Summarizing & Paraphrasing
Essential Skills for Academic and Professional Success
What is Summarizing?
Summarizing is the process of condensing a text to its essential points while maintaining the original meaning. A good summary captures the main ideas and key supporting details without including unnecessary information or personal opinions.
Key Characteristics of a Good Summary:
- Significantly shorter than the original text (typically 25-30% of original length)
- Focuses only on main ideas and critical supporting details
- Uses your own words while maintaining the original meaning
- Maintains objectivity—no personal opinions or interpretations
- Preserves the author’s intent and tone
When to Use Summarizing
Summarizing is particularly useful when you need to:
- Provide an overview of a longer text or document
- Present research findings in a literature review
- Create executive summaries or abstracts
- Take efficient notes during lectures or while reading
Example:
Original Text (150 words):
“Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. Rising global temperatures, caused primarily by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, are leading to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and increasingly extreme weather events. Scientists worldwide agree that immediate action is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. The Paris Agreement of 2015 brought nations together to commit to limiting global temperature increases, but progress has been slow. Many countries struggle to balance economic growth with environmental protection. However, renewable technologies like solar and wind power are becoming more affordable and efficient, offering hope for a sustainable future. Individual actions, combined with governmental policies and corporate responsibility, are all essential components of addressing this global crisis.”
Effective Summary (45 words):
“Climate change, driven by human greenhouse gas emissions, threatens global stability through rising temperatures and extreme weather. While the Paris Agreement established international commitments, progress remains slow. However, advancing renewable technologies and combined efforts from individuals, governments, and corporations offer pathways toward sustainability.”
What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing involves rewording a text while keeping approximately the same length and level of detail as the original. Unlike summarizing, paraphrasing doesn’t condense the content—it simply expresses the same ideas using different words and sentence structures.
Key Characteristics of Good Paraphrasing:
- Similar length to the original passage
- Uses significantly different vocabulary and sentence structure
- Maintains all the details and nuances of the original
- Preserves the original meaning without adding new information
- Still requires citation of the original source
When to Use Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is ideal when you need to:
- Incorporate specific details from a source into your writing
- Avoid overusing direct quotations
- Simplify complex or technical language for your audience
- Demonstrate your understanding of source material
Example:
Original Text:
“The human brain processes approximately 11 million bits of information every second, but our conscious mind can only handle about 40 bits per second.”
Effective Paraphrase:
“While the brain receives and analyzes roughly 11 million information units each second, only around 40 of these units reach our conscious awareness per second.”
Poor Paraphrase (too similar):
“The brain of humans processes around 11 million information bits per second, but the conscious mind can only process approximately 40 bits every second.”
Key Differences Between Summarizing and Paraphrasing
| Aspect | Summarizing | Paraphrasing |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Much shorter than original | Similar length to original |
| Detail Level | Main ideas only | All details preserved |
| Purpose | Provide overview | Restate specific information |
| Usage | When less detail is needed | When all details matter |
Tips for Success
- Always read the original text multiple times before attempting to summarize or paraphrase
- Put the original text aside and write from memory to ensure you’re using your own words
- Check your work against the original to ensure accuracy
- Always cite your sources, even when paraphrasing or summarizing
- Use a thesaurus carefully—ensure new words fit the context appropriately
- Vary your sentence structure from the original
Check Your Understanding
Test your knowledge with this interactive quiz. Check your answer after each question!
