SummarizinSummarizing, g,

ParaphrasinParaphrasing, and g, and

Critiquing Critiquing

A A condensed condensed version version of the original piece of of the original piece of information.information.

A summary mentions A summary mentions only the only the main points main points and and ideas. ideas.

Imagine your friend is telling you a secret Imagine your friend is telling you a secret about something that happened during lunch about something that happened during lunch yesterday, but your friend only has two yesterday, but your friend only has two minutes to tell you this juicy secret. minutes to tell you this juicy secret.

You say, “ Girl, just summarize what happened because we don’t have time for all the details.”

Your friend will Your friend will only only tell you the tell you the

most important most important partsparts of the secret. of the secret.

Summarizing involves condensing the original main ideas into a shorter and more specific text.

Sample SummaryOriginal Text Original Text SummarySummary

The world’s top athletes with disabilities compete at the Paralympic Games, which are held just after the Olympics and at the same location. Competing at the international level requires the same dedication and skill of athletes with disabilities as are required of all athletes. Besides offering the participants entertainment and social contact, the Paralympic Games help its competing athletes to improve their physical strength, muscular coordination, and self-confidence.

The Paralympic Games possess some of the most amazing athletes from around the world. Although these athletes have disabilities, they must display the same amount of talent and stamina as regular athletes. The Paralympics takes place immediately following the Olympics, and the games help to provide support, entertainment, and guidance to its athletes.

Very good. Now, explain why it is a summary.

Paraphrasing is restating the Paraphrasing is restating the words of another person in words of another person in your own words. your own words.

You You do not do not change the meaning change the meaning of the original text.of the original text.

You You do not do not shorten the shorten the informationinformation. It is the same length . It is the same length as the original. as the original.

Imagine that you’re in the same situation. Your Imagine that you’re in the same situation. Your friend is telling you that juicy secret from friend is telling you that juicy secret from yesterday’s lunch. However, this time, you yesterday’s lunch. However, this time, you want all the details. want all the details.

You say, “Don’t leave anything out! I want to hear all the details!”

Your friend is not going to remember Your friend is not going to remember everything that was said word-for-word, so she everything that was said word-for-word, so she will most likely paraphrase what will most likely paraphrase what was said by putting it in her own words. was said by putting it in her own words.

Sample ParaphraseOriginal Text Original Text ParaphraseParaphrase

The world’s top athletes with disabilities compete at the Paralympic Games, which are held just after the Olympics and at the same location. Competing at the international level requires the same dedication and skill of athletes with disabilities as are required of all athletes. Besides offering the participants entertainment and social contact, the Paralympic Games help its competing athletes to improve their physical strength, muscular coordination, and self-confidence.

The most elite athletes with disabilities from around the world can compete on an international level at the Paralympic Games, which immediately follow the Olympics. With the same skills and determination needed of all athletic participants, the disabled athletes gather to compete and socialize. Many find that the experience increases their self-esteem, endurance, and coordination.

Paraphrase: Paraphrase: Lincoln's secretary of state, William Seward, Lincoln's secretary of state, William Seward, recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation had restrictions when he stated, “We show our had restrictions when he stated, “We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free.” bondage where we can set them free.”

A critique evaluates A critique evaluates a written piece of a written piece of

work, while a work, while a summary reiterates summary reiterates the main idea and the main idea and

key points of a piece key points of a piece of work.of work.

Criticism is the practice of analyzing, Criticism is the practice of analyzing, interpreting, or evaluating a creative work, interpreting, or evaluating a creative work, an essay, or article. an essay, or article.

A critique can be written about anything. A critique can be written about anything. But remember, it’s based on opinions.But remember, it’s based on opinions.

What does a movie critic do? What does a movie critic do?

What does a book critic do? What does a book critic do?

What does a food critic do? What does a food critic do?

The new animated update of Dr. Seuss's environmental classic The new animated update of Dr. Seuss's environmental classic The The LoraxLorax is a lot like its target audience. It never sits still, runs around is a lot like its target audience. It never sits still, runs around willy-nilly trying to locate a style that suits it, and bounces off the willy-nilly trying to locate a style that suits it, and bounces off the walls in a unceasing attempt to get your attention. Stealing some walls in a unceasing attempt to get your attention. Stealing some attitude from attitude from Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, ancillary , ancillary character slapstick from character slapstick from Despicable MeDespicable Me, faux Pixar cuteness, and a , faux Pixar cuteness, and a message mined from dozens of pro-Earth ecological screeds, it's message mined from dozens of pro-Earth ecological screeds, it's both winning and whining, unable to settle down long enough to both winning and whining, unable to settle down long enough to finds its own unique groove. Yet thanks in most part to the way in finds its own unique groove. Yet thanks in most part to the way in which directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda handle the majority which directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda handle the majority of the material, and the cheek inherent in Ken Daurio and Cinco of the material, and the cheek inherent in Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul's script, what could have been a trial ends up a rather Paul's script, what could have been a trial ends up a rather amusing treat[…] amusing treat[…]

In fact, by the end, In fact, by the end, The LoraxThe Lorax is a giddy, grin-producing guilty is a giddy, grin-producing guilty pleasure. You know you shouldn't fall for its made-by-committee pleasure. You know you shouldn't fall for its made-by-committee charms, but the final product practically dares you to hate it. charms, but the final product practically dares you to hate it. Sometimes, the dislike is easily distinguished. Most of the time, Sometimes, the dislike is easily distinguished. Most of the time, however, we are awash in well-made, if unruly, whimsy. -however, we are awash in well-made, if unruly, whimsy. -Bill Bill GibronGibron

Bill Gibron is a veteran film critic from Tampa, Florida.