Sample Summaries
Using their notes taken during reading of the play’s opening, two students prepared these summaries:
This is a summary of Twelve Angry Men. A teenage boy is on trial for killing his father. First I will discuss what the judge said. He told the jury that this is a first degree murder case. This means the boy premeditated it. The judge said that a man is dead. If the jury has a reasonable doubt they have to say not guilty. He told them the vote has to be unanimous.
The guard took the jurors to a room. He stayed outside the room. He locked the door.
Next I will talk about what the jurors said when they went into the jury room. They talked about the heat and air conditioning. They talked about having to be on a jury for a whole week. They talked about clothes. One juror explained what double jeopardy is. One juror said he had tickets to a show. One talked about how kids run wild.
Next I will tell you about some evidence. The boy bought a knife. He said he lost it because he had a hole in his pocket.
So far we know that the son is on trial for killing his father. They said the kid put a knife in the father's chest.
This is a summary of 12 Angry Men. First I will talk about the judge. He said the jury has to vote on first degree murder. He said the jury has to vote guilty if the boy killed his father. The vote has to be unanimous.
The guard stands at the door. He locked the door.
Next I will talk about what the jurors said. They talked about how hot is ws and about clothes. One juror had tickets to a show. One juror said kids run wild now.
Also I will tell you about some evidence. The boy bought a switch knife but said he lost it because he had a hole in his pocket.
Finally I will tell you that they said the kid put a knife 4 inches into his father’s chest.
From “Using High-Interest Materials to Engage Secondary Students in Reading” by Rita Mulholland.
Reading Online, www.readingonline.org
Posted October 2002