Just the Facts: Writing Objective Summaries

Khan Academy

This educational video uses a clever pop culture reference to teach the fundamental skill of writing objective summaries. Using the character Joe Friday from the 1950s show "Dragnet" and his catchphrase "Just the facts, ma'am," the narrator explains the difference between objective reporting and subjective opinion. The video breaks down the specific rules of objectivity: avoiding feelings, first-person pronouns, and judgmental language, while clarifying that opinions aren't "bad," they just don't belong in summaries. The content transitions into a practical demonstration using a text about polar bears and climate change. The narrator reads the original text, then models how to strip away emotion to create a purely objective summary, contrasting this with a subjective reaction. This side-by-side comparison helps students visualize exactly what should be removed during the editing process. Ideal for English Language Arts classrooms, this resource supports standards related to reading comprehension, non-fiction analysis, and informational writing. It concludes with a sophisticated lesson on media literacy, challenging students to recognize subtle bias in how stories are framed—a critical skill for navigating modern news and information.