Final answer:
An objective summary of 'The Open Boat' should include key details such as the characters' struggles, their bond, and overall trials at sea, while omitting minor details like the number of dry cigars or 'useless' complaints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of details for an objective summary of an excerpt centers on the elements that contribute to the overall understanding of the text's main ideas and themes. In this case, relevant details for summarizing the excerpt from The Open Boat would focus on the characters' experiences, the challenges they face at sea, and how they react to their situation. Clues indicating the significance of these details can be found in elements such as:
- The precarious situation of the men in the dingey facing nature's indifference.
- The development of a deep bond and camaraderie among the shipwrecked crew.
- The trials they go through, such as battling the seas, bailing water, lack of sleep, hunger, and the anticipation of rescue.
Less important details that can be omitted from a summary might include complaints which are mentioned as 'useless' or the exact number of cigars found to be dry, as these do not significantly alter the understanding of the main themes of survival and brotherhood.