Lesson 15_How to paraphrase and summarize英语写作
Summarizing and Paraphrasing
OWL of Purdue University
I. Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
1. Differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing
These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.
?Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original
author.
?Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually
shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and
condensing it slightly.
?Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original
source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.
2. Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?
Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:
?Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing;
?Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing;
?Give examples of several points of view on a subject;
?Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with;
?Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original;
?Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own;
?Expand the breadth or depth of your writing.
Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:
In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud
argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in
coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the
"dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are
censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and
displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).
3. How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?
It might be helpful to follow these steps:
?Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
?Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
?Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
?Consider any words, phrases, or sentences that you believe should be quoted directly.
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.
II. Paraphrasing: Write It in Your Own Words
1. A paraphrase is...
?your own rendition (演绎，翻译) of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
?one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
? a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.
2. Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...
?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.
3. Six Steps to Effective Paraphrasing
1)Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2)Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3)Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using
this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
4)Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses
all the essential information in a new form.
5)Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed
exactly from the source.
6)Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if
you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.
4. Some examples to compare
Paraphrasing refers to rewriting a given sentence using your own words. When we need to use a sentence in our writing that someone else wrote, we paraphrase it. That is, we use the same
idea(s) in that sentence and write it differently. In addition to using different words, we use different grammar. The main purpose of paraphrasing has to do with being able to use someone else’s ideas while we write our own texts. Of course, it is required that any writer acknowledges the original source using the proper citation format.
Example1:
Original sentence: The shoe store is closed because of the bad weather conditions. Inappropriate paraphrase: The shoe store is closed because of the bad weather. Comments:This paraphrase has too many words repeated; for example, “The shoe store is closed because of” are repeated. It is important to use different words and different grammatical structures, while keeping the same meaning of the original sentence.
Appropriate paraphrase: Since the weather is terrible, the shoe store is not open Comments: As can be seen in the above example, in addition to using different words, the grammatical structure of the sentence was changed by starting with the second part (dependent clause) of the original sentence.
Example 2:
The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. (Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.)
A legitimate paraphrase:
In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).
A plagiarized version:
Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.
III. Paraphrasing and Summarizing
1. Why do we need to paraphrase and summarize?
Whether you are writing for the workplace or for academic purposes, you will need to research and incorporate the writing of others into your own texts. Two unavoidable steps in that process are paraphrasing (changing the language into your own) and summarizing (getting rid of smaller details and leaving only the primary points). These steps are necessary for three reasons.
1)F irst, if you used the original writer’s language without any changes, it limits your own
learning; by paraphrasing and summarizing, you make a piece of information your own,
and you understand it better.
2)Second, the original writers did not write for the audiences you are targeting; there are
inevitably contents and language choices that will not necessarily work for your audience.
3)Third, what authors write is considered to be their property, just like a coat or a car; by
copying it (without giving credit), you can be accused of plagiarism.
Summarizing and paraphrasing are frequently used together, even though not always.
2. How to write a summary
Summarizing
A summary should be a short version of a longer original source. Its main goal is to present a large amount of information in a short and concise text that includes only the most important ideas of the original text.
Example 1:
Original sentence:
“The movement toward education by computer is developing fast. Massive Open Online Courses, called MOOCs, are changing how people learn in many places. For years, people could receive study materials from colleges or universities and take part in online classes. But such classes were not designed for many thousands of students at one time, as MOOCs are.” (MOOCS Are Moving Forward , Voice of America, https://www.360docs.net/doc/6614531224.html,)
Inappropriate summary:
Voice of America website:“Computer education is growing fast. MOOCs are influencing how we study. People received materials from universities for a long time to be able to take classes online. MOOCs are the only ones thousands can take at a time.”
Comments: The inappropriate summary is almost as long as the original text, which is a characteristic of a paraphrase. A summary needs to be concise.
Appropriate summary: According to a Voice of America article, a fast-growing MOOCs movement allows thousands to take online classes at once, changing how we learn. Comments: The appropriate summary keeps the original main idea and it is much shorter than the original text.
Example 2:
The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. (Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.)
An acceptable summary:Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).
3. Six steps to write a summary:
To write a good summary it is important to thoroughly understand the material you are working with. Here are some preliminary steps in writing a summary.
1.Skim the text, noting in your mind the subheadings. If there are no subheadings, try to
divide the text into sections. Consider why you have been assigned the text. Try to
determine what type of text you are dealing with. This can help you identify important info.
2.Read the text, highlighting important information and taking notes.
3.In your own words, write down the main points of each section.
4.Write down the key support points for the main topic, but do not include minor detail.
5.Go through the process again, making changes as appropriate.
6.Write the summary.
?The summary should cover the original as a whole.
?The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.
?The summary should be a condensed version of the material, presented in your own words. ?Do not include anything that does not appear in the original. (Do not include your own comments or evaluation.)
IV. Paraphrase and Summary Exercises
Exercise 1: Paraphrase the following sentences
1)“Passive safety systems help lessen the impact of driving accidents. They do nothing to
contribute to preventing drivers from getting into an accident.”
?Important points:
?Relationships between points:
?Linking phrases or expressions:
?Possible synonyms:
impact→prevent →
accident→getting into an accident →
Paraphrase:
2)“… nondriving-related devices, such as car stereos, mobile phones, and, more recently,
navigation systems, divert drivers’ attention increasingly more away from the primary sources of information necessary for safe operation of the vehicle: the road and other road user s.”
?Important points:
?Relationships between points:
?Linking phrases or expressions:
?Possible synonyms:
Paraphrase:
Exercise 2: Paraphrase the following sentences.
1.The student requested that the professor excuses her absence, but the professor refused.
2.There will be a music concert next to Vienna coffee shop. Would you like to go?
3.International Center is hosting English Conversation classes. They help non-native speakers of
English practice their English speaking skills.
4.The office of International Students and Scholars at Purdue University is located in SchlemanHall.
5.The car that was pulled over by the police officer yesterday just had an accident. That driver is
not careful.
Exercise 3:Try to summarize the following statements as briefly and possible.
1.People whose professional activity lies in the field of politics are not conspicuous (易见的；
明显的) for their respect for factual accuracy.
2.The climatic conditions prevailing in the British Isles (岛) show a pattern of alternating and
unpredictable periods of dry and wet weather, accompanied by a similarly irregular cycle of temperature changes.
3.It is undeniable that the large majority of non-native learners of English experience a number
of problems in attempting to master the phonetic (语音的) patterns of the language.
4.Tea, whether of the China or Indian variety, is well known to be high on the list of those
beverages which are most frequently drunk by the inhabitants of the British Isles.
5.It is not uncommon to encounter sentences which, though they contain a great number of
words and are constructed in a highly complex way, none the less turn out on inspection to
convey very little meaning of any kind.
6.One of the most noticeable phenomena in any big city, such as London or Paris, is the
steadily increasing number of petrol-driven vehicles, some in private ownership, others
belonging to the public transport system, which congest (充满，拥挤) the roads and
render (致使，造成) rapid movement more difficult year by year.