Summaries/Paraphrases
Paraphrasing and
summarizing are ways of discussing the work and ideas of others without quoting
them directly. We summarize a discussion or reading to make it more succinct so
that it
can fit more
neatly into our own discussion. We paraphrase a discussion in order to make it clearer
or more relevant to our thesis and our audience. For all practical purposes,
summary
and paraphrase
mean the same thing—using your own words to represent another’s ideas. It is
equally as important to cite authors whose ideas you summarize or paraphrase as
it is to cite those you quote.
Tips for Summarizing and
Paraphrasing
Following
are some tips you can apply when you are summarizing or paraphrasing:
■ Whenever
you summarize or paraphrase, write your understanding of the text you are
summarizing. Avoid looking at the text as you do. This will help ensure that you
do not inadvertently borrow the writer’s phrases. When you have finished,
compare what you have written to the author’s words and correct any
inaccuracies, again using your own words. If you used significant words or phrases
from the original text, be sure to enclose them in quotation marks.
■ As
you incorporate your summaries and paraphrases into your paper, cite them as
carefully as you cite quoted material.
■ Be
especially cautious when using word processing tools like Microsoft Word’s
AutoSummarize. AutoSummarize shortens a page of text, highlighting key points
and phrases
that
can be inserted into a research paper. Instructors are aware of these features,
and many do not consider them legitimate. It is arguable, after all, whether
this is you or the word processor doing the job. If you do use this feature, be
sure that you edit the auto summary to quote the words and phrases that the word
processor extracted from the original and be sure that you cite the source.
■ Whenever
you summarize or paraphrase, begin with a signal phrase to introduce the
material. Be sure to cite the material as you would cite a quotation.
Phrases to Introduce Summaries
■ In
general, ■ Typically,
■ In
short, ■ Usually,
■ In
brief, ■ As
usual,
■ In
summary, ■ As a
general rule,
■ To
summarize, ■ As a
rule,
■ To
restate, ■ On
the whole,
■ Generally, ■ In
essence,
■ Generally
speaking, ■ In
other words,
Phrases to Introduce Paraphrases
■ The
author tells us that
■ According
to the author,
■ The
author writes …
Revising Your Work
■ The
author says that …
■ The
author states that …
