Summarizing & Paraphrasing: Techniques, Skills & Exam Mastery

What Are Summarizing and Paraphrasing?

Summarizing and paraphrasing are two distinct but related skills used to condense information and restate ideas in your own words. Both are essential for academic writing, exams, and professional communication.

Definitions

---

How Summarizing Works

Summarizing involves identifying the main idea and supporting details of a text, then condensing them into a shorter version.

Steps to Summarize Effectively

1. Read the text carefully – Understand the main idea and key supporting points.
2. Identify the topic sentence – Often the first or last sentence of a paragraph.
3. Note supporting details – Facts, examples, or explanations that reinforce the main idea.
4. Condense the information – Remove unnecessary details while keeping the core message.
5. Write in your own words – Avoid direct quotes unless required.

Worked Example: Summarizing a News Article

Original Text (Source: The Kathmandu Post, 2023): "The National Electricity Authority (NEA) has announced a 15% increase in electricity tariffs starting next month due to rising fuel costs and delayed hydropower projects. Critics argue that this will burden low-income households, while the government claims it is necessary to sustain infrastructure development. The decision follows months of negotiations between NEA and consumer groups."

Summary (50 words): "The NEA has raised electricity tariffs by 15% due to fuel cost hikes and hydropower project delays. While the government justifies this as essential for infrastructure, critics warn it will hurt low-income families. The decision comes after prolonged discussions between NEA and consumer advocates."

Key Takeaways from the Example:

• Main idea: Tariff increase + reasons (fuel costs, project delays).
• Supporting details: Government’s stance vs. critics’ concerns.
• Condensed to 50 words (original was ~60 words).

---

How Paraphrasing Works

Paraphrasing means rewriting someone else’s words while keeping the same meaning. It is not just synonym replacement—it requires changing sentence structure, tense, and word choice.

Steps to Paraphrase Correctly

1. Understand the original text – Know the exact meaning before rewriting.
2. Break it into parts – Identify subject, verb, and key details.
3. Replace words with synonyms – Use a thesaurus if needed.
4. Change sentence structure – Convert active to passive or vice versa.
5. Adjust tenses – Shift from past to present or future as needed.
6. Avoid direct copying – Even with synonyms, word order matters.

Worked Example: Paraphrasing a Business Statement

Original (Daraz Nepal’s Customer Policy): "Daraz guarantees fast delivery within 3-5 business days for all orders placed before 2 PM. If delivery is delayed beyond this period, customers are eligible for a full refund."

Paraphrased Version: "Customers ordering before 2 PM can expect their items within three to five working days. Should the delivery take longer, a complete refund will be provided."

Key Changes:

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Synonym swapping without changing structure (e.g., "quick shipping" instead of "fast delivery" but keeping the same sentence).
• Missing key details (e.g., omitting the "before 2 PM" condition).
• Changing the original meaning (e.g., making a guarantee sound like an option).

---

When to Use Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing

---

Real-World Applications in Nepal

1. E-Sewa & Khalti (Digital Payments)

• Idea Used: Summarizing transaction details
  • When you check your E-Sewa statement, it summarizes all transactions (e.g., "Total spent: Rs. 5,000 on electricity, Rs. 2,000 on mobile recharge").
  • How? The app condenses multiple payments into key categories for quick review.

2. Daraz & Ncell (Customer Support)

• Idea Used: Paraphrasing policies in responses
  • If you complain about a delayed order, Daraz’s customer service paraphrases their refund policy instead of copying the original text:
    • Original Policy: "If the product is not delivered within 15 days, request a refund."
    • Paraphrased Response: "Since your order exceeded the expected delivery time, we’ll process a refund as per our terms."

3. NEPSE (Stock Market Reports)

• Idea Used: Summarizing financial trends
  • Daily NEPSE bulletins summarize market movements in 3-4 bullet points instead of listing every stock price.
  • Example:
    • Original Report (Detailed): "The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index rose by 12 points today due to strong performance in banking and hydropower sectors. Siddhartha Bank shares increased by 5%, while Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) shares gained 3%."
    • Summarized Version: "NEPSE gained 12 points today, driven by banking (+5%) and hydropower (+3%) sectors."

4. Pathao (Ride-Hailing App)

• Idea Used: Paraphrasing driver instructions
  • When you request a ride, Pathao’s app paraphrases your destination:
    • Your Input: "Take me to Thapathali, Kathmandu."
    • Driver’s Confirmation: "Got it! Heading to Thapathali Square—ETA 5 mins."

---

Practical Exercises for Mastery

Exercise 1: Summarize This Paragraph (100 words max)

Original Text: "The Government of Nepal has launched the Digital Nepal Vision 2025, aiming to transform the country into a digital economy by 2025. Key initiatives include expanding internet access in rural areas, promoting e-governance, and training 50,000 IT professionals. Critics argue that slow implementation and lack of infrastructure remain major challenges. However, supporters believe that if executed properly, this plan could boost GDP growth by 2% annually."

Your Summary (50-100 words): (Answer below after reviewing techniques.)

---

Exercise 2: Paraphrase These Sentences

1. Original: "The Central Bank of Nepal has increased the repo rate by 0.5% to control inflation." Paraphrased:
2. Original: "Students must submit their assignments before the deadline to avoid penalties." Paraphrased:

(Answers provided later in the note.)

---

Advantages and Disadvantages

---

Exam Tip: How to Score Full Marks in PU Exams

Pokhara University exams heavily test summarizing and paraphrasing in:

1. Short-answer questions (e.g., "Summarize this passage in 50 words.")
2. Essay questions (e.g., "Discuss the causes of inflation, paraphrasing at least two sources.")
3. Comprehension sections (e.g., "Write a summary of the given article.")

Marking Scheme Breakdown (Typical PU Exam)

Common Exam Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Copy-pasting (even with synonyms) → Plagiarism = 0 marks. ❌ Missing key points → Incomplete summary = partial marks. ❌ Exceeding word limit → Penalized for redundancy. ❌ Changing the original meaning → Incorrect paraphrase = deduction.

Pro Tip for Essays:

• If the question asks to "paraphrase and discuss," do this:
  1. Paraphrase the source (1 sentence).
  2. Add your analysis (1-2 sentences).
  3. Cite the source (e.g., "As per the World Bank (2023), ...").

---

Answers to Exercises

Exercise 1 (Summary):

"Nepal’s Digital Nepal Vision 2025 aims to shift to a digital economy by 2025, focusing on rural internet expansion, e-governance, and IT training. While slow progress and weak infrastructure pose challenges, success could increase GDP growth by 2% annually."

Exercise 2 (Paraphrasing):

1. Original: "The Central Bank of Nepal has increased the repo rate by 0.5% to control inflation." Paraphrased: "Nepal Rastra Bank raised interest rates by half a percent to combat rising prices in the economy."

2. Original: "Students must submit their assignments before the deadline to avoid penalties." Paraphrased: "Submitting coursework on time is essential to prevent late fees."

---

Final Checklist Before Submitting

✅ Summary:

• Includes all main ideas.
• No extra details.
• Within word limit.

✅ Paraphrase:

• No direct quotes.
• Changed sentence structure.
• Original meaning preserved.

✅ Exam Answer:

• Formal tone.
• Proper citations (if required).
• Logical flow.

---

Remember: "A good summary is like a Daraz order confirmation—it tells you what you need to know without unnecessary details." Practice daily with news articles, academic papers, and business reports to master these skills!