This might feel formulaic and forced at first, but following these steps will ensure that you give each piece of evidence thorough attention.
What might this look like in practice?
[1] Humans and dolphins are not the only mammals with complex systems of communication. As a matter of fact, [2] some scientists have “speculated that the extensive frontal sinus of giraffes acts as a resonance chamber for infrasound production” ( [3] Baotic et al. 3). [4] Even though no definitive answer has been found, it’s possible that the structure of a giraffe’s head allows it to create sounds that humans may not be able to hear. This hypothesis supports the notion that different species of animals develop a sort of “language” that corresponds to their anatomy.
Humans and dolphins are not the only mammals with complex systems of communication. As a matter of fact,
some scientists have “speculated that the extensive frontal sinus of giraffes acts as a resonance chamber for infrasound production”
(Baotic et al. 3).
Even though no definitive answer has been found, it’s possible that the structure of a giraffe’s head allows it to create sounds that humans may not be able to hear. This hypothesis supports the notion that different species of animals develop a sort of “language” that corresponds to their anatomy.
A quick note on block quotes: sometimes you may find it necessary to use a long direct quote from a source. For instance, if there is a passage that you plan to analyze in-depth or throughout the course of the entire paper, you may need to reproduce the whole thing. You may have seen other authors use block quotes in the course of your research. In the middle of a sentence or paragraph, the text will break into a long direct quote that is indented and separated from the rest of the paragraph.
There are occasions when it is appropriate for you to use block quotes too, but they are rare. Even though long quotes can be useful, quotes long enough to block are often too long. Using too much of one source all at once can overwhelm your own voice and analysis, distract the reader, undermine your ethos, and prevent you from digging into a quote. It’s typically a better choice to
If, in the rare event that you must use a long direct quote, one that runs more than four lines on a properly formatted page, follow the guidelines from the appropriate style guide. In MLA format, block quotes (1) are indented one inch from the margin, (2) are double-spaced, (3) are not in quotation marks, and (4) use original end punctuation and an in-text citation after the last sentence. The paragraph will continue after the block quote without any indentation.
Signposts are phrases and sentences that guide a reader’s interpretation of the evidence you are about to introduce. Readerly signposts are also known as “signal phrases” because they give the reader a warning of your next move. In addition to foreshadowing a paraphrase, quote, or summary, though, your signposts can be active agents in your argumentation.
Before using a paraphrase, quote, or summary, you can prime your reader to understand that evidence in a certain way. For example, let’s take the imaginary quote “The moon landing was faked in a sound studio by Stanley Kubrick.”
What does each signpost do to us, as readers, encountering the same quote?
The original chapter, Interacting with Sources by Shane Abrams, is from EmpoWord: A Student-Centered Anthology and Handbook for College Writers
The position | Complete faith | Uncertainty | Cautious disbelief | “Duh” |
---|---|---|---|---|
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a nutritious part of a child’s lunch.” | Most parents have wondered if “peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a nutritious part of a child’s lunch.” | |||
“The bees are dying rapidly.” | Even though some people argue that “the bees are dying rapidly,” it may be more complicated than that. | |||
“Jennifer Lopez is still relevant.” | We can all agree that “Jennifer Lopez is still relevant.” | |||
“Morality cannot be learned.” | It should be obvious that “morality cannot be learned.” |
Baotic, Anton, Florian Sicks, and Angela S. Stoeger. “Nocturnal ‘Humming’ Vocalizations: Adding a Piece of the Puzzle of Giraffe Vocal Communication.” BioMed Central Research Notes , vol. 8, no. 425, 2015, pp. 1–11.
Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing Copyright © 2022 by Shane Abrams; Liz Delf; Rob Drummond; and Kristy Kelly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.
These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.
Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.
Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.
Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:
Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:
In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).
Practice summarizing the essay found here , using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.
Paraphrasing strategies: comparing paraphrasing and quoting.
Last updated 5/6/2020
Visual: Screen opens to a background image with a person typing on a laptop and a notebook and pencil, along with the Walden University Writing Center logo. The title Walden University Writing Center and tagline “Your writing, grammar, and APA experts” appears on the screen. The screen changes to show the series title “Paraphrasing Sources" and the video title "Comparing Paraphrasing & Quoting.”
Audio: Guitar music.
Visual: Slide changes to a mostly gray slide with the heading: "Paraphrasing: One form of evidence." Below the heading are two blue circles comparing quotation and paraphrase:
Audio: A quotation is where the wording you’re using is identical to the original source. You are using, word for word, the exact same thing that the original source said. In a paraphrase, you are going to change your wording, change the sentence structure, and still keep the same information, but you're going to put it into your own words.
There is a little bit of a difference in citation between a quotation and a paraphrase. When you cite a quotation, you use quotation marks, you use the author, the year, and then a page number or paragraph number. In a paraphrase, you give the author and the year, and you can choose to give a page number, but it is not required.
