter sentence and leaves out specific details such as distance or examples.
Checkpoint 3 – Writing Strong Quotations
Mini-goal: Learn how to integrate quotations smoothly into your own sentences.
A quotation becomes powerful when it clearly connects to your main idea and sounds natural inside your paragraph. To do this, you often use a signal phrase such as “According to…,” “The report states…,” or “One expert notes that…”. The signal phrase tells readers that the words they are about to read belong to someone else. After the quotation, you explain in your own words why this line supports your claim.
When you quote, remember three key points. First, keep the quoted part short and focused on the most important phrase or sentence. Second, copy it accurately and include quotation marks to show that the wording is exact. Third, always mention the source, even if you do not give full bibliographic details in your paragraph. If you change a small part for clarity, you may use brackets or an ellipsis in more advanced writing, but for now your main duty is to quote carefully and explain clearly.
Quoting too much can make your writing sound like a collection of other people’s voices. Quoting too little may make your opinion editorial feel weak or unsupported. A balanced paragraph uses quotation as one tool among many, together with paraphrases, summaries, and your own analysis.
Real-life tie-in: When you repeat the exact words of a teacher, doctor, or respected leader in a conversation, you usually do it because those words carry weight. Quoting in your writing works the same way: it brings the voice of a trusted source into your argument.
Mini-summary: Effective quotations are short, accurate, clearly introduced, and followed by your explanation of how they support your claim.
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Why is a signal phrase important when introducing a quotation?
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It prepares the reader, shows whose words are being used, and clearly separates the source’s voice from your own. -
What could happen if you fill your paragraph with many long quotations and very little explanation?
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Your writing may feel like a list of copied sentences instead of your own argument, and readers might not see your analysis. -
After a quotation, what is one question you can ask yourself to guide your explanation?
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“How does this quotation support my main idea?” or “What does this quotation show about my claim?”
Checkpoint 4 – Paraphrasing without Losing the Meaning
Mini-goal: Practice restating a source’s idea in your own words while keeping the full meaning.
Paraphrasing is more than changing a few words. When you paraphrase, you read a portion of the source carefully, close the text, and then retell the idea using your own vocabulary and sentence structure. You keep all important details, but you avoid copying chunks of the original sentence. This shows that you have truly understood the idea and can express it clearly to your reader.
A good paraphrase is usually similar in length to the original. If it is much longer, you may be adding unnecessary details. If it is much shorter, you may have turned it into a summary instead. Even though the words are yours, the idea still belongs to the original author, so you must give credit with a signal phrase or a mention of the source.
One way to check your paraphrase is to place it next to the original and ask: “Did I keep the same meaning?” “Did I avoid copying the sentence order and phrasing?” “Did I still mention where this idea came from?” If the answer to all three is yes, you have likely produced a strong paraphrase.
Real-life tie-in: When a teacher explains a textbook in simpler language, they are paraphrasing. They keep the same information but express it in a way that matches the needs of their listeners. You will do something similar for your readers.
Mini-summary: Paraphrasing means restating a source’s idea in your own words and structure while keeping its full meaning and giving credit to the original author.
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Why is it not enough to just replace a few words with synonyms when paraphrasing?
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Because the sentence structure and wording would still be too close to the original, which can lead to plagiarism and does not show real understanding. -
How can closing the book or turning away from the screen help you paraphrase better?
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It forces you to rely on your understanding of the idea rather than copying the original wording. -
Why do you still need to mention the source even when the paraphrase uses your own words?
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Because the underlying idea still comes from that source, and giving credit is an honest and respectful practice.
Checkpoint 5 – Summarizing Longer Texts
Mini-goal: Learn how to shrink a longer passage into a brief, clear summary.
Summarizing is like taking a wide picture and cropping it so only the most important parts remain. When you summarize, you read a longer text—maybe several paragraphs or a whole article—and identify its main idea and key points. You then restate those points in a much shorter form, using your own words. You do not include small examples, repeated details, or minor explanations.
A useful strategy is to ask yourself, “If I could only tell a friend three things from this text, what would they be?” Those three items often become the center of your summary. You can list them, then turn them into one or two clear sentences. Like paraphrases, summaries need attribution, because they come from someone else’s work.
