UNIT 7

PARAPHRASING & SUMMARIZING

Writing information in your own words is a highly acceptable way to include the ideas of other
people in your writing. There are two ways you can do this: paraphrasing and summarizing. It is
very important, however, to paraphrase and summarize correctly because there is a fine balance
between acceptable and unacceptable paraphrasing and summarizing (plagiarism). You need to
learn the rules so you are able to paraphrase information and to summarize information.

PARAPHRASE INFORMATION
To paraphrase is to rewrite something using different words without changing the original
meaning. This is what is usually meant by the phrase in your own words. The paraphrase
should be clearer and more easily understood than the original and is often about the same
length. Paraphrases are a good alternative to using direct quotations.
In your writing, you may make a paraphrase of:
short sections of text (e.g. phrases, sentences)
longer sections of text (e.g. a paragraph)
information that explains tables or figures.

STEPS FOR PARAPHRASING

1. Read the text carefully. Underline, or note, any important subject-specific words.
2. Look up any difficult words, and try to find synonyms for them.
3. Try to find different ways of expressing the information in the groups of words (phrases).
4. Rewrite each sentence. Try to simplify the sentence structure and the vocabulary without
changing the meaning.
5. Put you text out of sight and write your paraphrase from memory.
6. Revise what you have written, comparing it to the original. Your paraphrase should clarify
the original, but be written clearly in your own words.
7. Do not forget to use an in-text reference at the start or end of your paraphrase.

EXAMPLE OF CORRECTLY ACCEPTABLE PARAPHRASED TEXT

PARAPHRASED INFORMATION (56 words)

ORIGINAL TEXT (45 words)

Traditionally, in oral and written discourses, If the gender of a person was not known or
the masculine pronoun 'he' was used as a was unimportant to the meaning of oral or
pronoun to refer to a person whose gender was written texts, it was customary to use the
unknown or irrelevant to the context. Recently, masculine form of 'he' when a pronoun was
this usage has come under criticism for required; however, there has been growing
supporting gender-based stereotypes and is concern about this practice in modern usage
increasingly considered inappropriate (Smith, because it appears to privilege stereotypes
2010, p. 24). based on gender (Smith, 2010, p. 24).
Asses your paraphrase
The meaning is the same.
Most of the words have been changed.
The sentences have been significantly restructured.
The information is correctly reference.

TO SUMMARIZE INFORMATION
Many assignments are accompanied by a compulsory and/or suggested reading list. No doubt
you have often wondered how your 2 000 or so word assignment could possibly incorporate all
those resources that are meant to inform your writing. Summaries of material may be used to
give an overview of the work of one or more authors, so they are much shorter than the original
text. Because they are very brief outlines of arguments made, they are very useful when you
want to indicate the support given for and/or against some position you are taking in your
argument.
In your writing you may make a summary from:
one or more paragraphs
an entire article, chapter or complete work
a combination of readings with similar ideas.

STEPS FOR SUMMARISING

1. If you are reading longer texts (e.g. a chapter, a journal article), skim read the
information. Note sub-headings, the first and last paragraphs and topic sentences.
2. Read the text carefully using a dictionary.
3. Reread a difficult text several times.
4. Write notes in point form using key words and ideas.
5. Put your text away and write your summary from your notes.
6. Refer back to the original to make sure that your summary truly reflects the writer's
ideas and strength of opinion (degree of certainty on this topic).
7. Do not forget to use an in-text reference at the start or end of your summary.

EXAMPLE OF CORRECTLY ACCEPTABLE SUMMARISED TEXT (31

SUMMARISED INFORMATION words)
ORIGINAL TEXT (103 words)
For most people, writing is an extremely Inexperienced and even skilled writers can
difficult task if they are trying to grapple in feel a great deal of anguish when faced with
their language with new ideas and new ways writing tasks; however, this response can be
of looking at them. Sitting down to write can managed by recognising and coping with
be an agonising experience, which doesn't personal avoidance strategies (Taylor, 1989, p.
necessarily get easier with the passage of time 3).
and the accumulation of experience. For this
reason you need to reflect upon and analyse
your own reactions to the task of writing. That
is to say, the task will become more
manageable if you learn how to cope with
your own particular ways avoiding putting off
the moment when you must put pen to paper
(Taylor 1989, p. 3).

The meaning is the same.

The summary keeps the degree of certainty of the writer.
This is a much shorter version of the original writing.
The source/s of information is/are clearly referenced.

