paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting information

Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting Information

• In all academic writing, it is essential to use information from outside sources (e.g., books, journals, magazines, and the Internet) to support your position.

Kind of Information from

Outside Source

What are they? Example

Facts Things accepted as truths

Tigers are the largest of all cat species and can be found from the Siberian taiga* to the tropical mangrove swamps of South Asia.

Anecdotes Incidents or other people's

experiences

In the first half of 2008, tigers killed seven fishermen in a coastal area of India called Netidhopani.

Statistics Figures based on a survey

There were an estimated 40,000 tigers in India last century. In 2002, their population was 3,642, and in 2008 it had shrunk to 1,411.

Experts’ Opinions According to Pradip Guha of the World Conservation Union, endangered tigers are attacking humans as rising sea levels and coastal erosion gradually reduces their natural habitat.

*taiga (noun) - forest that grows in wet ground in far northern regions of the earth

Model Paragraph about Whaling with Supporting Information from Outside Sources

First, whaling should be banned because it is morallyunacceptable to kill intelligent mammals brutally. Althoughthe method of catching and killing whales has changedgreatly over the years, it still remains cruel and ineffective.According to the World Society for the Protection ofAnimals, whales today are killed by explosive harpoons,which enter the whale near the head and explode inside itsbody. However, this method is far from effective, as shownby the fact that only about 40% of the whales harpooned dieimmediately (2).In addition, these hunting methods goagainst modern society's acceptable standard of humansuffering. Benson found that "people surveyed around theworld now correctly understand that whales are intelligent,social mammals, not fish, and if hunted, must receiveinstant, painless death" (88). Commercial whalers haveshown they cannot meet this international ethical standard,and thus this practice must stop.

Supporting point 1

Information 1 (Fact)

Information 2 (Statistics)

Supporting point 2

Information 3 (Expert’s opinion)

Three ways to add information from outside sources into academic writing:

1.Paraphrasing2.Summarizing3.Quoting

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

When paraphrasing, DO NOT:

• change any of the ideas in the originalinformation.

• remove any ideas.

• add new ones.

But DO:

• keep shared language.

Shared Language

• Words and phrases that cannot be stated in any other way and should therefore be kept

• Examples:

Proper nouns Albert Einstein Oxford UniversityThe European Union Malaysia

Common nouns that are difficult to reword efficiently

history computer mosquitosummer technology sports

Technical terms carbon dioxide hibernationGross National Product photosynthesis

Numbers and dates 17,000 198742% October 22

Exercise: Identify the shared language in the passage below.

Which is the best paraphrase for the following sentence?

Only 9% of the students who work part-time earn sufficientincome to support themselves.

a. Only 9% of the students who have part-time jobs make enough money to support themselves.

b. Although many students work part-time, only 9% of them make their living from their jobs because their wages are very low.

c. Of all the students who have part-time jobs, no more than 9% make enough money to earn a living.


Only 9% of the students who work part-time earn sufficientincome to support themselves.

a. Only 9% of the students who have part-time jobs make enough money to support themselves.

•Keeps the details in the original sentence, but...•Sentence structure and vocabulary are too similar to the original

b. Although many students work part-time, only 9% of them make their living from their jobs because their wages are very low.

Includes information that is NOT in the original text

c. Of all the students who have part-time jobs, no more than 9% make enough money to earn a living.

•Expresses the details in the original text accurately•Uses a different sentence structure and vocabulary


Throughout most of the developed world, universitieshave seen a steady increase in the number of womenenrolling in engineering courses.


Due to the shortage of space, on-campus housing is notcommon in big city universities. Most students commutefrom their home or rent an apartment near the campus.

How to Paraphrase

How to Paraphrase

Original:

Increases in the cost of air travel have had* a negativeeffect on tourism in destinations such as Hawaii, whichare significant distances from other countries.

Paraphrase:

The tourist industry in places like Hawaii, which is fairlyremote from other countries, has been* adverselyaffected by rises in airfare.

