Summary vs. Paraphrase

 

Summary

Paraphrase

A brief restatement, in your own words, of the content of a passage, focusing on the central idea(s).  (The central idea of a passage is often found in the topic sentence of a paragraph or in the thesis statement of an essay.) A precise restatement, in your own words, of the written or spoken words of someone else.  A paraphrase can also be thought of as a "clarification" of a "translation" of a complex or difficult passage.
A summary is in your own words, but some key words may not be able to be changed.  However, a summary can contain brief quotations of significant language. A paraphrase is in your own words, but you must change both the words and the sentence structures of the original passage.  In addition, a paraphrase can contain brief quotations of significant language.
A summary does not distort the meaning of the original passage. A paraphrase does not distort the meaning of the original passage.
A summary can be selective.  You can omit ideas that do not pertain to your purpose for summarizing as long as the omission is not a distortion of the meaning. A paraphrase is specific and should not be selective.  Since a paraphrase normally deals with a very specific portion of a text, the paraphrase should include all the elements of that portion.
A summary is much shorter than the original passage. A paraphrase is roughly the same length, and even sometimes a bit longer, than the original passage.

 

A (Poor) Example

Original Passage:

The cowbird, as well as other species of birds, lays its eggs in another bird's nest and thus avoids hatching and raising its own young.

Summary:

Cowbirds do not hatch or raise their own young.

Paraphrase:

Certain birds, including the cowbird, do not hatch and raise their own offspring but rather pass on these responsibilities by laying their eggs in other birds' nests.