In opinion editorials, writers often summarize background information before focusing on a specific claim. For example, before arguing that a city needs better transport planning, a writer might summarize a report that describes current traffic statistics. The summary prepares readers and shows that the writer is informed about the broader situation.
Real-life tie-in: When your parents ask, “What did the speaker say in the assembly?” you usually give them a summary, not the entire talk. You pick out the main points and skip the less important details, just as you do in writing.
Mini-summary: Summaries shrink long texts to their main idea and key points in your own words, leaving out minor details but still giving credit to the source.
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What question can you ask yourself to help you identify the key points for a summary?
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“If I could only share a few main ideas from this text, which ones would I choose?” -
Why should a summary be significantly shorter than the original text?
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Because its purpose is to give only the central idea and main points, not every detail. -
In an opinion editorial, where might a summary usually appear: at the start, in the middle, or at the end of a discussion of an issue?
Show Answer
Often near the start, to provide background information, although it can appear anywhere the writer needs to remind readers of the bigger picture.
Checkpoint 6 – Choosing the Best Method for Your Purpose
Mini-goal: Decide when it is better to quote, paraphrase, or summarize in your own writing.
Each method of presenting textual evidence has its own strength. You might choose to quote when the original wording is powerful, precise, or written by a highly respected source, and when changing it would make it weaker. You might choose to paraphrase when the idea is important but the exact wording is not necessary, or when you want your paragraph to flow in your own voice. You might choose to summarize when you need to give a quick overview of a long text before focusing on one part.
Good writers mix the three methods across a whole essay. In one paragraph, they may open with a short summary of a report, then paraphrase one key detail and finally quote a short sentence from an expert. As a student, you are learning not only the definitions of quotation, paraphrase, and summary but also how to choose wisely depending on your purpose, space, and readers’ needs.
When planning, it can help to write questions in the margin: “Do I need the exact words here?” “Do I need all the details?” “Will my reader understand the idea better if I explain it in my own words?” Your answers can guide you to the best method for each section of your opinion piece.
Real-life tie-in: When you give advice to a younger sibling, sometimes you repeat exactly what a teacher said, sometimes you re-explain it more simply, and sometimes you just share the main point. You choose based on what you think will help them most, just like you will choose evidence methods based on what will help your reader most.
Mini-summary: Quotation, paraphrase, and summary are different tools for different situations. Strong writers select the method that best fits their purpose, the length of the source, and the needs of their readers.
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When is quotation usually the best choice?
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When the original wording is powerful or precise, or when the source’s authority is important for your argument. -
When might paraphrasing be more effective than quoting?
Show Answer
When you want to keep the idea but fit it smoothly into your own style, or when the exact words are not necessary. -
Why is summary especially helpful when dealing with long reports or articles?
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Because it allows you to give the main idea quickly without overwhelming your reader with too many details.
💡 Example in Action
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Example 1 – Turning a Source into Three Forms
Source idea: A health article explains that dengue is spread by mosquitoes and that preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid the disease.
Write one quotation, one paraphrase, and one summary based on this idea.Show Answer
Sample quotation: The article states that “dengue is spread by mosquitoes, and the best protection is to prevent mosquito bites.”
Sample paraphrase: The article explains that dengue moves from mosquitoes to people and that the most effective defense is to avoid being bitten.
Sample summary: The article emphasizes that preventing mosquito bites is key to avoiding dengue. -
Example 2 – Identifying the Method
Sentence: According to one report, “many young people now rely on social media as their main source of news.”
Is this quotation, paraphrase, or summary?Show Answer
It is a quotation because the sentence uses the exact words of the source inside quotation marks introduced by “According to one report…”. -
Example 3 – Improving a Weak Paraphrase
Original: “Some students spend more than eight hours a day online.”
Weak paraphrase: “Some learners spend over eight hours a day online.”
