Summary :)

First of all, it is important for you to know what summary is about. Summary is condensation or a shortened version of a text. In summary, we are not telling everything about the contents. Instead, we tell the reader about important thing only. Besides, it is not a place where you can present your own ideas. Instead, we put report what the author of the original text says. Summary purposed to capture the key idea of another author with far fewer words than original text. Besides, summary is function to tell on what the author says in the article.  

For additional info, there are two types of summary which include one sentences summary and the informative summary. One sentences summary applies when we introduce the reader to a source and its author’s central idea or sis statement. Meanwhile, the informative summary is the way how we express the original of author’s main idea, main supporting details data and arguments.

The good summaries contain appropriate citation. Besides, main idea must be included in the summaries. The sentences must be in paraphrased and appropriate length. All of these are included in the characteristics of a good summary.

There are few tips you learn on how to read and summarise the text. It is compulsory for each of us to read the article carefully several times. Then, write the one every broad of thesis statement. Identify the right main point of article. Write the first draft of summary. The most important is you have to rewrite you summary at the final stage. 

Documenting with sources

Documentation let people acknowledge your words, ideas, views and findings based on your sources. It is a system used to give credit to your sources. There are few styles that we used in documenting the sources. One of the systems is the APA (American Psychology Association) that we are usually used in writing our assignments. APA system style is used for the social science and business discipline. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6^th edition (2009) is the guidelines and documentation style we used in writing.

Documenting sources is important in order to let people know that you are doing your homework by building the sentences based on the ideas and research of others. Besides, it will help you to identify the location of the original document if he or she interested. Plagiarism can be avoided by documenting the sources.

There are two main parts in APA-style citation which is an in-text citation which is include in main text of the paper and an entry in an alphabetical list of references which appears in the end of the paper. For in-text citation, it can be presented in two places which are within the text or at the end of the text. There are also several ways for you to follow whether it is information-prominent citation and author prominent citation. Information given is emphasis in information-prominent citation and appears at the end of the sentences. For author-prominent citation the author’s name is primary important and usually it is place at the beginning in the sentences.

It is important for you to differentiate between bibliography and references. Bibliography is list of material consulted in writing include videos and others. Meanwhile, references are list of sources used in actual writing of assignment. The references must be in a new page and you have to organize the authors’ name in alphabetical order. It is important to know the right format in listing your sources.

Paraphrase :)

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is taking someone’s ideas and rewrites it using your own words. When dealing with the sources, paraphrasing is the best way for you to integrate ideas from the authors into your own sentences. However, most of us face the difficulties when we want put the points from many sources into our own writing.

 As we already know, paraphrasing is useful in order to avoid the plagiarism. However, students sometimes mistaken about the paraphrasing concept and they tend to commit plagiarism. There are problematic areas that are very common especially among the students. Students usually tend to “nearcopy” or “patchwriting” as they always copy the important part of original text and or word for word. Some of them just make superficial changes when paraphrasing by using the synonym words. However, the word use may out of context and this will effect the original meaning of the text. Sometimes, students are under impression as they are not include the in-text citation of the original sources.

There are three conditions of a good paraphrase. Firstly, the paraphrase must have same meaning with the origin. You must include all the important ideas and it is not necessary to add new ideas and alter the tone and original attention. Second, the sentences must be in your own words. You need to change the vocabulary and sentences as much as possible and not copy more than five words in a row. Besides, you also must not use same distinctive vocabulary but quote instead. Lastly, you must cite the writing using in-text citation to tell the reader where the information is.

 I learned few tips of paraphrasing. Here are few tips on how to improve your skills in paraphrasing.   

Grammar Help Method

Grammar help method is one of simple way to paraphrase which is by changing the grammar and vocabulary. First step of grammar help method is you must understand the meaning of original sentences by read it several times. Next, you have to underline the important words, phrases and ideas that must included in the paraphrase. Then, you need to change the vocabulary and sentences structure. It is important for you to compare the paraphrased sentences with the original. Help yourself with techniques given from this method which are substitute some words with synonyms, change the verb to negative, change the sentences from active to passive and vice verse and use linkers. Using this method, you also can change the part of the sentences by change verbs to nouns, nouns to verbs, verb to adjective and adjective to verb.

Retelling method

Retelling method needs you to have deep understanding on what text means. Most important steps need to be taken is to understand the original sentences. Then, you have to put away the original text or minimize the view of electronic text. Lastly, rewrite the paraphrase using your own words.

Chunking method

We use this method when the original text is too long.  Chucking method is breaking the sentences to small and manageable pieces. The way on how to apply this method is by read the original text for several times in order for you to have fully understanding of the sentences. Then, divide the sentences into chunks and restate each of it. Make sure you understand the meaning of the chunks. Then, join all the chunks to make a perfect sentence.

Based on the methods given, the important is to double check the paragraph of each paraphrase sentences. The important part is to include the in-text citation that we learn it after this topic.

How to find source material

When we start to do an assignment, we usually search for the ideas and materials to write about. The easy way is to get help from the other writers. However, there are too many of sources nowadays. Can you trust all of it? Why? The reasons are not every information given is accurate. Instead, most of it is based on their thoughts and opinions.

The good source must be valid, credible and reliable. Journal is one of the examples of reliable sources. Meanwhile, there are also some sources that are less reliable such as blogs, discussion forum, yahoo answers and others. Although it is less reliable, we still can refer to it based on the contents. As for example blogs that consists of academic information such as about science and many more.

There are few tips that I get from my lecturer on how to find a good source especially in internet. When you find a source in the internet, first thing to do is to check the URL address. Second thing is by referring to the content. When talking about the content, first thing to refer is about the author. The author must be an expert and have credentials. If the company, it must be an affiliated company. Second thing is about the audience. Then, you have to look on the content and lastly check on the references. The references show that the author gets the information from the reliable sources and can be trusted. Next is by checking the date of the website. It is better to choose updated information in choosing our sources.  

Plagiarism

Plagiarism – always relate with copy and stealing others thoughts and ideas. It happens when people take credit on others people work without proper citation and others.
The advancement of technology creates a huge impact on this matter. Students especially are able to get the information easily by using engine search such as Googles. Although there are many sources provided but not all of them reliable. Those who are not having experience in academic writing and lack of writing skills are the most who did plagiarism. One of the things that will lead people commit plagiarism is when they do not paraphrase and summarize sentences using their own words.  They copy the sentences directly without changing the text. Besides, writing sentences without using proper citation will also lead to plagiarism. 
The plagiarism happens when student does not plan their time wisely. As academic writing need lots of works  starting from information sourcing, reading annotating and and lastly writing. In order to minimize the risk of plagiarism,students should spare their ample time efficiently.
As a conclusion, it is important for us to avoid plagiarism in our writing. Writing is a medium for us to create and tell everyone about our own ideas. It is not wrong to pick others thoughts and ideas, instead we can use it in our writing with our own ways by paraphrase it.

My humble thoughts.Thank you :)

For The First Time...

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude

(Wiliam James)

This is my first life time experience. Create a blog for myself. I am not a good writer neither a good story teller. Instead, I am still learning. My madam said if you want to good in writing, then keep writing. So, that was the reason why I am here. I am sure by this medium, I will learn how to write and communicate in English. As for me, it is not easy but still it is worth to try.

P/s: OH MY ENGLISH! Then, please let me know my wrong words.