One thing to keep in mind between paraphrasing and quoting is that we really want to be wary of using direct quotations too often. When you use a direct quotation, you're parroting someone else's information, kind of like a little parrot copies and imitates people's words. That is in essence what we're doing. When we use a direct quotation, we're not using our own words, we're using someone else's. It can be helpful to use someone else's words, but to do that often shows we're not critically engaging with the information. We're not really diving in and fully understanding it. I could copy and paste multiple quotations out of a source, but if I don't explain them, integrate them, or use them in any sort of way, why would anyone want to read my work? I’m simply repeating what someone else has already said. Be aware that quotations can be helpful, but you do really want to be wary of using them too often.
Paraphrases, however, are always going to be stronger. When you can take information and put it into your own words, it really shows that you are critically using that text. You're understanding it and are able to rearticulate it in a new and a fresh way.
So those are some differences and similarities in how to cite quotations and paraphrases, but also keep in mind that in academic writing, in general, we prefer writers use paraphrases over quotations.
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A Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can use this as a first step to creating an outline for a compare and contrast essay .
Simply draw two (or three) large circles and give each circle a title, reflecting each object, trait, or person you are comparing.
Inside the intersection of the two circles (overlapping area), write all the traits that the objects have in common. You will refer to these traits when you compare similar characteristics.
In the areas outside the overlapping section, you will write all of the traits that are specific to that particular object or person.
From the Venn diagram above, you can create an easy outline for your paper. Here is the beginning of an essay outline:
1. Both dogs and cats make great pets.
2. Both have drawbacks, as well.
3. Cats can be easier to care for.
4. Dogs can be better companions.
As you can see, outlining is much easier when you have a visual aid to help you with the brainstorming process.
Besides its usefulness for planning essays, Venn Diagrams can be used for thinking through many other problems both at school and at home. For example:
Paraphrasing, Summarizing and Quoting Paraphrasing is when you take someone else’s ideas or words and rephrase them as your own . Summarizing is to give the reader an overview of the key points of a text . Quoting is when you write exactly what someone else has said, word for word .
Anyone who has written a paper, especially an academic paper, has struggled to answer the question: what is the difference between paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting, and which one should I do? Do I need to use all three? Do I need to provide a citation?
Every writer needs to know how to distinguish these three tasks to write well and avoid committing plagiarism, whether accidental or intentional. Let’s take a look at the differences between paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting so that your writing will be polished and professional every time.
What is quoting, what is paraphrasing, what is summarizing, don’t commit accidental plagiarism.
Quoting is when you write exactly what someone else has said, word for word. Even if the original text contains punctuation , grammatical , or spelling errors , if you are quoting, you must include these errors!
A quote is indicated using double quotation marks, and the author and source should be cite d in either the text directly or in a footnote depending upon the citation format you are following .
There are two ways to handle a quote with incorrect spelling or grammar. The first is by correcting it using square brackets like so.
Guinea pig[s] make wonderful pets for small children.
The second is to write the Latin word sic in square brackets after the error to indicate that the error is in the original text. Sic is usually italicized. For example:
Guinea pig [ sic ] make wonderful pets for small children.
Quotes are great to use in academic writing when you want to discuss a particular author’s idea or phrasing. However, quotes should be used sparingly, and should be on the shorter side (less than a paragraph) in order to maximize the space for your own analysis and ideas. Think of quotes like salt- they add essential flavor to a dish, but should not be the main ingredient.
Unlike a quote, paraphrasing is when you take someone else’s ideas or words and rephrase them as your own. Paraphrasing is a vital skill for any writer, as much of academic writing is synthesizing information from different sources in your own words and adding your thoughts.
Many people who try to paraphrase accidentally end up committing plagiarism. Why? There are two reasons. The first reason is that people often just change a couple of words in the original writing and call it a paraphrase.
The second reason is that people fail to add the proper citation after paraphrasing. In fact, paraphrases should include the source just like a quote.
So how can you paraphrase properly? In addition to changing the specific words used, a good paraphrase changes the structure and even order of the original phrasing . Let’s take a brief example.
Original text: The pandemic as well as the war in Ukraine have stifled supply of commodities and goods and upended efficient distribution through global supply chains, forcing up prices of everyday goods such as fuel and food.
But, while higher prices will cause pain for households, growth in many parts of the world, while slow, is still ticking over and job markets have not collapsed (CNBC, May 30, 2022).
Paraphrase 1: The war in Ukraine and the pandemic have blocked the supply of commodities and goods and overturned efficient distribution through global supply chains, increasing prices of everyday goods such as fuel and food.
While higher prices will cause pain for households, growth in many parts of the world is still happening and job markets have not collapsed.
This paraphrase changes a few words around, but it is easy to see the resemblance to the original text. It is also missing a citation. This paraphrase is likely to be flagged by a plagiarism checker.
Paraphrase 2: The supply of goods and commodities has faltered due to the war in Ukraine and the pandemic as global supply chains struggle to maintain efficient distribution. This has resulted in higher prices of everyday goods like fuel and food.
Despite these difficulties, the majority of economies continue to see growth, albeit slow growth, and job markets remain solid. Households can expect short term pain from higher prices, but it seems unlikely that collapse is on the horizon (CNBC, May 30, 2022).
