Summarizing and Paraphrasing Academic Writing in English

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUMMARIZING AND PARAPHRASING?

Paraphrasing A paraphrase is an explanation of a part of a text in your own words, whereas a summary generalizes the original text in your own words, omitting all unnecessary information It usually focuses on a more specific part of the text than the whole text in general. You can paraphrase in a summary.

Example – original text Pradip, S., and R. Rahim. (1997) There has been much talk of the ”Bombay Miracle” (e.g., Time, August 3, 1996) but rather less of the communication failures of the computer engineers and scienteists in the city. We have developed training courses for engineering graduates stressing cross-cultural differences in negotiation, writing styles, patent laws, and contractual obligations among Indian, Japanese, and North American leaders in technological change. Although no empirical evidence is yet available, there are signs that the case approach to success and failure in Indian computer engineering initiatives for export is having beneficial results. Taken from: English in Today’s Research World, Swales and Feak (2002) U of Michigan Press.

Possible paraphrases 1/4 1.Another communication program is developed by Pradip and Rahim (1997) for engineering graduates. All of these programs show appreciable results.

Possible paraphrases 2/4 Pradip and Rahim (1997) have developed training courses for engineering graduates stressing cross- cultural differences via a case study approach of success and failure in Indian computer engineering initiatives for export, and again find signs of beneficial results.

Possible paraphrases 3/4 In their article Pradip and Rahim (1997) talk about the successes in Indian computer engineering and also point out its weakness as a result of communication failures. They relate this with cross-cultural differences and have developed a program for training graduate students stressing cross-cultural differences in negotiations, writing, laws and contracutal obligatuions among Indian, Japanese, and North American leaders in technology.

Possible paraphrases 4/4 Pradip and Rahim have designed training courses stressing cross-cultural differences in engineering communications.

Why paraphrase? it is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage. it helps you control the temptation to quote too much. the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original. Source: [accessed: ]

How to paraphrase 1.Reread  understand 2.Paraphrase (on a note card).** 3.Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. 4.At the top of the note card - key word or phrase to indicate subject 5.Check your version with the original  check accuracy and essential info. 6.Use quotation marks to identify any “unique term” or “phraseology” 7.Record the source (including the page) on your note card. ** Paraphrasing on a note card serves the same purpose as an annotated bibliography  you might go back to that source later. Source: [accessed: ]

More advice Use synonyms Argues  claims, 18th century  1700s Change the word class Expansion (n)  expand (v) Change the word order BEWARE OF PATCHWORK WRITING Taken from: Bailey, s., Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students. 3rd ed., Oxon: Routledge