*Tense of original = Tense of paraphrase

How to Paraphrase

Example of a Plagiarized Paraphrase

Example of an Acceptable Paraphrase

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

Which is the best summary for the following passage?

The number of overweight children is predicted to rise significantly around the world bythe end of the decade. Research conducted in 25 countries has concluded that almostevery country showed significant increases in childhood obesity. Almost 50% ofchildren in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America will be overweight by 2020; in China,this figure is estimated to be one in five. Scientists believe this will mean that healthcare services will be seriously affected in the future. Many obese children will becomeobese adults, which will result in many of them suffering from heart disease, stroke,and other weight-related ailments.

a. A survey in 25 countries has found out that the number of obesechildren will increase significantly all over the world by 2020.Scientists agree that this will influence health care services in thenear future because many overweight children will suffer fromweight-related problems when they become adults.

b. The increasing number of obese children around the world will cause serious problems to medical services.

c. Since the number of overweight children will increase around the world, health care services will be seriously affected in the future.


The number of overweight children is predicted to rise significantly around the world bythe end of the decade. Research conducted in 25 countries has concluded that almostevery country showed significant increases in childhood obesity. Almost 50% ofchildren in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America will be overweight by 2020; in China,this figure is estimated to be one in five. Scientists believe this will mean that healthcare services will be seriously affected in the future. Many obese children will becomeobese adults, which will result in many of them suffering from heart disease, stroke,and other weight-related ailments.

a. A survey in 25 countries has found out that the number of obese children will increase significantly all over the world by 2020. Scientists agree that this will influence health care services in the near future because many overweight children will suffer from weight-related problems when they become adults.

•Captures the main idea of the original passage, but...•Too long and specific: includes many unnecessary details

b. The increasing number of obese children around the world will cause serious problems to medical services.

•Expresses the main idea of the original passage•Sentence structure and vocabulary are different from the original

c. Since the number of overweight children will increase around the world, health care services will be seriously affected in the future.

Too similar to the original in sentence structure and vocabulary


a. Because of its effectiveness, low cost, and cultural value, many people in the world prefer traditional medicine to modern medicine.

b. Many people around the world use traditional medicine because they cannot afford expensive modern medicine.

c. In Africa, Asia, and Latin America, traditional medicine is considered better than modern medical science because traditional medicines and techniques use inexpensive, easily accessible, and familiar natural ingredients, and involve physical contact between the doctor and the patient such as rubbing and massaging.

The need for sophisticated equipment is not the only obstacle limiting the use of modernmedical science. Traditional medicine, which uses a wide variety of inexpensive, easilyaccessible, and familiar natural ingredients and techniques, is preferable for many people.Medicines are normally created from local plants, animals, and minerals. Techniques ofteninclude socially bonding physical contact between patient and healer like rubbing ormassaging, and spiritual experiences which may involve trances, music, and scents.In Africa, for instance, an estimated 80% of people rely on traditional medicine for almostall their health care. Similarly, in many other parts of the world, particularly in Asia andLatin America where modern facilities are available, this approach to medicine is highlyvalued because it is effective, inexpensive, and culturally significant.

How to Summarize

The number of overweight children is predicted torise significantly around the world by the end ofthe decade. Research conducted in 25 countries hasconcluded that almost every country showedsignificant increases in childhood obesity. Almost50% of children in the U.S., Canada, and LatinAmerica will be overweight by 2020; in China, thisfigure is estimated to be one in five. Scientistsbelieve this will mean that health care services willbe seriously affected in the future. Many obesechildren will become obese adults, which will resultin many of them suffering from heart disease,stroke, and other weight-related ailments.