This paraphrase breaks up longer sentences into shorter ones, adding some of the author’s own commentary towards the end and artfully rephrasing the original ideas. A proper in-text citation is included. The second paraphrase is acceptable.
Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing, but there are a few key differences. First, the purpose of summarizing is to give the reader an overview of the key points of a text. A paraphrase re-words information from the original text, but it does not remove any of the original ideas.
Because of this difference, summarizing deletes sections, sometimes large sections, of the original text to leave only the most critical concepts and ideas. Paraphrasing is usually around the same length as the original writing, while summarizing is much shorter than the original.
Second, summarizing can include a quote or a paraphrase from the original text. However, a paraphrase will never contain additional paraphrasing. It may contain a quote, but only in rare circumstances.
If you use a quote in your summary, don’t forget to still cite the source. This can be as simple as mentioning the author’s name and then citing it in the references section. We could summarize the above text as follows:
CNBC notes that while events including the pandemic and war in Ukraine are upending the global supply chain leading to short-term fiscal pain for households, the global economy remains in a steady, if slow, state of growth overall.
Knowing the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing is the key to avoiding accidental plagiarism. Forgetting to properly indicate a quote with quotation marks, paraphrasing incorrectly by just changing a few words, or summarizing without giving proper credit are all ways that authors can commit accidental plagiarism.
Fortunately, in addition to learning about the important differences between these three writing techniques, students, academics, and writers of all kinds can take advantage of AI writing tools as well. Tools like Trinka can help academic writers especially ensure that their writing is clear, accurate, and uses technical terminology properly.
It also reviews your references to make sure they are accurate. Enago’s plagiarism checker is another great tool to ensure that you haven’t failed to clearly paraphrase or forgotten to indicate a quote.
As you progress in your writing career, these tools can make your life easier and prevent you from making any critical errors. Give them a try today.
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Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Summarizing vs Paraphrasing! Ever found yourself tangled in the web of long texts, struggling to extract the main points?
Or perhaps you've been stumped on how to restate another's idea without using direct quotations?
You're not alone.
In this guide, we'll discuss summarizing and paraphrasing, two essential writing techniques that can help you communicate information and ideas effectively. We'll delve into their definitions and key differences and provide practical tips to ace both.
Whether you're summarizing a chapter or paraphrasing a sentence, we've got you covered. So, buckle up and get ready to transform your writing skills. Let's dive into the world of summarizing and paraphrasing, where every word counts, and every idea matters.
Stay tuned!
In writing , summarizing and paraphrasing are two essential skills. They serve as powerful tools for writers to convey the essence of an original source in a unique manner. This section will delve into the definitions and differences between these two common terms, providing a comprehensive understanding of their usage and importance.
We'll explore the meaning and definition of paraphrasing and summarizing, and how they differ in handling a sentence or paragraph versus a long text. Let's dive in.
Summarizing is a common term in writing and editing . It's the process of condensing a long text, such as a book or an article, into a brief and concise version to improve readability . The main point here is to capture the general idea or the main details of the original source without losing the context.
This practice is not just about shortening the text. It's about understanding the key differences, the background information, and the essence of the content. A well-crafted summary provides a clear, succinct understanding of the material, making it an invaluable tool for readers.
Paraphrasing, a common term in writing, is the art of rewriting a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning and message. It's a skill that requires a deep understanding of the original source, as the goal is to convey the main point accurately, but with a fresh perspective.
Summarizing is about condensing the main points of a long text into a brief and concise version , focusing on the general idea. It's like giving a snapshot of a book, the difference being the scope of the content.
Paraphrasing, on the other hand, involves rewriting a specific sentence or paragraph in your own words, without changing the original meaning. It's more about presenting the main detail in a new light.
While both processes require understanding the key differences in the original source, summarizing is more about the 'big picture', and paraphrasing is about the 'fine details'.
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Mastering the art of summarizing can be a game-changer in your academic or professional journey. This section will provide you with practical guidelines and tips on how to summarize effectively.
Whether you're summarizing a paper, a chapter, or a book, these tips will help you identify the main points and present them concisely.
✅ Identify the Main Points : Start by identifying the main points of the passage. This will help you to focus on the most important information and ignore less significant details.
✅ Avoid Specific Details : When summarizing, avoid listing specific details and individual pieces of data. Instead, stick to general ideas, conclusions, and results.
✅ Keep it Brief and Concise : Remember, the goal of summarizing is to condense a longer text into a brief and concise overview. So, keep your summary short and to the point.
✅ Paraphrase to Avoid Plagiarism : If you're using an AI to help you summarize, make sure to paraphrase the AI's summary to avoid plagiarism. This will also help you to better understand and retain the information.
✅ Use APA Style : If you're summarizing for academic purposes, make sure to follow APA style guidelines . This will ensure that your summary is properly formatted and cited.
Paraphrasing is an art that requires a deep understanding of the source material and the ability to express the same ideas in a fresh, unique way. This section will provide you with practical guidelines and tips to master this skill. Whether you're summarizing a paper chapter or trying to paraphrase a passage, these tips will come in handy.
