Avoiding Copying and Lifting in Summary

16. Avoiding Copying and Lifting in Summary

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Why This Topic is Critical

• One of the biggest reasons students lose marks in Q3(a)

• Even if:

  • points are correct

  • selection is accurate

→ copying reduces writing marks significantly

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What is “Copying” or “Lifting”?

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• Taking words or phrases directly from the passage

• Without changing:

  • vocabulary

  • structure

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Example

Original:

• “climbers pay Sherpas to carry heavy loads”

Copied:

• climbers pay Sherpas to carry heavy loads

Problem:

• no paraphrasing

• shows no processing

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Correct Version

• climbers hire local guides to carry equipment

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Key Rule

• If wording is same → marks lost

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE English Language Full Scale Course

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Why Copying is Penalised

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• Summary tests:

  • understanding

  • ability to process information

• Copying shows:

  • no interpretation

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Examiner Expectation

• Use:

  • own words

  • own sentence structure

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Types of Copying to Avoid

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1. Direct Copying

• exact phrases taken

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2. Partial Copying

• only 1–2 words changed

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3. Structural Copying

• same sentence pattern

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4. Phrase Retention

• keeping key phrases unchanged

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Step-by-Step Method to Avoid Copying

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Step 1: Read and Understand

• fully understand idea

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Step 2: Look Away from Text

• do NOT look while writing

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Step 3: Rewrite in Your Own Words

• use:

  • synonyms

  • different structure

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Step 4: Check

• compare with original

• ensure wording is different

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE English Language Full Scale Course

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Safe Paraphrasing Techniques

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1. Replace Vocabulary

• pay → hire

• carry → transport

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2. Change Structure

Original:

• climbers pay Sherpas to carry loads

New:

• climbers rely on guides to transport their equipment

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3. Combine Ideas

• merge multiple points

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What You CAN Copy

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• very limited:

  • technical terms

  • names

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Example

• Everest

• Sherpas

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Everything else must be changed

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Common Mistakes

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Mistake 1: Copying Key Phrases

• losing writing marks

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Mistake 2: Fear of Changing Words

• leads to copying

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Mistake 3: Overchanging Meaning

• incorrect paraphrasing

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Mistake 4: Writing While Looking at Text

• encourages copying

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE English Language Full Scale Course

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Advanced Strategy (A* Level)

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Use Memory-Based Writing

• read → understand → write from memory

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Focus on Meaning, Not Words

• think:

  • idea → not sentence

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Practice Transformation

• regularly convert text into own words

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Example Comparison

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Original

• “large numbers of climbers queue on the mountain”

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Weak Paraphrase

• many climbers queue on the mountain

Problem:

• structure still similar

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Strong Paraphrase

• overcrowding causes climbers to line up along the route

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Examiner Insight

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• Writing marks awarded for:

  • originality

  • clarity

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• Lost if:

  • excessive copying detected

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Final Strategy

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• Always:

  • understand first

  • rewrite fully

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• Never:

  • copy blindly

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Final Insight

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• Avoiding copying is one of the easiest ways to improve score

• Students who:

  • paraphrase properly

→ secure full writing marks in summary

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE English Language Full Scale Course