Paraphrasing vs.

Summarizing

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
 Common Myths

 Students often make the assumption that

paraphrasing and summarizing written materials are
the same thing.
 Sadly this premise results in poor writing mechanics
as well as running the risk of failing a written
assignment.
 The intent of this presentation is to provide an
overview of:
 How to define what each process entails, &
 Provide a manner in which the student may determine if their
writing is correct.
 Framing the Question: What is the difference?

 Basic details:
 Paraphrasing is a restatement of the author’s
original thought and meaning.
 Summarization is the condensing of a passage or
thought into a much smaller package.
 Paraphrasing

 The American Heritage College Dictionary defines a

paraphrase as:
 “a restatement of text or passage in another form or words”
(1009a)
 Etymology:
 Paraphrase derives from the Latin paraphrasis and the Greek
paraphrazein meaning to show or explain. (1010)

 Perhaps the best working definition for paraphrasing

is :
 to restate another’s work in your own words but maintain the
author’s original meaning.
 Paraphrasing Checklist

 Contained on the next slide are suggestions for

determining if your paraphrase is indeed a
paraphrase.
 Checklist for Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original 4. Compare your text to

passage carefully in the original and use the
order to fully 5 finger test.
understand the concept  (If you count more than
& author’s meaning. 5 exact words, you need
2. Identify the main points to change it!)
of the passage. 5. Build in the in-text
3. Rewrite the passage in citation and be sure to
your own words (not include the page no. or
just substituting paragraph no.
synonyms or order for  (See the Parenthetic
some of the text). Citations pptx. for more
help.)
 The 4 “Musts” for Paraphrasing

A paraphrase must:
1. Be in your own words!
2. Be near or longer than the original passage.
3. Be used to explain a difficult/complex concept or
passage.
4. Convey the original meaning.
 Paraphrase Examples

 Using the passage found on the following pages,

please utilize the “4 Musts” & “5 Finger Test” to
determine why one paraphrase is “good” and the
other is “bad”.
 Paraphrase Example 1
From: Good Example: In the passage below the word
Trotta, Alison A. “Plagiarism: the best defense is choice reflects the author’s original thought, but
a good offense.” Information Today Sept. 2013 : does not have too many simple synonym
11. General OneFile. Web 2 Dec. 2013. substitutions.

Plagiarism doesn’t only happen in student Alison Trotta illustrates in her article
essays. In March 2013, the National Science “Plagiarism: the Best Defense is a Good Offense”,
Foundation (NSF) began investigating nearly that the act of omission, otherwise known as
100 potential cases of plagiarism within its plagiarism, is not solely relegated to classroom
funded proposals. In the same month, Jane essays. Inquiries were made in March of 2013 by
Goodall’s new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and the National Science Foundation (NSF) into at
Wonder From the World of Plants, was delayed least 100 examples of plagiarism in research
due to at least a dozen uncited passages that proposals. She also observed that during that
were reportedly taken from multiple sources, time period Steve Levingston of the Washington
according to Steven Levingston’s Washington Post notes that there are nearly a dozen
Post article on March 19, 2013. plagiarized passages can be found in Jane
Goodall’s new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom,
and Wonder From the World of Plants (11).
 Paraphrase Example 2
From:
BAD Example: The text below is too closely related in
Trotta, Alison A. “Plagiarism: the best defense is word choice to be considered a n acceptable
a good offense.” Information Today Sept. 2013 : paraphrase.
11. General OneFile. Web 2 Dec. 2013.

Plagiarism doesn’t only happen in student Alison Trotta states in her article “Plagiarism:
essays. In March 2013, the National Science the Best Defense is a Good Offense”, that student
Foundation (NSF) began investigating nearly essays are not the only place for plagiarism. The
100 potential cases of plagiarism within its National Science Foundation (NSF) began
funded proposals. In the same month, Jane inquiries in March of 2013 into 100 possible
Goodall’s new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and cases of plagiarism in funded research proposals.
Wonder From the World of Plants, was delayed Also on March 19, 2013, Steve Levingston of the
due to at least a dozen uncited passages that Washington Post reported that Jane Goodall’s
were reportedly taken from multiple sources, new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom, and Wonder
according to Steven Levingston’s Washington From the World of Plants contains a dozen
Post article on March 19, 2013. plagiarized passages from numerous other
sources (11).
 Summarization