Remember, the goal is not just to change a few words here and there but to share the same message in a new light. Let's explore the steps and tips for ace paraphrasing.
✅ Understand the Source : Before you begin paraphrasing, ensure you fully comprehend the source material. This will help you share the same message in your own words.
✅ Use Synonyms : Swap out words from the original text with synonyms . This helps maintain the meaning while creating a unique turn of phrase.
✅ Change Sentence Structure : Rearrange the sentence structure or change the subject of the sentence to add variety to your paraphrase.
✅ Add Your Interpretation : Don't just rewrite the text, add your own thoughts and interpretation to the material.
✅ Use a Plagiarism Checker : To ensure your paraphrase is distinct enough from the original, use a plagiarism checker. This will help you avoid unintentional plagiarism.
✅ Cite the Source : Even when paraphrasing, it's important to cite the source. This gives credit to the original author and adds credibility to your work.
Understanding when to use summarizing and paraphrasing can significantly enhance your writing. These techniques serve different purposes and are best suited for specific situations. Let's delve into the ideal scenarios for each.
When you want to present the general idea of a lengthy document or speech, summarizing is the way to go.
When you want to state another idea in a different way, paraphrasing can be a powerful tool.
In this section, we'll explore practical examples of summarizing and paraphrasing. We'll explore how to condense a long text into a brief and concise summary and how to rephrase a passage while preserving the original source's main detail. These examples will provide a clear definition and example of each technique, offering valuable writing tips for both summarizing and paraphrasing.
Consider a long text from an original source.
Both techniques offer unique advantages, aiding in comprehension and communication. Whether you're summarizing the difference between a long text and its main details or paraphrasing to grasp a complex topic, these methods are invaluable tools.
They not only help in presenting information and ideas in a digestible manner but also foster critical thinking. Let's explore these benefits in detail.
In conclusion, mastering the art of summarizing and paraphrasing is a crucial skill in academic writing and beyond. It allows you to present another's ideas in your own voice without losing the essence of the original source.
Remember, summarizing is about condensing a long text into a brief and concise overview, focusing on the main points. On the other hand, paraphrasing involves restating specific points or details in your own words, maintaining the same level of detail as the original.
Whether you choose to summarize or paraphrase largely depends on the scope of the information and the purpose of your writing. In all cases, it's essential to cite the source to avoid plagiarism.
With practice and the right approach, you can effectively use these techniques to enhance your writing, making it more engaging and informative for your readers.
If you need help perfecting your written content, try Strategically AI for free. Our AI content platform plans, builds, and optimizes well-structured articles for your website.
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Paraphrasing is taking someone else's idea, and restating it in your own words. Remember, paraphrasing does not make this your idea. Therefore, you must cite the original source of the idea. When paraphrasing, write your paraphrase without looking at the original source -- then go back and check for accuracy and for any direct quotes.
A quote is when you take a segment of the source (whether it be from a book, journal article, or otherwise), and you copy that segment into your paper word for word. A quote must be put in quotation marks and cited properly.
Don't forget, whether you paraphrase or quote, you must cite the original source!
The following examples are from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). You are given the passage and are shown the difference between proper paraphrasing and plagiarism.
The original passage: Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
A legitimate paraphrase: In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).
An acceptable summary: Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).
A plagiarized version: Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes
You properly paraphrased a passage from a database article. You read the material, and put it in your own words. Do you need to cite this? The answer is YES . A paraphrase is just a restatement of the author's ideas. So, you must always cite the source in-text and in your bibliography.
When using a Venn diagram to write a compare and contrast essay, first draw two large circles. These two circles should overlap each other. Assign a title to each circle that represents each idea you are comparing. In the overlapping area, write all of the things that the two ideas, people, or objects have in common. These will be what you refer to when you are comparing these ideas in the essay. In the areas that are not overlapping, write all of the differences, or contrasts, between the two ideas, objects, or people.
An example of the beginning of the outline for a compare and contrast essay should be similar to:
1. Both turtles and cats make good pets.
2. Both turtles and cats have drawbacks.
3. Cats can be easier to care for.
4. Turtles are less messy.
A compare and contrast essay will ultimately follow this basic format:
The first paragraph of the essay will be an introductory paragraph. It will also include the essay’s thesis statement. The first paragraph should present the first comparison from the Venn diagram, the second paragraph should present the second comparison from the Venn diagram, and the third paragraph should present the third comparison from the Venn diagram. If there are more comparisons on the Venn diagram, more paragraphs can be added. The fourth paragraph should present the first contrast from the Venn diagram. The fifth paragraph should present the second contrast from the Venn diagram. The sixth paragraph should present the third contrast from the Venn diagram. Like the comparison, more contrast paragraphs can be added. The eighth paragraph should present the comparisons and contrasts together. The ninth paragraph should present the conclusion, generalization of the thesis, and reaffirmation of the thesis.
The Venn diagram should ideally contain three comparisons and three contrasts. However, it must contain at least two comparisons and two contrasts. When drawing the Venn diagram, the circles should be very large, so that all information fits within them and within their overlap. Once all of the information is written within the Venn diagram, it is a good idea to make each circle a different color, as well as the overlap area. Using three colors to “separate” the information makes a Venn diagram easier to read.
