Writing a Good Summary

Question 1

[ True or False ]

Paraphrasing and summarizing written materials are the same thing.

Answer 1

False. This is a misconception.

This idea results in poor writing mechanics as well as running the risk of failing a written assignment.

Question 2

[ Fill in the blanks. ]

Paraphrasing is a ______ of the author’s original thought and meaning.

Summarizing is the ______ of a passage of thought into a much smaller package.

Answer 2

Paraphrasing - restatement; Summarizing - condensing

Question 3

[ Fill in the blanks: Paraphrasing ]

“A restatement of text or passage in another form or words.” (1009a)

This is a definition of paraphrase from ______

Answer 3

The American Heritage College Dictionary

Question 4

[ Fill in the blanks: Paraphrasing ]

Paraphrase derives from the Latin paraphrasis and the Greek paraphrazein meaning to show or explain (1010).

This is a definition of paraphrase from ______

Answer 4

Etymology

Question 5

[ Identification ]

It is to restate another’s work in your own words but maintain the author’s original meaning.

Answer 5

Paraphrasing (best working definition)

Question 6

[ What are these? ]

1. Reread the original passage carefully in order to fully understand the concept & author’s meaning.
2. Identify the main points of the passage.
3. Rewrite the passage in your own words (not just substituting synonyms or order for some of the text).
4. Compare your text to the original and use the 5 finger test.
5. Build in the in-text citation and be sure to include the page no. or paragraph no.

Answer 6

Checklist for Paraphrasing

Question 7

[ What number is the following in the checklist for paraphrasing? ]

Reread the original passage carefully in order to fully understand the concept & author’s meaning.

Answer 7

1

Question 8

[ What number is the following in the checklist for paraphrasing? ]

Identify the main points of the passage.

Answer 8

2

Question 9

[ What number is the following in the checklist for paraphrasing? ]

Rewrite the passage in your own words (not just substituting synonyms or order for some of the text).

Answer 9

3

Question 10

[ What number is the following in the checklist for paraphrasing? ]

Compare your text to the original and use the 5 finger test.

(If you count more than 5 exact words, you need to change it!)

Answer 10

4

Question 11

[ What number is the following in the checklist for paraphrasing? ]

Build in the in-text citation and be sure to include the page no. or paragraph no.

Answer 11

5

Question 12

[ What are these? ]

1. Be in your own words!
2. Be near or longer than the original passage.
3. Be used to explain a difficult/complex concept or passage.
4. Convey the original meaning.

Answer 12

The 4 “Musts” for Paraphrasing

Question 13

[ Fill in the blanks: Summary ]

“A presentation of a body of material in a condensed form, or by reducing it to its main points.” (1382)

This is a definition of paraphrase from ______

Answer 13

American Heritage College Dictionary

Question 14

[ Fill in the blanks: Summary ]

Paraphrase derives from the Middle English/Med. Latin summārius and the Latin summa meaning of or concerning the sum (1382).

This is a definition of paraphrase from ______

Answer 14

Etymology

Question 15

[ Identification ]

A condensed version of an original passage or writing. It provides only the main points and eliminates extra details, but a ______ is considerably shorter than the original work.

Answer 15

Summarizing / Summary (best working definition)

Question 16

[ What are these? ]

1. Reread the original passage carefully in order to fully understand the concept & author’s meaning.
2. Identify the main points of the passage.
3. Rewrite the passage using only the main points of the original work (e.g., thesis statement and conclusion)
4. Compare your text to the original and use the “vision test”.
5. Build in the in-text citation and be sure to include the page no. or paragraph no.

Answer 16

Checklist for Summarizing

Question 17

[ What number is the following in the checklist for summarizing? ]

Reread the original passage carefully in order to fully understand the concept & author’s meaning.

Answer 17

1

Question 18

[ What number is the following in the checklist for summarizing? ]

Identify the main points of the passage.

Answer 18

2

Question 19

[ What number is the following in the checklist for summarizing? ]

Rewrite the passage using only the main points of the original work (e.g., thesis statement and conclusion)

Answer 19

3

Question 20

[ What number is the following in the checklist for summarizing? ]

Compare your text to the original and use the “vision test”.

(The original work must be twice the size as your work. If not, you need to “shrink” or cut down the number of words you use!)

Answer 20

4

Question 21

[ What number is the following in the checklist for summarizing? ]

Build in the in-text citation and be sure to include the page no. or paragraph no.

Answer 21

5

Question 22

[ What are these? ]

1. Be in your words!
2. Be shorter (by half) of the original passage.
3. May contain some of the words form the original work; however, these single words must be contained in “quotation marks”.
4. Convey the original meaning but does not evaluate or comment on the author’s original work.

Answer 22

The 4 “Musts” for Summarizing

Question 23

[ What are these? ]

• Read or watch the source material.
• Make a list of the key points.
• Write the summary in your own words.
• Edit and cut what’s unnecessary.

Answer 23

Key Points in Writing a Summary