This is a great text that talks about the myths about paraphrasing, summarizing, and retelling. It also gives an explanation of each. http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/e00797/chapter2.pdf
- Although summarizing, paraphrasing, and retelling are related, they are somewhat different in process, form, and product.
- A summary is a shortened version of an original text. A summary should include all main ideas and important details, while reflect- ing the structure and order of the original.
- A reader paraphrases by restating ideas from a text in a new way.
- "If kids could us their own words to describe what they read and the words made sense, then they understand the text."-Harvey, S. & Goudvis, A.
- Retelling is orally restating what is remembered from the text.
Harvey, S. & Goudvis, A. (2007). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension for understanding and engagement. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Pub.