Paraphrasing and Summarizing
We should use quotes from other authors sparingly, only when we really cannot say the same thing in our own words. Most of the time in research we will paraphrase or summarize the text we're reading. When we paraphrase or summarize, we still must cite where we found the information.
Technically, the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing has to do with length. If we paraphrase a short paragraph, it will be approximately the same length even after we put it into our own words. When we summarize, we make the text shorter as we put it into our own words. So if the original paragraph has three sentences, a paraphrase of it may still have three sentences (in our own words!) but the summary might be one sentence (in our own words!).
Paraphrase
The following example shows a paraphrase in APA style, but a paraphrase in MLA style would be similar.
Original statement:
"Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or 'sequestered') when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle."
Successful paraphrase:
Remember when you were sitting around the camp fire with your buddies out at Golden Gardens roasting marshmallows on the shoreline of the Puget Sound? Well, you may not have been aware, but you were producing carbon dioxide; this is one of the four main greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels. So when you are stoking your camp fire next time think about how you are producing carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere, but don't worry because later it gets absorbed by plants (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2013).
Breaking it Down
It helps to look at the parts from the original text that were used in the paraphrase in more detail.
Original text:
"Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or 'sequestered') when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle."
Successful paraphrase:
Remember when you were sitting around the camp fire with your buddies out at Golden Gardens roasting marshmallows on the shoreline of the Puget Sound? Well, you may not have been aware, but you were producing carbon dioxide; this is one of the four main greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels. So when you are stoking your camp fire next time think about how you are producing carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere, but don't worry because later it gets absorbed by plants (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2013).
- Notice that the two parts that are paraphrased (shown above with blue and yellow highlighting) are approximately the same length in both the original text and paraphrase.
- The paraphrase also incorporates the author's own ideas to form the structure of the paragraph. The author successfully incorporates the ideas they learned from the original text into their own words.
- The in-text citation is also included, which is absolutely necessary for paraphrases. The bibliographic citation at the end of the paper would start with US Environmental Protection Agency.
Summary
The following example shows a summary in MLA style, but a summary in APA style would be similar.
Original text:
Dorcas, Michael E., et al. The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: Field Guide and Recorded Calls. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 2007. Print.
Like many anuran species worldwide, the frogs and toads of North Carolina have a difficult road ahead. Worldwide, scientists have documented drastic declines in many frog and toad populations. For many of these disappearances and declines, the exact causes are difficult to determine. In some parts of the United States, scientists have documented strange body malformations in some species. These alarming developments have prompted an increased interest in the threats facing amphibians. Many organizations have developed programs to monitor the status of frogs and toads throughout the world.
In North Carolina, loss of quality habitat is one of the greatest threats frogs and toads face. Habitat destruction and fragmentation threaten entire populations by:
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- Eliminating wetland habitats necessary as breeding sites,
- Removing forested areas and other upland habitats where many species live most of the year, and
- Creating barriers between these two habitats that prevent individuals from migrating to and from breeding areas.
Scientists estimate that one-half of North Carolina’s original wetlands have been lost due to urban development and conversion to cropland. Our state ranked sixth in the nation for total acres of land developed between 1992 and 1997.
Successful summary:
Environmental conditions in North Carolina pose a threat to frogs and toads. According to scientists, wetland destruction has already occurred on a massive scale. The destruction of wetlands, along with forests, uplands, and migration routes, could destroy vast numbers of these species. This is not only a concern in North Carolina, as frog and toad populations are declining around the world (Dorcas 8).
- Notice that the summary is much shorter than the original text, but it still includes the main ideas.
- The in-text citation is also included, which is absolutely necessary for summaries. The bibliographic citation at the end of the paper would start with the author's last name: Dorcas.
Example paraphrase from: "APA Guide to Plagiarism & Citing Sources (Canvas Module)" by Heath Ray Hayden, Bellevue College Library Media Center (Links to an external site.) is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Links to an external site.) / A derivative from the original work (Links to an external site.)