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When should i paraphrase, and when should i summarize.
To paraphrase means to restate someone else’s ideas in your own language at roughly the same level of detail. To summarize means to reduce the most essential points of someone else’s work into a shorter form. Along with quotation, paraphrase and summary provide the main tools for integrating your sources into your papers. When choosing which to use, consider first your discipline and the type of writing in which you are engaged. For example, literature reviews in science reports rely almost exclusively on summary. Argumentative essays, by contrast, rely on all three tools.
Paraphrase and summary are indispensable in argumentative papers because they allow you to include other people’s ideas without cluttering up your paragraphs with quotations . These techniques help you take greater control of your essay. Consider using either tool when an idea from one of your sources is important to your essay but the wording is not. Space limitations may guide you in your choice. But above all, think about how much of the detail from your source is relevant to your argument. If your reader needs to know only the bare bones, then summarize.
Though paraphrase and summary are often preferable to quotation, do not rely too heavily on them, either. Your ideas are what matter most. Allow yourself the space to develop those ideas.
Whenever you paraphrase, remember these two points:
Finding new words for ideas that are already well expressed can be hard, but changing words should not be your chief aim anyway. Focus, rather, on filtering the ideas through your own understanding. The following strategy will make the job of paraphrasing a lot easier:
When it comes time to write the paper, rely on your notes rather than on the author’s work. You will find it much easier to avoid borrowing from the original passage because you will not have seen it recently. Follow this simple sequence:
Let’s look at examples of illegitimate and legitimate paraphrase, using a passage from Oliver Sacks’ essay “An Anthropologist on Mars”:
The cause of autism has also been a matter of dispute. Its incidence is about one in a thousand, and it occurs throughout the world, its features remarkably consistent even in extremely different cultures. It is often not recognized in the first year of life, but tends to become obvious in the second or third year. Though Asperger regarded it as a biological defect of affective contact—innate, inborn, analogous to a physical or intellectual defect—Kanner tended to view it as a psychogenic disorder, a reflection of bad parenting, and most especially of a chillingly remote, often professional, "refrigerator mother." At this time, autism was often regarded as "defensive" in nature, or confused with childhood schizophrenia. A whole generation of parents—mothers, particularly—were made to feel guilty for the autism of their children.
What follows is an example of illegitimate paraphrase :
The cause of the condition autism has been disputed. It occurs in approximately one in a thousand children, and it exists in all parts of the world, its characteristics strikingly similar in vastly differing cultures. The condition is often not noticeable in the child’s first year, yet it becomes more apparent as the child reaches the age of two or three. Although Asperger saw the condition as a biological defect of the emotions that was inborn and therefore similar to a physical defect, Kanner saw it as psychological in origin, as reflecting poor parenting and particularly a frigidly distant mother. During this period, autism was often seen as a defence mechanism, or it was misdiagnosed as childhood schizophrenia. An entire generation of mothers and fathers (but especially mothers) were made to feel responsible for their offspring’s autism (Sacks 247-48).
Most of these sentences do little more than substitute one phrase for another. An additional problem with this passage is that the only citation occurs at the very end of the paragraph. The reader might be misled into thinking that the earlier sentences were not also based on Sacks.
The following represents a legitimate paraphrase of the original passage:
In "An Anthropologist on Mars," Sacks lists some of the known facts about autism. We know, for example, that the condition occurs in roughly one out of every thousand children. We also know that the characteristics of autism do not vary from one culture to the next. And we know that the condition is difficult to diagnose until the child has entered the second or third year of life. As Sacks points out, often a child who goes on to develop autism will show no sign of the condition at the age of one (247). Sacks observes, however, that researchers have had a hard time agreeing on the causes of autism. He sketches the diametrically opposed positions of Asperger and Kanner. On the one hand, Asperger saw the condition as representing a constitutional defect in the child's ability to make meaningful emotional contact with the external world. On the other hand, Kanner regarded autism as a consequence of harmful childrearing practices. For many years confusion about this condition reigned. One unfortunate consequence of this confusion, Sacks suggests, was the burden of guilt imposed on so many parents for their child's condition (247-48).
This paraphrase illustrates a few basic principles that can help you to paraphrase more effectively:
Summary moves much further than paraphrase from point-by-point translation. When you summarize a passage, you need first to absorb the meaning and then to capture in your own words the most important elements from the original passage. A summary is necessarily shorter than a paraphrase.
Here is a summary of the passage from "An Anthropologist on Mars":
In "An Anthropologist on Mars," Sacks notes that although there is little disagreement on the chief characteristics of autism, researchers have differed considerably on its causes. As he points out, Asperger saw the condition as an innate defect in the child's ability to connect with the external world, whereas Kanner regarded it as a consequence of harmful childrearing practices (247-48).
