When asked to summarize a passage, you should do which of the following?

When asked to summarize a passage, you should do which of the following?

• A. Restate the main points in fewer words
• B. Paraphrase the entire passage in your own words
• C. Copy exact sentences
• D. Discuss personal opinions about the passage

Answer: (B)

Summarizing means conveying the main ideas of a passage in your own words and in a shorter form. Paraphrasing the entire passage in your own words best shows you understand the content because you must translate the meaning into your language while keeping the essential ideas and trimming the length, without quoting. Copying exact sentences wouldn’t demonstrate personal understanding, discussing personal opinions isn’t a summary, and simply restating the main points in fewer words is close but doesn’t necessarily require you to reformulate everything in your own language.

Summarizing means conveying the main ideas of a passage in your own words and in a shorter form. Paraphrasing the entire passage in your own words best shows you understand the content because you must translate the meaning into your language while keeping the essential ideas and trimming the length, without quoting. Copying exact sentences wouldn’t demonstrate personal understanding, discussing personal opinions isn’t a summary, and simply restating the main points in fewer words is close but doesn’t necessarily require you to reformulate everything in your own language.