 The American Heritage College Dictionary defines a

summary as:
 “a presentation of a body of material in a condensed form, or by
reducing it to its main points” (1382)
 Etymology:
 Paraphrase derives from the Middle English/Med. Latin summārius
and the Latin summa meaning of or concerning the sum. (1382)

 Perhaps the best working definition for summarizing is :

 A condensed version of an original passage or writing. It provides
only the main points and eliminates extra details , but a summary is
considerably shorter that the original work.
 Summarizing Checklist

 Contained on the next slide are suggestions for

determining if your summary is indeed a summary.
 Checklist for Summarizing
1. Reread the original 4. Compare your text to the
passage carefully in order original and use the
to fully understand the “vision test”.
concept & author’s  (The original work must be
meaning. twice the size as your work.
2. Identify the main points If not, you need to “shrink”
or cut down the number of
of the passage. words you use!)
3. Rewrite the passage using 5. Build in the in-text
only the main points of citation and be sure to
the original work (e.g., include the page no. or
thesis statement and paragraph no.
conclusion)  (See the Parenthetic
Citations pptx. for more
help.)
 The 4 “Musts” for Summarizing

A summary must:
1. Be in your own words!
2. Be shorter (by half) of the original passage.
3. May contain some of the words from the original
work, however these single words must be
contained in “quotation marks”.
4. Convey the original meaning but does not evaluate
or comment on the author’s original work.
 Summarization Examples

 Using the passage found on the following pages,

please utilize the “4 Musts” & “Vision Test” to
determine why one summarization is “good” and the
other is “bad”.
 Summary Example 1
From:
Good Example: In the passage below the word
Trotta, Alison A. “Plagiarism: the best defense is choice reflects the author’s original thought in a
a good offense.” Information Today Sept. 2013 : condensed form.
11. General OneFile. Web 2 Dec. 2013.

Plagiarism doesn’t only happen in student Alison Trotta, in her article “Plagiarism: the Best
essays. In March 2013, the National Science Defense is a Good Offense”, plagiarism is not a
Foundation (NSF) began investigating nearly solely a classroom occurrence. She notes that in
100 potential cases of plagiarism within its March 2013 both the National Science
funded proposals. In the same month, Jane Foundation and the Washington Post reported
Goodall’s new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and multiple plagiarism incidences by professionals
Wonder From the World of Plants, was delayed (11).
due to at least a dozen uncited passages that
were reportedly taken from multiple sources,
according to Steven Levingston’s Washington
Post article on March 19, 2013.
Please look after the article introduction, and
note that the summary is half the size and scope
of the original passage. It also leaves out
unnecessary wording but still imparts the
original intent of the author’s passage.
 Summary Example 2
From:
Bad Example: In the passage below the word
Trotta, Alison A. “Plagiarism: the best defense is choice reflects the author’s original thought in a
a good offense.” Information Today Sept. 2013 : condensed form.
11. General OneFile. Web 2 Dec. 2013.

Plagiarism doesn’t only happen in student Alison Trotta, in her article “Plagiarism: the Best
essays. In March 2013, the National Science Defense is a Good Offense”, plagiarism is not a solely
Foundation (NSF) began investigating nearly based on student essays. In March 2013 the
100 potential cases of plagiarism within its National Science Foundation began an investigation
funded proposals. In the same month, Jane into almost 100 incidents of plagiarism contained in
its funded proposals. Also in March 2013 a
Goodall’s new book, Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and
Washington Post reporter, Steven Levingston
Wonder From the World of Plants, was delayed
reported that Jane Goodall’s new book multiple
due to at least a dozen uncited passages that incidences of plagiarism from varied sources (11).
were reportedly taken from multiple sources,
according to Steven Levingston’s Washington
Post article on March 19, 2013.

Please look after the article introduction, and note

that the summary is almost the same the size and
scope of the original passage. Although it does
convey the author’s original message, it is too much
like the original passage to be considered an
accurate summarization.
 Works Cited

Driscoll, Dana L., and Allen Brizee. "Purdue Online Writing Lab." Quoting, Paraphrasing

and Summarizing. Purdue University, 15 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.

"Paraphrasing and Summarizing." Coconino Community College Library Services

Handouts Workshop. Coconino Community College, 27 June. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.

<http://www.coconino.edu/sa/library/Pages/HandoutsWorkshops.aspx>.

Trotta, Alison A. “Plagiarism: the best defense is a good offense.” Information Today Sept.

2013 : 11. General OneFile. Web 2 Dec. 2013.