This week’s topics
Paraphrasing, summarising and writing to a word count
- Paraphrasing
- Writing to word counts
What you will be able to do
- 1.2 Explain different academic writing conventions.
Activity
Start with this week’s 3 videos, then discuss how they apply to this week’s topic and note one example from a real business.
Study materials
Videos
- Understanding and summarising perspectives · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · plays on Oak’s website · for registered students
- How to write a good essay: Paraphrasing the question · YouTube · English with Emma · engVid · 15 min · for registered students
- Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing in Academic Writing · YouTube · Thompson Rivers University · 13 min · for registered students
Further resources
- Writing for Success, ch. 12.1: Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting sources · PDF · Saylor (2012), section 12.1; 'Summarizing sources' and 'Paraphrasing sources' on pp. 457–458; pp. 454–466 · for registered students
- Writing Guide with Handbook, ch. 12.6: Integrating sources and quotations · PDF · OpenStax (2021), section 12.6 on paraphrase, summary and quotation in your own writing; pp. 411–413 · for registered students
- Profiling L2 learners' paraphrasing competence in English academic writing · Open-access article · Zhang et al. (2026), Ibérica. What separates weak from strong paraphrases in L2 academic writing, from copying to genuine rewording. · for registered students
- Scaffolding Summary Writing for EFL Students Across Academic Disciplines · Open-access article · Sjöberg-Hawke (2020), Journal of Academic Writing. A staged approach to summary writing: finding main ideas, condensing and rewording in your own words. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