Written by Jerry Plotnick, Director, University College Writing Centre
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An important part of any academic discussion is citations. It highlights the existing works on a particular topic, enabling readers to track relevant research 1 to develop their arguments. Though the function of citation is simple, the learning process of correctly citing other articles can be challenging. There is an increased possibility of plagiarism if you incorporate others’ work or ideas without full or correct acknowledgment. As a research student or early researcher, you will come across rules for paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting in your research articles. These are essential strategies for citing existing research work to support or challenge your writings or arguments. You’ll use a combination of these in your assignments, dissertation, or research papers, so understanding their differences is important.
In simple terms, the difference between these three terms lies in the proximity of your writing to the source writing, but their use could be hindered for the following reasons. 2
This article compares and discusses paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting to help you become more comfortable with their usage.
Quoting involves using a direct quotation , where you quote the author verbatim to define or describe specific concepts. Use double quotation marks at the beginning and end of the quote, and use the exact words from the original text. It is important to cite the original source and name the author, or else your work could be considered plagiarized as there is software that easily detects this. Also, it is better to avoid long passages as direct quotes; limit them to one or two sentences. Another point to remember is to limit their instances in your paper. Use words/phrases such as stated , in the words of , etc., to indicate that you are using the author’s exact words. Discuss its meaning or add more information as needed so that the quotes fit logically in your writing.
Unlike quoting, paraphrasing involves rewriting the text; the aim is to explain the original and relevant idea in one’s own words as a basis to build an argument. You can avoid words such as mentioned or stated for paraphrased text, but cite the source to ensure the reader knows that you are borrowing ideas. Paraphrasing can be challenging to most ESL students as it requires a good command of paraphrasing and considerable time and effort in choosing the right active or passive verbs to introduce a paraphrase. 3 A common mistake to avoid is swapping words in the original sentence with their synonyms.
In academic writing, the preference is towards paraphrasing because it shows your understanding of the literature and allows you to present relevant evidence to your readers. Also, as it incorporates your own academic voice, you can avoid getting flagged by plagiarism detection tools, such as Turnitin.
When summarizing, you describe the original text without analyzing it. Your aim is to give your readers a broad overview of a subject. It involves placing the main ideas or points in your own words. Since your focus is on providing a general overview of the topic, summaries are often provided in the introductory paragraph. But remember to cite the summarized ideas.
The following is an example of a good paraphrase. It has the same ideas as the source text (quoted on the left) but with different wording and sentence structure.
“While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper engineering so far, it’s unlikely that architects and engineers have abandoned the quest for the world’s tallest building. The question is: Just how high can a building go?” (Bachman, 1990, p. 15). | While the Sears Tower is a world marvel, it remains unknown how much higher skyscrapers of the future will rise. (Bachman, 1990, p. 15). |
Developing your paraphrasing and summarizing skills will take time. So, it is important that you set aside a lot of time to practice these skills to perfect your writing.
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Psyd22: socialization processes.
Mark, J. (n.d.). [JPEG image of a Venn diagram comparing quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing]. Retrieved October 6, 2021, from http://writingscape.com/summary-vs-paraphrase-vs-quote/
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How are Percy Jackson and Harry Potter the same? How are they different? How are an iPhone and a Droid the same? How are they different? How are elementary school and middle school the same? How are they different?
For essays like these, where one concept needs to be compared (to show similarities) and contrasted (to show differences), a simple chart or a Venn diagram is easy for children to create and does the job well.
Click on the graphic to enlarge it.
For the chart organizer, draw two vertical lines on notebook paper, creating three columns. Use the first column to list ideas to be compared or contrasted and the other two columns for the ideas being contrasted (for example, WWI and WWII). Similarities can be written over the line separating the second two columns.
For the Venn diagram organizer, start with two huge circles that overlap by a third. On their own, students draw circles that are too small and that barely overlap. Instead, I have them trace a seven or eight inch bowl whose shape fills about two-thirds of a page of notebook paper. If two seven-inch circles are traced, overlapping in the middle, the result is enough room for the three kinds of information needed in the essay: how each concept differs (the outer parts of the circles) and how each concept is similar (the overlapped part).
For students comfortable with mind webs, I recommend using Venn diagrams. The circles of the Venn diagram look something like a mind web and bring continuity to the prewriting experience. If there is not enough room in the circles, we tape another paper to the bottom or side of the page and add more information there. But a chart works just as well for students who prefer that way of organizing.
When the chart or diagram is full, I ask students to use colored pencils to identify information that should go together in the same body paragraphs. Students might circle Harry Potter’s and Percy Jackson’s ages in red; where they live in red; where they go to school or camp in red and when the stories take place in red. They might circle their friends in blue. They might circle their tasks or actions in green. Then they number the colors to show what kinds of information they plan to use in the first, second and third body paragraphs.
To enlarge, click on the photo.
Previous blogs have covered why prewriting organizers are important, and how to construct and use easy kinds of organizers for expository and persuasive essays (mind webs) and for narratives (modified time lines). Now the student is ready to begin the first draft. Next time we will talk about introductions.
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Display Einstein's famous letter to FDR . Seek a student volunteer to read the letter aloud to your class. Afterward, ask a simple question: "What is the letter about?" Let multiple students respond, and then distinguish their responses. Did they use their own words? Did they cite exact words from the letter? Did they respond to one portion of the text or the whole thing?
