Master two essential academic skills: restating ideas in your own words and condensing longer texts into concise summaries.
Read the text below and choose the correct word or phrase for each gap.
When you write an academic essay, you need to engage with the ideas of other researchers. Two fundamental techniques for doing this are paraphrasing and summarizing. Although both involve restating someone else’s ideas in your own words, they serve different purposes and differ in important ways.
Paraphrasing means restating a specific passage in your own words. A good paraphrase is roughly the as the original text. The key techniques include using to replace key words and changing the of the sentence. However, the must remain exactly the same as in the original.
Summarizing, on the other hand, involves condensing a longer text — perhaps several paragraphs, a chapter, or an entire article — into a much version. A summary focuses only on the and leaves out supporting details, examples, and illustrations.
Both skills help you avoid while demonstrating that you have understood the source material. Even when you paraphrase or summarize, you must still include a proper to credit the original author.
For each original sentence, choose the option that is the best paraphrase. A good paraphrase changes the words and the structure while keeping the meaning.
“Climate change is widely regarded as one of the most significant challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century.”
“Regular physical exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve mental health.”
“The rapid growth of social media platforms has fundamentally transformed how people communicate and access information.”
“University graduates earn, on average, significantly more over their lifetimes than those who do not hold a degree.”
“Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in healthcare to assist with diagnosis and treatment planning.”
Read each original sentence carefully, then write your own paraphrase in the box below. Remember: change both the vocabulary and the sentence structure while keeping the same meaning. Do not simply replace one or two words.
“Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are becoming increasingly cost-effective compared to fossil fuels.”
“Studies have demonstrated that bilingual individuals often outperform monolinguals on tasks requiring cognitive flexibility.”
“The widespread adoption of remote working during the pandemic has led many companies to reconsider the necessity of traditional office spaces.”
Read the passage below carefully. Then write a summary of 60–80 words that captures the main ideas. Leave out minor details and examples.
Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health, yet a growing number of university students report getting fewer than six hours per night. Research conducted at several European universities found that students who consistently slept fewer than seven hours performed worse on exams, had higher rates of anxiety, and were more likely to miss lectures. The study also revealed that the use of screens before bedtime — particularly smartphones — was the single biggest factor in poor sleep quality.
Experts recommend that young adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep and establish a regular bedtime routine that limits screen exposure in the hour before going to sleep. Some universities have introduced “sleep hygiene” workshops as part of their student well-being programmes, and early evaluations suggest these initiatives have had a positive effect on both academic performance and mental health.
Despite the evidence, many students continue to prioritise socialising and studying late at night over adequate rest. Researchers argue that changing this culture requires not just individual effort but also institutional support, such as scheduling fewer early-morning lectures and providing quiet study spaces that close at reasonable hours.
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