Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing
A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on summarising and paraphrasing information from sources and providing a list of them.
Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing is a free 40-minute Grade 5 English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.5.8 — summarise and paraphrase from sources, and list them. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 5
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- W.5.8
Grade 5 · Writing
W.5.8
Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
Objective
Students will be able to choose between summarising and paraphrasing, and cite the source either way.
Students are successful when they can
- Chooses the right technique for the purpose.
- Executes it without copying.
- Provides a complete source entry.
What you need
- Source passages
- A source-list format
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — which do you need?
5 min- Give three purposes. For each, decide summary or paraphrase.
- Detail needed means paraphrase; overview means summary.
Teach — three techniques, three uses
13 min- Summarise a passage: much shorter, main points only.
- Paraphrase the same passage: similar length, all the detail, different words.
- Quote one sentence from it: exact, and only where the wording matters.
- Say which purpose each serves.
- Write the source entry once, in full, and reuse it.
“Summary for the shape, paraphrase for the detail, quotation only when the words themselves matter.”
Guided practice — all three
12 min- Students summarise, paraphrase and quote from one passage.
- They say which they would use for a given purpose.
- They write one complete source entry.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the sources page.
- Passages and a citation format are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take one purpose and the technique it calls for.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Quotes where a paraphrase would serve.
Why: Quoting is easier and looks rigorous.
Fix: Quote only where the wording matters. Otherwise paraphrase.
Calls a summary a paraphrase.
Why: Both are in your own words.
Fix: Compare lengths. A paraphrase keeps the detail.
Cites only quotations.
Why: Only quoted words feel borrowed.
Fix: Summaries and paraphrases are also somebody else's work. All three get cited.
If they are not there yet
- Two techniques rather than three.
- Give the citation format filled.
If they finish early
- Paraphrase a passage where a technical term cannot change.
- Summarise three sources into one paragraph.
- Cite a source with no named author.
Exit ticket
Summarise and paraphrase this passage. Which would you use, and why?
What to look for: A real length difference and a purpose-based choice. Two similar texts mean the summary-versus-paraphrase distinction needs another example.
Printable practice for W.5.8
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Summarise and ParaphraseWrite on the lines. Use the checklist.
Questions about Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing
How long does the Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.8 — W.5.8, Writing for Grade 5: “Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.” In plain terms, summarise and paraphrase from sources, and list them.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Source passages, a source-list format and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: quotes where a paraphrase would serve; calls a summary a paraphrase and cites only quotations. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Summarise and paraphrase this passage. Which would you use, and why?.” A real length difference and a purpose-based choice. Two similar texts mean the summary-versus-paraphrase distinction needs another example. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing?
Yes — 1 printable W.5.8 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Summarising, Paraphrasing and Citing free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to W.5.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.