Tell students that the question "what is this about" is the focus of every summary. Writing a summary requires students to use their own words and, in special occasions, a few exact words from the source to reveal the heart of the matter. This chapter introduces strategies for summarizing as well as paraphrasing and quoting. Students will use all three strategies to write an effective abstract.
“Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.”
—William Strunk, Jr.
Lafs.1112.ri.1.2, lafs.1112.w.3.8, lafs.1112.w.2.5, lafs.1112.ri.3.9, lafs.1112.ri.1.1, lafs.1112.ri.1.3, lafs.1112.w.3.9, lafs.1112.ri.3.7, teks covered in this chapter, 110.38.c.4.g, 110.38.c.5.d, 110.38.c.7.d.i, 110.39.c.4.g, 110.39.c.5.d, 110.39.c.7.d.i, 110.38.c.11.e, 110.38.c.11.f, 110.38.c.11.g, 110.39.c.11.e, 110.39.c.11.f, 110.39.c.11.g, 110.38.c.9.a, 110.38.c.9.c, 110.38.c.9.d, 110.39.c.9.a, 110.39.c.9.c, 110.39.c.9.d, 110.38.c.4.f, 110.38.c.5.c, 110.39.c.4.f, 110.39.c.5.c, 110.38.c.7.d.ii, 110.39.c.7.d.ii, 110.38.c.11, 110.38.c.4.h, 110.39.c.11, 110.39.c.4.h, page 278 from write for college, writing a summary.
A summary extracts main ideas from a piece of writing and then shapes that material clearly and coherently. Summarizing helps students (1) sharpen reading and thinking skills, (2) support ideas in essays, (3) write abstracts for research projects, and (4) prepare for workplace summaries of documents and meetings.
Students need to see a summary as more than simply skimming an article and copying some sentences. Highlight these points for creating effective summaries:
Note: Consider connecting a summary assignment with another writing project. For example, have students summarize an article on rising ocean levels for a research paper in that subject area.
Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site
Summary writing in action.
Provide students time to read the original and revised summaries. Ask volunteers to point out the differences between the two summaries. For further enrichment, either (1) ask students to evaluate and improve a previous draft of a summary they have written, or (2) share examples of summaries in newspaper and magazine articles, textbooks, or research abstracts. Have students discuss the purpose and usefulness of the summaries and propose revisions to improve them.
Additional summaries.
Display a blank T-chart or Venn diagram. Have your students read through the objective textbook summary and personal summary. As a class, compare and contrast the two summaries for content and writing style. Fill in the T-chart or Venn diagram with your students' observations.
As an alternative, display a current news story or other brief article about an interesting topic. Have students read the article. Immediately afterward, ask them to "stop 'n' write" to reflect on what they have read. They should use a relaxed writing style like that of the personal summary.
Analyze similarities and differences.
Writing a paraphrase.
Paraphrasing is a key skill for research, but also for learning in general. A student who can put a concept into his or her own words understands the concept.
Educate students about the differences between summarizing and paraphrasing. Both skills involve rewording source material, often in more-accessible language. However, while a summary always attempts to capture only the main idea and key supporting details of another source, a paraphrase may focus on the entire source or just a single detail that directly relates to a research topic. In that way, paraphrasing is a more flexible move than summarizing. Remind students that any summarized or paraphrased material in a research project must include a citation to the original work.
Next, lead your students through the guidelines for paraphrasing. For practice, have students work individually to paraphrase a key idea from a common source or the source as a whole. One possible source could be a public speech or document. (Possible authors include Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, or Tecumseh.) Afterward, ask for volunteers to share their paraphrases. Note how different responses to the same source exemplify original thinking.
Examples of paraphrases.
Ask students to cover up the two sample paraphrases at the bottom of the page as they read and paraphrase the selection at the top of the page. When they finish, suggest that they compare their own paraphrase to the samples: How are they similar? How are they different? Did their versions miss anything important? What about the samples?
Point out that both sample paraphrases conclude with a citation to the original source, in this case, following MLA style. Note that the second sample paraphrase includes a word-for-word quotation from the reading, a technique your students will examine on the next page.
Using quoted material.
Your students may be wondering when it is appropriate to quote a source word for word instead of paraphrasing or summarizing it. In general, students should quote material when . . .
After sharing this information, lead students through the formatting and punctuation guidelines for quoted material. To see quoted material in action, have students seek short quotations in the sample MLA research paper on pages 327–334. For a long quotation, see the bottom of page 338.
Use quotation marks with titles and quotations.
Writing an abstract.
Let students know that an abstract is essentially a summary of one's own research paper or report. Lead students through the writing guidelines, and refer back to this page whenever you assign an abstract.
Note: MLA papers do not require an abstract, but APA papers do. You may also wish to have students write an abstract prior to beginning their research papers. Writing an abstract so early in the process forces students to conceptualize a general focus for their papers. It also gives you an opportunity to provide early feedback, steering them in a new direction, if necessary. Of course, students should revise their initial abstract to reflect the information in their completed paper.
