<p>I have troubles with summarizing things in my own words… I don’t want to plagarize but it seems like some sentences are just too simplified and perfect to be reworded.</p>
<p>For example, how would you summarize: “Marco Polo - Italian explorer; spent many years in China or near it; his return to Europe in 1295 sparked a European interest in finding a quicker route to Asia.”</p>
<p>-from course-notes.org</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Well, I usually try to summarize from a more detailed source, not an already condensed version, like course-notes.org</p>
<p>So does that mean you cannot obtain information and put it in your own words from sources such as “Sparknotes”, course-notes, apstudent. etc? My text book doesn’t give information on particular terms that well and the information is scattered all over the place…</p>
<p>That’s not what Anon said. You can still get the information from wherever you want, but it’s much easier at summarizing a more detailed source.</p>
<p>Instead of: “Marco Polo - Italian explorer; spent many years in China or near it; his return to Europe in 1295 sparked a European interest in finding a quicker route to Asia.”</p>
<p>First, you’ll want to narrow down what you want to emphasize. It is rarely desirable to use all of the information provided by any one source. What you use should be pertinent to your thesis. </p>
<p>Here is a paraphrase:
Sparknotes credits Marco Polo’s return from Asia with igniting a continental desire to create more efficient Sino-European trade routes.</p>
<p>The exact method for citation would depend on the style sheet in use for your class (MLA, APA, . . .)</p>
<p>Remember that not only do you need to paraphrase, you need to cite your sources.</p>
<p>On a related note, you should cite your sources when you summarize, even though you are not quoting directly. If you present someone else’s ideas as your own, that is also plagiarizing.</p>
<p>When you come across a sentence that is perfectly worded, with significance to your argument, then you should quote. Your example, however, is far short of being perfectly worded. I’m pretty sure you can do better than the fragmented text itself.</p>
<p>Well, can someone give me an example of how they would put the “Marco Polo” definition into their own words? Also, when writing about information online, should you include everything that is there or just some things? I mean, they are all pretty important right?</p>
<p>ADDED: Okay, I know it is important to cite sources, but do YOU really cite them everywhere? Notecards too?? I think my teacher will just check them off without looking at each individual card so these will be solely for studying purposes. Or, I think I’ll just dedicate a notecard at the end as a “Works cited” card and put the sources that I’ve used on there. Does that sound okay?</p>
<p>When you’re writing your notes, you aren’t claiming that you found all the information yourself, through your own research. Citations are really only needed to distinguish between YOUR ideas and research and that of others on papers/projects that you put your name on. Additionally, “common knowledge” like “Marco Polo was an Italian who explored China” doesn’t need to be cited.</p>
<p>At the same time, good scholarship does not assume that common knowledge is necessarily accurate. Some historians do not believe that Marco Polo actually went to China. Interesting research for a paper will draw out the controversies and expose how different sources present conclusions. Finally, you, as the author of your own paper, can make your own educated assessment either in support of or against your thesis.</p>
<p>Addendum: Generally, I consider the audience when choosing details. If I am writing for a teacher/professor, I avoid dumbing down my paper with statements like “Italian explorer.” I’d expect that a teacher will already know that. Instead, I focus on what my audience does not yet know.</p>
<p>^True, but she isn’t writing a research paper… she’s simply taking notes. Obviously, if she was writing a paper on the Marco Polo-China controversy, she would need to cite her sources. However, the general consensus is that Marco Polo DID go to China, and most children learn about this in 1st grade. So, she does not need to cite it.</p>
<p>Would you cite “Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon?” Probably not, as Neil Armstrong has been made an American hero. Some, though, have compiled research that suggests that the Apollo 11 mission was a hoax to boost American morale (I don’t really believe this- it’s just an example). But, that doesn’t mean that this statement needs to be cited. It’s still considered to be true, and is common knowledge as well.</p>
<p>Well, again, I wouldn’t add common knowledge to my note cards or any subsequent papers written from my note cards because, as you pointed out, the reader learned about it in grade school. </p>
<p>When I proof papers for my peers, I often find space wasted on defining terms that the reader already knows or providing details that are understood by context, experience, or education.</p>
<p>How to summarize:
Imagine you’re trying to explain the concept to a friend, or write about it on CollegeConfidential.
Then write down what you would have said.</p>
<p>When I think of plagerizing I always think of copying, word for word, without any sort of acknowledgement or footnote. Summarizing, on the other hand, are the key points.</p>
<p>To the OP - isn’t that widely published info that you won’t get busted for?</p>
<p>If you’re having trouble summarizing a great sentence, you could always just quote the sentence verbatim and then cite it properly.</p>
<p>You could also summarize twice. When I take notes, I always write the “gist” as I read it, then reword that into my essay. The result is almost always acceptably different from the original wording.</p>