Exercises
Activity A: Finish these paraphrased sentences by changing the word/word type and
grammar.
E.g. We studied the statistics then applied for funding.
After _________ the statistics, we made an_________ for funding.
After studying the statistics, we made an application for funding.
1. The council cut funding so we could not provide free parking.
Because of council funding _________, there was no_________ for free parking.
2. His proposal was a failure as it was too theoretical.
His proposal_________ because it relied too much on _________ .
3. As the emphasis was only on the UK, there were weaknesses in the evidence.
By _________ the UK only, the evidence was _________ .
Activity B: Which sentences are closest in meaning to the five sentences below?
1. 25% of adolescents who have one baby have a second baby within two years of the first
baby's birth.
a. 25% of babies are born to mothers who are adolescents.
b. One out of four adolescent mothers has another baby before the first baby reaches his
second birthday.
c. A quarter of adolescent mothers gives birth when their first born is two.
d. 25% of adolescent mothers become pregnant again when their first babies are two years
old.
2. It has been reported that the richest one percent of Americans own 40% of the country's
wealth.
a. The richest 1% are 40 times as wealthy as the rest of Americans.
b. If the gap between rich and poor continues to grow at the current rate, the richest one
percent will soon own 40% of the country's wealth.
c. 40% of the country's wealth is in the hands of only 1% of Americans.
d. 99% of Americans own 40% as much as the richest 1%.
3. The judge was relieved when the jury was finally ready to announce its verdict.
a. When the jury announced its verdict, the judge was relieved.
b. The judge asked the jury to arrive at a verdict.
c. The judge welcomed the prospect of an imminent verdict.
d. The jury welcomed the judge's relief.
4. Research data suggest that girls who witnessed maternal abuse may tolerate abuse as adults
more than girls who did not.
a. Women who witnessed the abuse of their mother as teens are more likely to become
abusive adults.
b. Women who observed the abuse of their mothers when they were young are more likely
to endure abuse themselves.
c. Women who were abused as children are more likely to abuse their own children.
d. Girls who testify about maternal abuse tolerate abuse as adults more readily.
5. Martha thinks that the issue of adolescent problems is important to write about.
a. Martha thinks that adolescents like to write about their problems.
b. Martha feels that writing about adolescent problems is worthwhile.
c. Martha believes that the dream of most adolescents is to write something important.
d. Martha thinks that adolescents can write about their problems.

Activity C: Write your own paraphrase for the following sentences:

1. A local newspaper claims that 75% of all homeless people do not like homeless shelters and
prefer to live as they do now.

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2. Ronny told his aunt that a bear had attacked him, which she found difficult to believe.
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3. Anyone who has ever driven through the Mojave Desert knows that one should always carry a
supply of extra water.

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______________________________________________________________________________
4. Of the 138 million acres of land that Native Americans owned in 1887, 90 million acres were
taken away by whites by 1932.

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______________________________________________________________________________
5. A woman who was nominated by the president to head the department was quickly approved
by the board of trustees.

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ACTIVITY D: Paraphrase the following sentences from student paragraphs to avoid
plagiarism.
1. However, college students today are the first groups of students to need the Internet for most of
their schoolwork.

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2. Chinese speculators are able to realize profits from this buy-and-sell practice as property prices are
currently on the upswing.

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3. Researchers have found a strong association between computer and Internet use in adolescents and
engagement in multiple-risk behaviours (MRB), including illicit drug use, drunkenness and
unprotected sex.

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4. Drug resistance remains a major problem in combating HIV infection, but a different approach to
drug development could be the answer.

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5. North China's Shanxi Province, the country's largest coal supplier and most polluted region, has
the dubious distinction of having 16 cities on the list. Neither Beijing nor Shanghai appear on the
list .The report found that only 22.94 percent of sewage was treated adequately in the cities surveyed
and less than 20 percent of household garbage met with proper handling. It said 178 cities examined
had not built any sewage treatment facilities and 130 cities had not been equipped with garbage
disposal plants.

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ACTIVITY E: Read this following paragraphs and summarize

Paragraph 1
There are several important reasons why Mike, a high school senior, was rejected by the
hiring supervisor at the local electronics company. Mikes first problem was his poorly prepared
job application. Because he filled it in during the bus ride to the interview, Mike made may
errors. The paper was filled with erasures, crossing out, and blank spaces. Another reason was
Mikes poor appearence; he wrote faded jeans and an old flannel shirt to interview. In addition,
he was late, thereby making both himself and interviewer uncomfortable. As a result, Mike made
a bad impression during the interview and never had the opportunity to demonstrate his fine
abilities.

Paragraph 2
Mikes rejection by the hiring supervisor led to the several changes in his attitude toward
seeking a job. He made an effort to have a well prepared spplication which he checked for it
throughness and appearance. He was detrmined to look presentable, and so he chose his clothing
carefully the evening before the interview. Rriving late for the first interview affected his
planning for the next one; he arranged for a ride to the plant and left extra time for unexpected
delays. As a result of his efforts, Mike arrived on time, looked presentable, and appeared
confident throughout the interview. The effect was so positive to Mikes attityde that he was able
to demonstrate his abilities during the interview. As a consequence of his efforts, Mike was
offered a position at the plant.

Paragraph 3
In all types of jobs, many employees claim to be alienated from their work; They feel
trapped, overwhelmed by meaningless, self-estrangement, isolationa, and powerlessness.
Alienation is usually regarded as an affliction of the blue-collar workers, but in recent years
thousand of executive have abandoned their jobs for work that may pay less but promises to be
more rewarding. For instance, they have become artists, craftworkers, or singers, or have
established agricultural communes. One of the effects of alienation is sheer escapism. Thousands
of assembly line workers and an equal number of executive daydream through their work. More
than half admit they are working at only half their potential. Others escape through drugs and
alcohol; Workers in some factories stay high on drugs during their entire shift; and many
executives rely on the three-martini lunch to get through the day