The table below gives examples of summaries, paraphrases, and quotations from a source. The example of a paraphrase, along with the original text, are quoted from the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center.

Original text from the source, Women and the American Experience: A Concise History, by Nancy Woloch:

"The feminization of clerical work and teaching by the turn of the century reflected the growth of business and public education. It also reflected limited opportunities elsewhere. Throughout the nineteenth century, stereotyping of work by sex had restricted women's employment. Job options were limited; any field that admitted women attracted a surplus of applicants willing to work for less pay than men would have received. The entry of women into such fields—whether grammar school teaching or office work—drove down wages."

Paraphrase (using APA in-text citation)	According to Nancy Woloch (2002) in Women and the American Experience: A Concise History, the "feminization" of jobs in the nineteenth century had two major effects: a lack of employment opportunities for women and inadequate compensation for positions that were available. Thus, while clerical and teaching jobs indicated a boom in these sectors, women were forced to apply for jobs that would pay them less than male workers were paid.
Quotation	Nancy Woloch claims that "any field that admitted women attracted a surplus of applicants willing to work for less pay than men would have received. The entry of women into such fields—whether grammar school teaching or office work—drove down wages" (2002).
Summary	In the book Women and the American Experience: A Concise History, Nancy Woloch covers the seventeenth century through 2002, the year the book was published.

Regardless of whether it is a summary or a paraphrased paragraph, you must cite the original source. Depending on the circumstances, you may prefer to use an exact quote. Using artificial intelligence tools to create summaries or paraphrases, then inserting them directly into your writing, is a form of plagiarism. It's also missing one of the primary goals of engaging in research and writing in college. There are important benefits to synthesizing information into your own words: it helps you better understand the ideas and sources you are reading, watching, or listening to, and to retain knowledge longer.