C1L4: Summarizing and Paraphrasing Academic Text

At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

 Paraphrase an academic text;
 Outline reading text in various discipline; and
 Summarize the content of an academic text.

Paraphrasing
Original: “There is nothing inhuman about an intelligent machine; it is indeed an expression of those
superb intellectual capabilities that only human beings, of all the creatures on our planet, now possess.”
(from “In Defense of Robots,” by Carl Sagan)

Paraphrasing Strategy:
1. Locate the individual statements or major idea units in the original.

There is nothing inhuman about an intelligent machine;

it is indeed an expression of those superb intellectual capabilities that only human beings,
of all the creatures on our planet, now possess.

2. Change the order of the major ideas, maintaining the logical connection between them.

An intelligent machine is indeed an expression of those superb intellectual capabilities that

only human beings, of all the creatures on our planet, now possess

which demonstrates that there is nothing inhuman about an intelligent machine.

3. Substitute synonyms for words in the original. Consider changing negative statements to positive
assertions, passive verbs to active (or vice versa).

Since artificial intelligence results from human beings’ unique intellectual talents, the
technology should not be regarded as inhuman.

4. Combine or divide sentences as necessary.

Artificial intelligence results from human beings’ unique intellectual talents. Thus, the
technology should not be regarded as inhuman.
5. Compare the paraphrase with the original.
6. Weave the paraphrase into your essay.
7. Document the paraphrase with in-text citation. (Also include it on Works Cited page)

Artificial intelligence results from human beings’ unique intellectual talents. Thus, the
technology should not be regarded as inhuman (Sagan 234).

Summarizing: is the process of writing a concise and brief statement of author’s main idea without
using most of the terms or words that the original author used on his/her work.
Steps of Summarizing
1. Reread
2. Find the main idea
3. Avoid copying
4. Connect
5. Check
6. Quote
7. Cite
Outlining
 Writer’s or speaker’s plan or “Blueprint”
 Logical way of putting together
 Skeletal framework of ideas
 Used by author to summarize the main points.
Rules of outlining
Parallelism- heading and subheading must have parallel structure. If the first heading started with a verb,
then the second heading should also be on verb form.
I. Gerund
A. Verb
B. Verb
1. Noun
2. Noun
a. Noun
b. Noun
II. Gerund
A. Verb
B. Verb
C. Verb
1. Gerund
2. Gerund

Subordination- Subheadings are more specific than the main headings.

1. Individual Sports
1.1. Tennis
1.2. Athletics (Track and Field)
2. Group Sports
2.1. Basketball
2.2. Volleyball

Coordination- Subheadings and Main headings are of the same significance.

1. Psychological effects of Sports
1.1. Psychological benefits of sport
1.2. Psychological risks of sport
2. Physical effects of Sports
2.1. Physical benefits of sport
2.2. Physical risks of sport

Division- having 2 or more subheadings per heading.

1. Individual Sports
1.1. Tennis
1.2. Athletics (Track and Field)
There are three systems of outlining:
Alphanumeric: Uses letters, numbers, and period in organizing the topics and subtopics.
Ex.
I. Gerund
A. Verb
B. Verb
1. Noun
2. Noun
a. Noun
b. Noun
II. Gerund
A. Verb
B. Verb
C. Verb
1. Gerund
2. Gerund

Decimal- Uses Arabic numeral and period to list main and sub topics
1. Individual Sports
1.1. Tennis
1.2. Athletics (Track and Field)
1.2.1. Subtopic 1
1.2.2. Subtopic 2
2. Group Sports
2.1. Basketball
2.2. Volleyball

Full Sentence Outlining: an alphanumeric outline that uses complete sentences instead of phrases or
words for headings and subheadings.

Outlining can be classified as: Topic Outline, Sentence Outline, and Paragraph Outline.
Topic outline: words, phrases, clause
Sentence outline: complete sentences
Paragraph Outline: an outline that uses paragraphs or summary that will be discussed in a full essay.