PARAPHRASE
Paraphrasing means putting information into your
own words.
The paraphrased version should be shorter than the
original version.
Don’t copy the author word for word, that is
plagiarizing.
Change the author’s words but not the author’s meaning.
Using your own words to explain what others have said
is called paraphrasing. The key to doing it well is to first
understand what you have read. Try looking at the
source as a whole.
Steps to Paraphrasing
Read the original text until you grasp its meaning;
Then set it aside.
Using your memory, write down the main points or
concepts.
Do not copy the text verbatim.
Change the structure of the text by varying the
opening, changing the order of sentences, lengthening
or shortening sentences,
Original
Eg:-New York City, an engaging city with a vibrant
ambience and exhilarating pace, is one of the foremost
tourist destinations in the world.
Paraphrased
One of the most popular places in the world to visit is
New York. People love to visit because it is exciting and
interesting.
PARAPHRASE
E.g.:- “The relationship between teacher and taught is
different; students no longer have a tightly structured day
which they are more or less compelled to follow; the
amount of work achieved is largely the concern of the
individuals; new students suddenly find they have
responsibilities that they have never had to consider
before, such as accommodation, food and budgeting”.
(van Emden, 2001,p.1)
Solved
Students will find they have more independence and more
personal responsibility. It is up to them to do their work, attend
their classes, and look after non-academic concern, possibility
for the first time.
NOTE:- A good paraphrase can usually summarize a source in
fewer words than are used in the source itself. This shows that
you have understood the piece. In this case, the writer has
demonstrated that the original piece was not a list for its own
sake, it was using the list format to convey the message that
higher education would involve more independent action by
the student. Always look for the overall message in a piece.
STEP: 1
Reread the original passage until you understand
its full meaning.
STEP:2
• Set the original piece aside. Write down your
thoughts and most important details on a piece of
paper.
Step: 3
After you finish writing, at the top of the paper write
a key word or phrase that represents the author’s
controlling idea.
Step:4
Check your paraphrasing against the original. Make
sure that it is accurate and you didn’t change it’s
meaning.
Step:5
• Use synonyms for words that you copied exactly. Use
words that you know and understand.
• Add important information that was left off. Take out
any information that isn’t important or relevant.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARAPHRASING,
SUMMARISING AND PRECIS WRITING
Paraphrase: express the meaning of (something
written or spoken) using different words, especially to
achieve greater clarity.
Paraphrasing is writing any particular text in your own
words while summarizing is mentioning only the
main points of any work in your own words.
Paraphrasing is almost equal to or somewhat less than
the original text while summarizing is substantially
shorter than the original.
Paraphrasing may be done for the purpose of simplifying the
original work while summarizing is done to mention only the
major points without any kind of explanation about the
matter.
PRECIS WRITING
A précis is the gist of a passage expressed in as few words as
possible.
A précis should give all essential points so that anyone
reading it will be able to understand the idea expressed in the
original passage.
It should not contain more than a third of the number of
words in the original passage.
It teaches one how to express one’s thoughts clearly, concisely
and effectively.
Summary Writing Format
When writing a summary, remember that it should be in the
form of a paragraph.
A summary begins with an introductory sentence that
states the text’s title, author and main point of the text as you
see it.
A summary is written in your own words.
A summary contains only the ideas of the original text. Do
not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations,
deductions or comments into a summary.
Identify in order the significant sub-claims the author uses
to defend the main point.
Steps to Effective Paraphrasing and to Effective Summarizing
Steps to Effective Paraphrasing
1. Read the material that you plan to paraphrase. Read it
several times so that you understand it well.
2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a
note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind
you later how you envision using this material. At the top of
the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the
subject of your paraphrase.
4. Compare the length of what you’ve written to the
original text. They should be the same length. Remember, a
paraphrase does not condense material.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or
phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the
source.
6. 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.
Note: The paraphrase should make sense in its own
right. This means that you are writing a sentence or
paragraph so it should still read like one. If the
paraphrase doesn’t make sense, revise it.
7 Steps to Effective Summarizing
1. Read the article.
2. Re-read the article. Underline important ideas. Circle key terms.
Find the main point of the article. Divide the article into sections or
stages of thought, and label each section or stage of thought in the
margins. Note the main idea of each paragraph if the article is short.
3. Write brief summaries of each stage of thought or if
appropriate each paragraph. Use a separate piece of paper for this
step. This should be a brief outline of the article.
4. Write the main point of the article. Use your own words. Be
careful not to use the author's words or to follow the sentence
structure of the original passage. This should be a sentence that
expresses the central idea of the article as you have determined it
from the steps above.
5. Write your rough draft of the summary.
Combine the information from the first four steps into
paragraphs. Make sure that you are faithful to the
meaning of the source and that you have accurately
represented the main ideas.
6. Edit your version. Be concise. Eliminate needless
words and repetitions. (Avoid using "the author
says...," "the author argues...," etc.)
7. Compare your version to the original.
INTERPRETING VISUAL INFORMATION: (TABLES,
GRAPHS, CHARTS)
The ability to interpret visual information like charts, graphs,
diagrams and pictures is called, “visual literacy”. By figuring
out information that is shown in charts or other visuals, you
will gain a clearer understanding of a topic in an
informational text.
What are tables and graphs?
Tables and graphs are visual representations.
To organize information to show patterns and relationships.
A graphs shows information by representing it as a shape.
To record data.
