Paraphrasing

Summarizing
Does not match the source word for word
Involves putting the main idea(s) into your
own words, but including only the main
point(s)
Presents a broad overview, so is usually much
shorter than the original text
Must be attributed to the original source
Paraphrasing
Does not match the source word for word
Involves putting a passage from a source into
your own words
Change the words or phrasing of a passage ,
but retains and fully communicates the
original meaning
Must be attributed to the original source

Examples of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

What is plagiarism? In minor cases, it can be the quotation of a sentence or two, without
quotation marks and without a citation (e.g. footnote) to the true author. In the most serious
cases, a significant fraction of the entire work was written by someone else but the plagiarist
removed the author(s), name(s) and substituted his/her name, perhaps did some re-formatting
of the text, then submitted the work for credit in a class (e.g. term paper or essay), as part of the
requirements for a degree (e.g. thesis or dissertation), or as part of a published article or book.
Reference

Standler, R.B. (2012). Plagiarism in colleges in USA: Legal aspects of plagiarism, academic policy.
Retrieved from http://www.rbs2.com/plag.pdf,p.5.
Summary

Plagiarism can be defined as using ideas, data or any relevant information of another
without giving roper credit or acknowledgement (Standler, 2012).
Paraphrase

According to Standler (2012), plagiarism can occur in small cases, which happens when
small parts of a passage are used without enclosing them in quotation marks and citing the author.
It can also occur in ore grave situations. In these instances, big chunks of the original text are used.
There are changes in the format, but the original author is not attributed to and the work is claimed
as the plagiarist’s own and submitted to comply with academic requirements or as a part of a
material for publication.
When to Use Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing
1. Paraphrase a short text with one or two
sentences or a paragraph with a
maximum of five setences.
2. Paraphrase when ypu want to:
a. Avoid or minimize direct quotation; or
b. Rewrite the authors words by not
changing the message or use your
own words to state the author’s ideas
Summarizing
1. Summarize a text that has long sections
(e.g., a page or chapter of a book or the
book itself; a paragraph of an essay or
the essay itself.)
2. Summarize when you want to…
a. Avoid or minimize direct quotation; or
use the main idea of the text and
write it in your own words.

Guidelines in Paraphrasing

1. Read the text and understand its meaning. DO not stop reading until you understand the
message conveyed by the author.
2. Use a pen to underline or highlight the key words or main idea of the text.
3. Recall the key words or main idea of the text that you highlighted when you read it.
4. Write in your own words what you understood about the ideas in the text.
5. Get the original text and compare it with your paraphrase.
6. Check the meaning. Remember, your paraphrase should have the same meaning as the
original text.
 7. Check the sentence structure. The sentence structure of your paraphrase should be
different from the original text.
8. Refrain from adding comments about the text. Stick to the ideas presented in the text.
9. Compare your output to the original text to ensure its accuracy and remove redundant
ideas.
10. Record the details of the original source (author’s name/s, date of publication, title,
publisher, place of publishing, and URL (if online).
11. Format your paraphrase properly. When you combine your paraphrases in a paragraph,
use different formats to show variety in writing just like summarizing.

Using Reporting Verbs when Paraphrasing

A reporting verb is a word used to discuss another person’s writings or assertions. They are
generally used to incorporate the source to the discussion in the text. To illustrate, see the sample
text below. The reporting verbs are italicized.

Having a syntactically correct sentence is not enough to create meaning. As Noam

Chomsky pointed out, a sentence can be perfect in terms of syntax and still not make sense. He
showed this by coming up with the famous sentence, “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.”
(Chomsky, 1957).
Hyland (1999) lists a frequency of reporting verbs used according to discipline.

Discipline Reporting Verbs from left to right, most common to least common.
Biology Describe Find Report
Marketing Suggest Argue Find
Linguistics Suggest Argue Show
Sociology Argue Suggest Describe
Philosophy Say Suggest Argue
Overall Suggest Argue
1. “It is widely recognized that there is global biodiversity crisis, and environmental degradation is expected to
accelerate with profoundly changing socioeconomic (e.g. human population growth, economic development and
urbanization) and climatic conditions” (Gurney, et.al. 2014, p. 98)
Reference:
Gurney, G. et.al. (2014). Poverty and protected areas: An evaluation of marine integrated conservation and
development project in Indonesia. In Global Environment Change, 26, 98-107.

