Paraphrasing and Summarizing

1
Paraphrasing and Summarizing

• Accuracy is the key, but must be done in your own
  words

2
Paraphrasing

• It is a tool used in summarizing, but is not a
  summary writing itself. It is shorter
• The aim is to re-present the information and
  concept in different words
• Not always shorter than the original

3
Things to note

• Source information (page/paragraph )
• Avoid stringing together more than 3 words from
  the original (Plagiarism)
• Avoid looking at the original when paraphrasing

4
Example

• With few exceptions, nurse theorists have not
  elaborated upon the concept of environment, even
  though it is a central element in the nursing
  paradigm (person, health, nursing, and
  environment). (Chopprian, 1986, p. 39)

5
Sample Paraphrase

• Although environment is the most important part
  of the nursing paradigmwhich looks at the
  person, the health of the patient, the practice
  of nursing, and the environmentnot many have
  discussed the environment in any detail.
  (Chopoorian, 1986)

6
Summarizing

• Use paraphrasing skills, as well as
  mapping/outlining skills
• The aim is to re-write the original in a
  significantly shortened form
• Aim for clarity, conciseness and use of your own
  words

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Tips

• Read the article and draft up the outline thesis
  and main points
• Identify the title and the writer of the article
  in the first sentence of the summary
• Identify the topic sentences throughout the
  article and use only the most important points
• Do not provide supporting details of the main
  points
• Write the summary (Lovrick, 2007, p. 42)

8
Quotation

• If the passage has less than 40 words, use
  quotation marks
• proper indentation, but no quotation marks, if
  the passage has more than 40 words
• Avoid too many quotations, and avoid stringing
  quotations together need to show mastery of the
  material through paraphrasing/summarizing

9
Use quotation only when

• Really need the support from an authority
• Need to back up the interpretation of a passage
  (paraphrasing and/or summarizing)
• Need to show exactly what someone else has said
  (to show how different your view is)
• Want to show (or cant match) the
  power/elegance/beauty of the original (Reinking,
  2010, p. 414)

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References

• Chopoorian, T. J. (1986). Reconceptualizing the
• environment. In P. Moccia (Ed.), New approaches
  to theory development (pp. 39-54), New York NLN.
• Loverick, P. (2007). Focus on College Reading
• and Writing. Toronto Thomson/Nelson.
• Reinking, J., von der Osten, R., Cairns, S. A.,
• Fleming, R. (2010). Strategies for successful
• writing. 4th Can. ed. Toronto Pearson.