Explain why this paraphrase is weak and how you can improve it.Show Answer
The weak paraphrase simply replaces “students” with “learners” and “more than” with “over.” An improved paraphrase might change the structure, for example: “A number of learners are connected to the internet for upwards of eight hours each day.” -
Example 4 – Choosing a Method
You want to explain in your op-ed that a certain city has more than three million vehicles on the road daily. Will you quote, paraphrase, or summarize this detail, and why?Show Answer
Paraphrase is a good choice because the key information is the number and type of vehicles, not the exact wording. You can restate the statistic in your own words while still crediting the report. -
Example 5 – Combining Methods in a Paragraph
A student writes a paragraph that (1) summarizes a traffic report in one sentence, (2) paraphrases one important detail about travel time, and (3) quotes one short sentence from a city planner. Explain how this combination helps the paragraph.Show Answer
The summary gives background, the paraphrase explains a specific detail clearly in the student’s own voice, and the quotation adds authority and emphasizes a key statement from an expert. Together, they make the paragraph informative and convincing.
📝 Try It Out
Answer these tasks in your notebook. Then compare your work with the suggested answers.
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In one or two sentences, define quotation, paraphrase, and summary in your own words.
Show Answer
Sample: Quotation uses the source’s exact words with quotation marks. Paraphrase restates the source’s idea in my own words but keeps about the same length. Summary shortens a longer text to its main idea and key points in my own words. -
Write one short signal phrase you can use before a quotation, and another you can use before a paraphrase.
Show Answer
Examples: “According to the article…” or “The report states that…” for a quotation; “The writer explains that…” or “The study suggests that…” for a paraphrase. -
Choose a two- or three-sentence passage from any informational text you have. Copy it in your notebook and write a paraphrase below it.
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Teacher checks. The paraphrase should keep the same meaning but change wording and structure, and should still mention the source. -
Using the same passage, write a one-sentence summary that keeps only the central idea.
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Teacher checks. The sentence should be shorter and focus on the main point, not on minor examples or details. -
Create three labels—“Quotation,” “Paraphrase,” “Summary”—and under each label, write one example sentence about online learning that uses that method.
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Teacher checks. Look for correct use of quotation marks in the quotation, changed wording in the paraphrase, and shortened length in the summary. -
Explain one danger of paraphrasing too closely to the original text.
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It can become too similar to the source, which may count as plagiarism and does not show real understanding. -
Think of a long article or video you recently encountered. In two or three sentences, write a summary of it.
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Teacher checks. The response should state the topic, main idea, and perhaps one or two key points only. -
Write a short paragraph (3–4 sentences) giving your opinion about city traffic. Include at least one quotation or paraphrase from any source you know (real or imagined), and underline the sentence that contains the textual evidence.
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Teacher checks. The underlined sentence should show clear evidence with credit to the source, and the other sentences should connect it to the learner’s opinion. -
Create a small table in your notebook with two columns: “Situation” and “Best Method.” Add three situations and decide whether quotation, paraphrase, or summary fits each one best.
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Examples: Explaining a powerful line from a leader → quotation; explaining a statistic in simpler words → paraphrase; giving background on a long report → summary. -
Reflect: Write one sentence completing this stem: “The method I feel most confident using today is…, and I still want to practice… more.”
Show Answer
Answers will vary. Teacher may use them to plan which method needs more modeling or practice in the next lesson.
✅ Check Yourself
Answer the items below to check your understanding of quotation, paraphrase, and summary.
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(Multiple Choice) Which sentence is a quotation?
a. The article explains that students are reading more online texts.
b. The writer notes that young people “spend many hours each day connected to the internet.”
c. The report suggests that internet use is increasing among teenagers.
d. Many students find online articles easier to access than printed books.
Show Answer
Correct answer: b. It uses the exact words from the source in quotation marks. -
(Multiple Choice) Which sentence is most clearly a paraphrase?
a. “Teenagers spend more time online than any other age group,” the article says.
b. The article states, “Teenagers spend more time online than any other age group.”
c. According to one study, teenagers are the age group that uses the internet the most, even more than adults.
d. Teenagers love being online.
Show Answer
Correct answer: c. It restates the idea in new words while keeping the meaning. -
(Multiple Choice) Which sentence is most clearly a summary?
a. The report lists several reasons why people use the internet.
b. The report says that “people use the internet for school, work, entertainment, and communication.”
c. The report describes how people use the internet every day.
d. The report argues that internet use may be helpful or harmful.
