Summarizing
Another way to use borrowed information from an outside source is to summarize it
What is the difference between a paraphrase and a summary?
When you retell a story that someone has told you, you repeat the story in your own words. If your
retelling is about the same length as the original, it is a paraphrase
If you shorten the story—retelling only the most important points and leaving out the details—it is a
summary
Original Passage (85 words)
Language is the main means of communication between peoples. But so many different languages have
developed that language has often been a barrier rather than an aid to understanding among peoples.
For many years, people have dreamed of setting up an international universal language which all people
could speak and understand. The arguments in favor of a universal language are simple and obvious. If
all peoples spoke the same tongue, cultural and economic ties might be much closer, and good will
might increase between countries (Kispert)
Paraphrase (63 words, about the same length as the original)
Humans communicate through language. Because there are so many different languages, however,
people around the world have a difficult time understanding one another. Some people have wished for
a universal international language that speakers all over the world could understand. Their reasons are
straightforward and clear. A universal language would build cultural and economic bonds. It would also
create better feelings among countries (Kispert)
Summary (28 words, much shorter)
People communicate through language; however, having different languages creates communication
barriers. A universal language could bring countries together culturally and economically as well as
increase good feelings among them (Kispert)
Writing Technique Questions
1. How many sentences are there in the original passage? In the paraphrase? In the summary?
2. Compare the paraphrase and the summary. What two details were left out of the summary?
How to Write a Good Summary
There are three keys to writing a good summary:
1 Use your own words and your own sentence structure
2. Remember that a summary is much shorter than a paraphrase. Include only the main points and
main supporting points, leaving out most details
3. Do not change the meaning of the original
Read the original passage and the two summaries that follow it. Then answer these questions
1. Which of the two is the best summary? Why?
2. Which summary contains an idea that was not in the original? Which sentence expresses this
added idea?
The steps for writing a summary are similar to those for writing a paraphrase
Step 1Read the original passage several times until you understand it fully. Look up any words that you
don't understand
Step 2 Decide what the important ideas are. It helps to underline important ideas. It also helps to take
notes
Write down only a few words for each idea—not complete sentences
Step 3 Write your summary from your notes. Don't look at the original while you are writing
Step 4 Check your summary against the original to make sure you have not changed the meaning
Step 5 Add an in-text citation at the end of the summary
Write a one-paragraph summary of each of the following passages
Coffee, made from adding water to ground coca beans, is dark brown in colour, quite bitter to drink
and is rapidly becoming the preferred tipple of many a person throughout the world
Coffee is gaining popularity
Coffee is dark brown and quite bitter
Activity 2: Summarise the following sentences
University professors, who have often worked in the same institution for years and years, are experts
in their field of interest and study and will probably have written many books
Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words
whenever possible (maximum 50 words,)
As today's bride and groom celebrate their wedding, they have every excuse for being nervous. They
exchange promises of lifelong fidelity and mutual support. However, all around them, they can see
that many people do not and cannot keep these promises. Their own marriage has a one in three
chances of divorce if present tendencies continue. Traditional marriage is facing a crisis, at least in
Britain. Not only are there more and more divorces, but the number of marriages is falling. Living
together is more popular than before. The family is now no longer one man, one woman and their
children. Instead, there are more and more families which include parents, half sisters and brothers,
or even only one parent on her / his own. Although Britain is still conservative in its attitudes to
marriage compared with other countries such as the USA, Sweden and Denmark, the future will
probably see many more people living together before marriage - and more divorce. Interestingly, it is
women rather than men who apply for divorce. Seven out of ten divorces are given to the wife. Also,
one of the main reasons for divorce, chosen by ten times more women than men, is unreasonable or
cruel behaviour. Perhaps this means that women will tolerate less than they used to.