Key Point

Key Point

Supportfor

Key Point

Supportfor

Key Point

How to Summarize

How to Summarize

The number of overweight children is predicted to rise significantly around the world by theend of the decade. Research conducted in 25 countries has concluded that almost everycountry showed significant increases in childhood obesity. Almost 50% of children in the U.S.,Canada, and Latin America will be overweight by 2020; in China, this figure is estimated tobe one in five. Scientists believe this will mean that health care services will be seriouslyaffected in the future. Many obese children will become obese adults, which will result inmany of them suffering from heart disease, stroke, and other weight-related ailments.(Original)

The increasing number of obese children will cause problems to medical services.(First draft of summary)

How to Summarize

The number of overweight children is predicted to rise significantly around the world by theend of the decade. Research conducted in 25 countries has concluded that almost everycountry showed significant increases in childhood obesity. Almost 50% of children in the U.S.,Canada, and Latin America will be overweight by 2020; in China, this figure is estimated tobe one in five. Scientists believe this will mean that health care services will be seriouslyaffected in the future. Many obese children will become obese adults, which will result inmany of them suffering from heart disease, stroke, and other weight-related ailments.(Original)

The increasing number of obese children will cause problems to medical services.(First draft of summary)

Reminder: The summary should be much shorter than the original –

often only one or two sentences long.

Example of Plagiarized and Acceptable Summaries

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing vs. Quoting

Examples of Quoting1. Original Text:People surveyed around the world now correctly understand that whales are

intelligent, social mammals, not fish, and if hunted, must receive instantpainless death.

Quotation:Benson found that "people surveyed around the world now correctly understand

that whales are intelligent, social mammals, not fish, and if hunted, mustreceive instant painless death" (88).

2. Original Text: For the Inupiat, whale hunting is more than just a means of sustaining life; it is

their cultural heritage and a bond that unites them with their ancestors.

Quotation:Ellis states, "For the Inupiat, whale hunting is more than just a means ofsustaining life; it is their cultural heritage and a bond that unites them with their

ancestors."

state = reporting verb

•When using a reporting verb with a quotation, use a comma instead of that.

If the quotation is a complete sentence, begin with a capital letter.

Five Techniques to Integrate Quotations into Essays

1. Briefly introduce the quotation with a phrase.

• Place a comma after the phrase that introduce the quotation.

• Begin the quote with a capital letter.


2. Introduce the quotation with a complete sentence that states its significance to the essay's thesis.

• Place a colon at the end of the complete sentences that introduces the quotation.

• Begin the quote with a capital letter.


3. Blend the quotation directly into the essay writer's sentence.

• No punctuation is necessary if the quotation is blended into a sentence using a word such as that.

• Begin the quote with a lowercase letter.


4. Place the introductory phrase inside the quote.

• Use commas to separate the quote from the introductory phrase.


5. If a quotation is more than about 40 words, do NOT use quotation marks.

• End the sentence before the quote with a colon, start the quotation on the next line, and indent it.

• Restart the paragraph on a new line after the quotation.

Indent

Restart Paragraph

WARNING

• Be careful not to overuse quoting.

• If your essay has too many quotations,the reader might think you are just repeatingsomeone else’s words and ideas.

Generally, quoting can be useful when theinformation is:

• From an expert on the topic.

• Written in a particularly powerful or memorable way.

• From a primary source.

• Mostly shared language which cannot be effectively written.

Reporting Verbs for Paraphrases, Summaries, and Quotes

Three Grammatical Patterns for Using Reporting Verbs

Exercise

Four Pattern Variations

Different Meanings and Levels of Strength of Reporting Verbs

• Choose a reporting verb that:

– Accurately matches the meaning of the source information.

– Matches the strength of the source author's position or attitude.


Ineffective Use of Reporting Verbs:

A = Incorrect: The company did not explain anything.

B = Inappropriate: Indicates is too weak.•The company used definitely to express certainty in its plans.•Thus, a stronger verb would more accurately represent this attitude.


Effective Use of Reporting Verbs:

Avoiding Neutral Verbs

SayState

•Express a neutral position•Appropriate when the source author is truly conveying a neutral position

•However, are often overused•Results in less accurate and repetitive writing

Example with a Neutral Verb:

More Accurate Statement with a Stronger Reporting Verb:

Blames reflects the police's accusatory attitude to Western influence in Asia.

paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting information

Education

information paraphrasing

supporting information

original information

kind of information

outside sourcesfirst

outside sourcewhat

world conservation union

endangered tigers