Paraphrasing and Summarizing

1. Paraphrasing and Summarizing 8th grade English teachers

2. What does paraphrase mean? • Taking someone else’s information and putting it into your own words and ideas • Example: No Fear Shakespeare edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream • A more detailed restatement than a summary • Your paraphrase must be cited to give the original source credit

3. Paraphrasing is a Valuable Skill The mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

4. Four Steps to Effective Paraphrasing 1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning. 2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card. 3. Check your own words with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information without repeating the author’s words. 4. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

5. Some Examples to Compare 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. 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.

6. Some Examples to Compare A legitimate paraphrase: In research papers students frequently quote too often, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually begins during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded word for word (Lester 46-47). 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.

7. Now it’s your turn! Take the following passage and paraphrase the information: Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From Headstrong, Barry. "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers." Consumer Reports May 1990: 348.

8. What did you come up with in your paraphrase?

9. Original Of the more than1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From Headstrong, Barry. "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers." Consumer Reports May 1990: 348. Paraphrase sample The use of a helmet is the key to reducing bicycling fatalities, which are due to head injuries 75% of the time. By cushioning the head upon impact, a helmet can reduce accidental injury by as much as 85%, saving the lives of hundreds of victims annually, half of whom are school children (Headstrong 348).

10. Summarizing and Paraphrasing: What is the Difference? Paraphrasing is the same length as the original work (reworded in your own words). Summarizing is almost always shorter in length than the original work (you must find the main ideas).

11. What does summarizing mean? • Involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). • Examples • Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. • Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original sources.

12. Summarizing is a Valuable Skill The mental process required for successful summarizing helps you grasp the main idea of the original text.

13. Four Steps to Effective Summarizing • Read the original paragraph, chapter, text, etc. until you comprehend its main idea. • Set the original aside and write your summary on a note card. • Check your own words with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses the main idea and doesn’t repeat key phrases used in the original. • Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

14. Some Examples to Compare An acceptable summary: Students should take just a few quotes from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47). 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.

15. Now it’s your turn! Take the following passage and summarize the information: Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From Headstrong, Barry. "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers." Consumer Reports May 1990: 348.

16. What did you come up with in your summary?

17. Original Of the more than1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From Headstrong, Barry. "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers." Consumer Reports May 1990: 348. Summary sample When riding a bicycle, especially children, one should wear a bicycle helmet to avoid head injuries and possibly death (Headstrong 348).