SUMMARISING VS PARAPHRASING
Ancient Egypt collapsed in about 2180 BC. Studies conducted of the mud from the River Nile
showed that at this time the mountainous regions which feed the Nile suffered from a prolonged
drought. This would have had a devastating effect on the ability of Egyptian society to feed
itself.
SUMMARY : Studies show that a drought in the mountainous regions feeding the Nile led to the
collapse of Ancient Egypt in about 2180.
Which text is the better paraphrase?
A. The sudden ending of Egyptian civilization over 4000 years ago was probably caused by
changes in the weather in the region to the south. Without the regular river flooding
there would not have been enough food.
B. Research into deposits of the Egyptian Nile indicate that a long dry period in the
mountains at the river’s source may have led to a lack of water for irrigation around 2180
BC, which was when the collapse of Egyptian society began.
Find equivalents to the underlined phrases in the paraphrased paragraph:
Ancient Egypt collapsed in about 2180 BC. Studies conducted of the mud from the River Nile
showed that at this time the mountainous regions which feed the Nile suffered from a prolonged
drought. This would have had a devastating effect on the ability of Egyptian society to feed
itself.
Research into deposits of the Egyptian Nile indicate that a long dry period in the mountains at
the river’s source may have led to a lack of water for irrigation around 2180 BC, which was
when the collapse of Egyptian society began.
Research into deposits of the Egyptian Nile indicate that a long dry period in the mountains at
the river’s source may have led to a lack of water for irrigation around 2180 BC, which was
when the collapse of Egyptian society began.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge
PARAPHRASING USING VOCABULARY
Fill the gaps so that the second paragraph is an accurate paraphrase of the first:
The growth of the car industry parallels the development of modern capitalism. It began in
France and Germany, but took off in the United States. There Henry Ford adapted the moving
production line from the Chicago meat industry to motor manufacturing, thus inventing mass
production.
The rise of the 1.____________ industry 2. ____________ the 3. ____________ of 4.
____________ capitalism. It 5. ____________ in France and Germany, but 6. ____________
in the United States. There Henry Ford 7. ____________ the moving 8. ____________ line
from the Chicago meat industry to 9. ____________ manufacturing, 10. ____________
inventing mass production.
CONTEMPORARY
PROGRESS
MODIFIED
STARTED
ACCELERATED
ASSEMBLY
CAR
THEREBY
AUTOMOBILE
MATCHES
The rise of the AUTOMOBILE industry MATCHES the PROGRESS of CONTEMPORARY
capitalism. It STARTED in France and Germany, but ACCELERATED in the United States.
There Henry Ford MODIFIED the moving ASSEMBLY line from the Chicago meat industry to
CAR manufacturing, THEREBY inventing mass production.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge
PARAPHRASING USING WORD FORM
Again, fill the gaps so that the second paragraph is an accurate paraphrase of the first:
In the 1920s Alfred Sloan’s management theories helped General Motors to become the world’s
dominant car company.
After the Second World War the industry developed “planned obsolescence”, whereby frequent
model changes encouraged customers to buy new cars more often than they needed to.
Later, from the 1970s, environmentalists began to criticize the industry for producing inefficient
models which used too much fuel, contributing to global warming.
In the 1920s, with 1.___________ from the 2. ___________ theories of Alfred Sloan, General
Motors 3. ___________ the world’s car companies.
After the Second World War, the 4. ___________ of “planned obsolescence” by the industry
encouraged customers to buy new cars more often than they needed to by increasing the 5.
___________ of model changes.
Later, from the 1970s, environmental 6.___________ of the industry focused on the 7.
___________ of inefficient models which used too much fuel, contributing to global warming.
KEY
In the 1920s, with help from the managerial theories of Alfred Sloan, General Motors dominated
the world’s car companies.
After the Second World War, the development of “planned obsolescence” by the industry
encouraged customers to buy new cars more often than they needed to by increasing the
frequency of model changes.
Later, from the 1970s, environmental criticism of the industry focused on the production of
inefficient models which used too much fuel, contributing to global warming.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge
PARAPHRASING USING WORD ORDER
Finally, fill the gaps so that the second paragraph is an accurate paraphrase of the first:
At this time, trade unions became increasingly militant in defence of their members’ jobs.
Today the industry owns some of the strongest brands in the world.
However, many major car companies struggle with stagnant markets and falling profits.
At this time 1._____________ militant trade unions 2. _____________ their members’ jobs.
Some of the strongest brands in the world 3._____________ are owned by the industry. Many
major car companies,4. _____________, struggle with falling profits and stagnant markets.
KEY
At this time increasingly militant trade unions defended their members’ jobs. Some of the
strongest brands in the world today are owned by the industry. Many major car companies,
however, struggle with falling profits and stagnant markets.
Extra practice
Use all of the methods we have studied to paraphrase the following text:
Before the last century no humans had visited Antarctica, and even today the vast continent has
a winter population of fewer than 200 people. However, a recent report from a New Zealand
government agency outlines the scale of the pollution problem in the ice and snow. Although
untouched compared with other regions of the world, the bitter cold of Antarctica means that the
normal process of decay is prevented. As a result some research stations are surrounded by
the rubbish of nearly 60 years’ operations.
Despite popular belief, the polar continent is really a desert, with less precipitation than the
Sahara. In the past, snowfall covered the waste left behind, like beer cans or dead ponies, but
now, possibly due to global warming, the ice is thinning and these are being exposed. Over 10
years ago the countries using Antarctica agreed a treaty on waste disposal, under which
everything is to be taken home, and this is slowly improving the situation. However, the
scientists do not want everything removed. The remains of every early expeditions at the
beginning of the twentieth century have acquired historical value and will be preserved.
MGH / IA 2010
Source: Stephen Bailey (2007), Academic Writing : A Handbook for International Students - Second Edition,
Routledge