Reading Journal Component #8: Summary Skills
To Do
Write a 2-3 paragraph summary of your reading selection. This summary should include
- the text’s thesis statement
- an overview of the text’s main ideas
- a neutral tone (your opinions about the content will not be included)
Worked Example
The same student we’ve been following so far writes this:
Reading Journal Component 8
“Multiple Intelligences” by Fred Medick
The article “Multiple Intelligences” by Fred Medick provides an definition and description of the concept of multiple intelligences, and addresses positives and negatives for educators associated with this idea.
According to Medick, the founder of this idea was Howard Gardner, who defined the first seven intelligences in his book Frames of Mind: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. These intelligences are not accepted by psychologists, but are welcomed by educators. Some see drawbacks to multiple intelligences because most cannot be measured or tested for improvement.
The article encourages readers to take an online test to determine their own strengths across the intelligences. It concludes by addressing additional intelligences that have been proposed by others: naturalistic, spiritual, moral, and emotional. Emotional intelligence in particular seems to have a large impact on people’s success in life, and Daniel Goleman is referenced to explain what emotional intelligence is and why it is so valuable in school and beyond.