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What is summarizing? Next, we come to summarizing. Summarizing is on a much larger scale than quoting or paraphrasing. While similar to paraphrasing in that you use your own words, a summary's primary focus is on translating the main idea of an entire document or long section. Summaries are useful because they allow you to mention entire chapters or articles—or longer works—in only a few ...
Oppositely, the main difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing is that quoting is done word for word from the original work. Both paraphrasing and summarizing only touch on the key points and are written with some variation from the initial author's work, usually in the style and tone of the new author.
Paraphrasing is usually expected in research and argumentative essays. These type of papers benefit from paraphrasing because it shows that you understand the source and are therefore a reliable voice on that source. Paraphrasing can make the evidence more straightforward. Another reason to paraphrase is to adjust your tone for your audience.
Paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is when you restate someone else's words, but not word for word. Example (original quote): "It's risky trusting employees as much as we do. Giving them as much freedom as we do. But it's essential in creative companies where you have much greater risk from lack of innovation.".
Paraphrasing. When we paraphrase, we are processing information or ideas from another person's text and putting them in our own words. The main difference between paraphrase and summary is scope: if summarizing means rewording and condensing, then paraphrasing means rewording without drastically altering length.
Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing. This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.
The screen changes to show the series title "Paraphrasing Sources" and the video title "Comparing Paraphrasing & Quoting." Audio: Guitar music. Visual: Slide changes to a mostly gray slide with the heading: "Paraphrasing: One form of evidence." Below the heading are two blue circles comparing quotation and paraphrase: Quotation. Identical ...
Quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing are similar in that they allow a writer to incorporate another writer's work into his or her own work. However, they are different in the methods of application. Quotation s are identical in every way to the original. To quote a source, write out the exact words in the original document and put those words ...
A Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can use this as a first step to creating an outline for a compare and contrast essay . Simply draw two (or three) large circles and give each circle a title, reflecting each object, trait, or person you are comparing.
Paraphrasing is when you take someone else's ideas or words and rephrase them as your own. Summarizing is to give the reader an overview of the key points of a text. Quoting is when you write exactly what someone else has said, word for word. Anyone who has written a paper, especially an academic paper, has struggled to answer the question ...
Summarizing vs Paraphrasing: Key Differences. Summarizing is about condensing the main points of a long text into a brief and concise version, focusing on the general idea. It's like giving a snapshot of a book, the difference being the scope of the content. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, involves rewriting a specific sentence or paragraph in ...
Paraphrasing is taking someone else's idea, and restating it in your own words. Remember, paraphrasing does not make this your idea. Therefore, you must cite the original source of the idea. When paraphrasing, write your paraphrase without looking at the original source -- then go back and check for accuracy and for any direct quotes.
When using a Venn diagram to write a compare and contrast essay, first draw two large circles. These two circles should overlap each other. Assign a title to each circle that represents each idea you are comparing. In the overlapping area, write all of the things that the two ideas, people, or objects have in common.
To paraphrase means to restate someone else's ideas in your own language at roughly the same level of detail. To summarize means to reduce the most essential points of someone else's work into a shorter form. Along with quotation, paraphrase and summary provide the main tools for integrating your sources into your papers.
Unlike quoting, paraphrasing involves rewriting the text; the aim is to explain the original and relevant idea in one's own words as a basis to build an argument. You can avoid words such as mentioned or stated for paraphrased text, but cite the source to ensure the reader knows that you are borrowing ideas.
Research guides: PSYD22: Socialization Processes : Paraphrasing, Summarizing, Quoting
Matches the source word for word. 2. Usually, a short part of the text. 3. The cited part appears between quotation marks. DIRECT QUOTING 3. Reducing and shortening the whole piece. ALYANA NICOLE IBABAO (STEM SOURCES: Lab, P. W. (n.). Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Purdue Writing Lab. Retrieved October 24, 2022, Attention Required ...
Use the first column to list ideas to be compared or contrasted and the other two columns for the ideas being contrasted (for example, WWI and WWII). Similarities can be written over the line separating the second two columns. For the Venn diagram organizer, start with two huge circles that overlap by a third.
This chapter introduces strategies for summarizing as well as paraphrasing and quoting. Students will use all three strategies to write an effective abstract. ... Display a blank T-chart or Venn diagram. Have your students read through the objective textbook summary and personal summary. ... As a class, compare and contrast the two summaries ...
Organizing & Summarizing. Venn Diagram. Grades. K - 12. Launch the tool! About this Interactive ... Students compare the traits fact and fiction by using a Venn diagram to compare fiction and nonfiction books about Native Americans. ... The Compare & Contrast Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to organize and outline ...
How can I use a Venn Diagram with my students? After students read a passage that compares and contrasts two people, events, ideas, or objects, encourage them to complete the Venn Diagram. They should list the properties of each item being compared down the sides of the diagram (1 and 2) and the properties that are common to both in the ...
the graphic organizer that you need to use is the venn diagram to show compare and contrast ( similarities and differences ) differences: ... Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are all different ways of including evidence and the ideas of others into your assignments. Using evidence from credible sources to support your thesis is an ...