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GIST Writing Practice
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GIST Writing Practice
A GIST is a short summary. It tells the main idea and the most important details, without retelling every little thing. Read each story carefully, then choose or write a GIST that captures what matters most.
Read and spot the main idea
Read this story about a netball tournament.
1.At the weekend netball tournament, Arjun’s team was behind by one goal. Mere passed the ball to Finn, who shot just before the whistle. The ball went through the hoop, and the team cheered as the game ended in a draw.
- A team shares the ball and scores at the end to finish the game in a draw.
- Finn likes shooting goals at netball.
- The tournament had many teams playing.
2.Which two details are most important to include in a GIST of the netball story? Choose two.
- The team was behind by one goal.
- Mere passed to Finn, who scored just before the whistle.
- The game finished in a draw.
- The players were at a weekend tournament.
3.Choose the best main idea for the story.
- A netball team works together to score at the last moment and draw the game.
- Finn is the best shooter in the tournament.
- The whistle ends every netball game.
4.Write one GIST sentence for the netball story. Try to include the main idea and an important detail, but leave out small details.
Practise choosing and writing a GIST
Read each short story. Think: who or what is it mostly about, and what important thing happened?
5.During a break at the tournament, Mere noticed that Finn’s water bottle had rolled under the seats. She asked Arjun to hold the team’s bags while she retrieved it. Finn thanked them, then the three friends hurried back before their next game.
- Friends help each other so a player can get ready for the next game.
- Finn owns a water bottle.
- Arjun held some bags.
6.Which detail could be left out of a GIST of the water-bottle story because it is less important?
- Finn’s bottle rolled under the seats.
- Mere and Arjun helped Finn get ready for the next game.
- Arjun held the team’s bags.
7.Write a GIST sentence for the water-bottle story. Keep it to one sentence.
8.At the final, the teams arrived early and warmed up together. When heavy rain began, the organisers moved the game into the sports hall. The players carried the equipment inside and were soon ready to play.
- Rain changes the plans, so everyone moves the final indoors and gets ready to play.
- The teams warmed up early.
- The players carried equipment.
9.Fill in the blanks: A GIST sentence gives the idea and the most details, without telling every little thing.
10.Improve this weak GIST of the rainy-day story: “The teams arrived early.” Write a stronger sentence that tells what the story is mostly about.
11.In your own words, explain one way writing a GIST can help a reader.
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