1. Condense Information:
* Instead of directly quoting long passages, paraphrasing allows you to present the core ideas in a concise and succinct manner.
* This is especially useful when you need to summarise a lengthy text within a limited word count.
2. Maintain Clarity and Understanding:
* By using your own words to rephrase the original text, you ensure that the information is presented in a clear and understandable way.
* It avoids unnecessary jargon or complex language that might confuse the reader.
3. Avoid Plagiarism:
* Paraphrasing is essential to avoid plagiarism. While you are using the original author's ideas, you are presenting them in your own words and style.
* This demonstrates your understanding and avoids simply copying and pasting text.
Here's how to effectively use paraphrasing in summaries:
* Read the original text carefully: Understand the main points, supporting arguments, and key details.
* Use your own words and sentence structure: Avoid simply rearranging the original words or copying the same sentence structure.
* Keep the meaning the same: Ensure that your paraphrase accurately reflects the original text without changing the intended message.
* Use transition words: These can help connect your paraphrased ideas smoothly and create a coherent summary.
* Include citations: Even when paraphrasing, you need to cite the original source to give credit to the author and allow readers to find the original material.
Example:
Original Text: "The importance of sustainable development is becoming increasingly recognized as a critical factor in ensuring the long-term health and well-being of our planet. It involves meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Paraphrased Summary: Sustainable development is crucial for the future of our planet, as it aims to balance meeting current needs while safeguarding the resources and environment for generations to come.
By paraphrasing, you have concisely summarized the main idea of the original text in a clear and understandable way while avoiding plagiarism.