2. “Corruption occurs in both public and private organizations. It can be understood as a decision “sold” to benefit
the briber, while the bribe payment compensates for the decision maker’s risks and moral cost of betraying the
institution.”
Reference:
Soreidi, T. (2014). Drivers of corruption: A brief overview. Washington, DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development/ The World Bank.

3. “Microfinance is the provision of financial intermediation through the distribution of small loans, acceptance of
small savings and provisions of other financial products and services to the poor. Central to the concept of
microfinance is the idea that poverty can be effectively and permanently reduced or eliminated within a reasonable
period of time by providing the poor with access to such financial services.” (Getubig, Gibbons & Remenyi, p.7)
Reference:
Getubig, M. David, G., & Remenyi, J. (2007). Financing a revolution: An overview of the microfinance challenge in
Asia-Pacific. In J. Remenyi and B. Quinones, Microfinance and poverty alleviation: Case studies from Asia
and the Pacific NY: Taylor & Francis Group, 3-24.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

1. “It is widely recognized that there is global biodiversity crisis, and environmental degradation is expected to
accelerate with profoundly changing socioeconomic (e.g. human population growth, economic development and
urbanization) and climatic conditions” (Gurney, et.al. 2014, p. 98)
Reference:
Gurney, G. et.al. (2014). Poverty and protected areas: An evaluation of marine integrated conservation and
development project in Indonesia. In Global Environment Change, 26, 98-107.

2. “Corruption occurs in both public and private organizations. It can be understood as a decision “sold” to benefit
the briber, while the bribe payment compensates for the decision maker’s risks and moral cost of betraying the
institution.”
Reference:
Soreidi, T. (2014). Drivers of corruption: A brief overview. Washington, DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development/ The World Bank.

3. “Microfinance is the provision of financial intermediation through the distribution of small loans, acceptance of
small savings and provisions of other financial products and services to the poor. Central to the concept of
microfinance is the idea that poverty can be effectively and permanently reduced or eliminated within a reasonable
period of time by providing the poor with access to such financial services.” (Getubig, Gibbons & Remenyi, p.7)
Reference:
Getubig, M. David, G., & Remenyi, J. (2007). Financing a revolution: An overview of the microfinance challenge in
Asia-Pacific. In J. Remenyi and B. Quinones, Microfinance and poverty alleviation: Case studies from Asia
and the Pacific NY: Taylor & Francis Group, 3-24.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

1. “It is widely recognized that there is global biodiversity crisis, and environmental degradation is expected to
accelerate with profoundly changing socioeconomic (e.g. human population growth, economic development and
urbanization) and climatic conditions” (Gurney, et.al. 2014, p. 98)
Reference:
Gurney, G. et.al. (2014). Poverty and protected areas: An evaluation of marine integrated conservation and
development project in Indonesia. In Global Environment Change, 26, 98-107.

2. “Corruption occurs in both public and private organizations. It can be understood as a decision “sold” to benefit
the briber, while the bribe payment compensates for the decision maker’s risks and moral cost of betraying the
institution.”
Reference:
Soreidi, T. (2014). Drivers of corruption: A brief overview. Washington, DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development/ The World Bank.

3. “Microfinance is the provision of financial intermediation through the distribution of small loans, acceptance of
small savings and provisions of other financial products and services to the poor. Central to the concept of
microfinance is the idea that poverty can be effectively and permanently reduced or eliminated within a reasonable
period of time by providing the poor with access to such financial services.” (Getubig, Gibbons & Remenyi, p.7)
Reference:
Getubig, M. David, G., & Remenyi, J. (2007). Financing a revolution: An overview of the microfinance challenge in
Asia-Pacific. In J. Remenyi and B. Quinones, Microfinance and poverty alleviation: Case studies from Asia
and the Pacific NY: Taylor & Francis Group, 3-24.