Final answer:
Writers restate information in their own words by either paraphrasing, which means rewriting a text while maintaining the original level of detail, or summarizing, which involves condensing the text to its main points. The correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
When writers restate only the most important information in their own words, they are either paraphrasing or summarizing. Both of these writing strategies are used to convey another writer's ideas without using the original writer's exact wording. Paraphrasing involves rewriting a text in your own words, often keeping the same level of detail and length as the original. In contrast, summarizing involves reducing the text to its main ideas in a much more concise form. While both are effective techniques, they serve slightly different purposes.
Paraphrasing is useful for explaining complex ideas in clearer terms or when integrating information into your own writing in a seamless manner. On the other hand, summarizing is ideal for distilling long passages into a few sentences that capture the essence of the text, useful in analyses or in discussions where brevity is required.
Proper citation is crucial in both instances, whether you are paraphrasing or summarizing, as it credits the original source and allows readers to reference the full material if they wish. This also helps to avoid plagiarism, a serious academic offense. Understanding when to use these techniques can greatly enhance the clarity and effectiveness of academic writing.
The correct answer to the question is option (a) Paraphrasing or summarizing.