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Possible best answer: a. It condenses several reasons into a brief general statement. -
(True/False) A quotation must always be placed inside quotation marks and be copied exactly from the original text.
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True. Quotation uses the source’s exact wording and must be marked clearly. -
(True/False) A paraphrase may be the same length as the original passage but should use different wording and sentence structure.
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True. Length can be similar, but wording and structure should change. -
(Short Answer) Why is attribution important when you paraphrase or summarize?
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Because the ideas are still from the source, and giving credit shows honesty, respects the author’s work, and allows readers to find the original text. -
(Multiple Choice) When is summary usually more useful than paraphrase?
a. When the original sentence is already very short.
b. When you need to present the exact words of a law.
c. When you want to give a quick overview of a long article.
d. When you want to focus on a single phrase from the text.
Show Answer
Correct answer: c. -
(Short Answer) Give one sign that a paraphrase may be too close to the original text.
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If the sentence order and most of the words are almost the same as the original, just with a few small changes, the paraphrase is too close. -
(Short Answer) What is one reason a writer might choose a quotation over a paraphrase?
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Because the source’s exact words are especially powerful, memorable, or come from a highly trusted authority. -
(True/False) Using a source’s idea without mentioning the source is acceptable as long as you changed all the words.
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False. The idea still belongs to the original author; you must mention the source. -
(Multiple Choice) Which method would you most likely use to report the main findings of a six-page health report in one or two sentences?
a. Quotation
b. Paraphrase
c. Summary
d. None of the above
Show Answer
Correct answer: c. You would summarize the main findings. -
(Short Answer) Write one question you can ask yourself to decide whether to quote or paraphrase a piece of evidence.
Show Answer
Sample: “Is the exact wording important for my point, or do I just need the idea?” -
(Multiple Choice) Which statement describes plagiarism?
a. Using an idea from a source and giving credit.
b. Using your own experiences as evidence.
c. Copying or closely imitating a source’s words or ideas without proper credit.
d. Quoting a famous line with quotation marks.
Show Answer
Correct answer: c. -
(Short Answer) How does effective use of textual evidence improve your opinion editorial?
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It makes your arguments more convincing and trustworthy because readers can see that your opinions are supported by information from reliable sources. -
(Reflection Item) Which method—quotation, paraphrase, or summary—do you want to practice more, and why?
Show Answer
Answers will vary. Learners should name a method and explain their reason, such as needing more practice in changing sentence structure or deciding what to keep and what to leave out.
🚀 Go Further (optional)
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Evidence Detective Chart – Choose a short opinion editorial and create a chart with three columns: quotations, paraphrases, and summaries used by the writer.
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Teacher guidance: Ask learners to copy or restate examples and label them correctly. Discuss as a class how often each method appears and how it supports the writer’s claim. -
Quotation Makeover – Find a long quotation in a text and turn part of it into a paraphrase, keeping only the most important phrase as a direct quote.
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Teacher guidance: Guide learners to shorten the quoted part and restate the rest in their own words. Highlight how this can make paragraphs sound smoother and less “copied.” -
Summary Ladder – Take a three-paragraph article and write a three-sentence summary, then turn it into a one-sentence summary.
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Teacher guidance: Have learners compare their two summaries and check if the main idea is still clear. Use this to practice deciding which details are essential. -
Source Credibility Talk – With a partner, discuss two sources you might use in an opinion editorial (for example, a news site and a random social media post). Decide which one is more credible and why.
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Teacher guidance: Encourage discussion of author identity, evidence, date, and purpose. Relate this to the idea that strong textual evidence comes from trustworthy sources. -
Mini-Op-Ed Outline – Start planning a short opinion editorial about a chosen topic. In your outline, mark where you will use quotation, paraphrase, and summary.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Ask learners to label Q, P, or S beside each planned piece of evidence. Use these outlines as a bridge to the next day’s writing practice.
🔗 My Reflection
Notebook prompt:
Think about a time when you tried to convince someone of your opinion (at home, at school, or online). If you could go back and use textual evidence, what quotation, paraphrase, or summary would you add to make your argument stronger? Explain your answer in 4–5 sentences.
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