BORROWING IDEAS

Borrowing ideas

• Scholars are required to present accurate and adequate support to

convince their readers of their ideas in academic writing.

• It often is not convincing enough to write about one’s personal

experience; therefore, reference to an authority in newspaper,
magazine article, or a book that supports an argument will make
ideas more valid.
 Borrowing ideas

Summarizing
- a short restatement in
your own words of the
main points in a passage,
an article, or a book
- Used when borrowing information
from various sources ranging from
the length of one paragraph to an
article or even a book
• To paraphrase is to say the same thing in
another way, using your own words.
 BASICS of PARAPHRASING

• A paraphrase is usually the same length as the original passage

and includes all the information.
• You may decide to paraphrase any densely written, or confusing
material.

• It is essential to rewrite a material in your own style by making

sure that:

- You use your own words and,

- You change the grammatical structures.
 BASICS of PARAPHRASING
• In order to avoid plagiarism, the paraphrased part needs; proper
paranthetical reference (in-text reference) specifying;

- the writer’s surname,

- year of publication,

- page / paragraph number.

• When changing grammar, you can;

- divide the longer sentences into shorter ones,

- join shorter ones with sentence connectors,

- or make other grammatical changes.

 BASICS of PARAPHRASING

• Original ideas remain unchanged in a paraphrase, that is,

keeping the original meaning is the core of paraphrasing.

• You replace the language of the original text by using

different vocabulary, grammar, and writing style.

• The paraphrase is approximately the same length as the

original.
 What if you don’t understand a text?

• You can even use paraphrasing as a tool for explaining to

yourself the main ideas of a difficult passage

HERE’S HOW:

• Rewrite the parts that you have understood, and

• Pinpoint the ones that you did not fully understand.

• It’s easier to understand long texts in smaller groups of

sentences of your own.

Therefore, paraphrasing can be a learning

tool as well.
What if you don’t understand a text?

• General temptation* of the students who find a text “very

difficult” is to skip that material. 

RESIST THIS TEMPTATION!

*temptation (n.): the desire to do or have something which you know

you should not do or have.
 HOW TO PARAPHRASE

• First of all, make sure that you understand the source passage.

• Write what you understand without looking at the original.

 HOW TO PARAPHRASE

• Paraphrase as much as possible by writing the text in your own

style, making the necessary changes in the wording and
grammar.

• Compare your paraphrase with the original to make sure that

you included all the ideas and you did not change the meaning.
We can simplify paraphrasing by dividing it into 4 steps:

STEP 1: Read the selection carefully several times until you

understand it fully.

STEP 2: Look up any words you do not understand; find

synonyms for them.

STEP 3: Write a brief outline, including:

a. The main idea (topic and controlling idea)

b. The main supporting points

c. Primary and secondary supporting details

STEP 4: Write the paraphrase. Use your own words and do

not omit any essential ideas.
 HOW TO PARAPHRASE

• Rearrange your own sentences so that they read smoothly.

Sentence structure or even sentence order need not be based on
those of the original.

AND

• Do not forget to include an in-text reference in your paraphrase.

 A Model Paraphrase (1)
• Original:

When Maracaña soccer stadium [in Rio de Janerio, Brazil] was

opened to the public in 1950, and Brazil lost the World Cup to the

Uruguayan team, the Brazilians were so disheartened that one had

the impression that the country itself had died. And people did die

of sadness. Mere threats of defeat in a championship match can

cause heart attacks and the despair of the public is so great that

many beat their heads against the cement posts. Such is the

Brazilian’s passion for soccer.

 A Model Paraphrase (1)

• Outline:

A. Brazil lost the World Cup in 1950.

1. Entire country was sad.

2. Some people died.

B. Possible defeat causes strong reaction.

1. Some experience heart attacks.

2. Some beat their heads.

C. Brazilians are very emotional about soccer.

 A Model Paraphrase (1)
• Outline:
A. Brazil lost the World Cup in 1950.
1. Entire country was sad.
2. Some people died.
B. Possible defeat causes strong reaction.
1. Some experience heart attacks.
2. Some beat their heads.
C. Brazilians are very emotional about soccer.

• Paraphrase:

In 1950, Brazil lost the World Cup in soccer to Uruguay in Rio de

Janerio. The entire country was overcome by sadness; some people

even died from it. Brazilians react very strongly to potential defeat

in championship soccer games. Some people have heart attacks, and

others beat their heads against cement posts. Brazilians are very

emotional about soccer.

• Original:

When Maracaña soccer stadium [in Rio de Janerio, Brazil] was opened to
the public in 1950, and Brazil lost the World Cup to the Uruguayan team,
the Brazilians were so disheartened that one had the impression that the
country itself had died. And people did die of sadness. Mere threats of
defeat in a championship match can cause heart attacks and the despair
of the public is so great that many beat their heads against the cement
posts. Such is the Brazilian’s passion for soccer.

• Paraphrase:

In 1950, Brazil lost the World Cup in soccer to Uruguay in Rio de Janerio.
The entire country was overcome by sadness; some people even died from
it. Brazilians react very strongly to potential defeat in championship soccer
games. Some people have heart attacks, and others beat their heads
against cement posts. Brazilians are very emotional about soccer.
 PARAPHRASING Techniques

Tactics to rewrite
something
in a different way
 Paraphrasing
• We can successfully paraphrase by using a combination of
techniques.
 Paraphrasing Techniques

1. Change from a Clause to a Phrase (or vice versa)

2. Change from Quoted Speech to Indirect Speech (or vice versa)

3. Change from Active Voice to Passive Voice (or vice versa)

4. Change to Synonyms

5. Change Word Forms

 Change from a Clause to a Phrase
• After he studied, John took a nap.

• After studying, John took a nap.

• The house across the street is new.

• The house that is across the street is new

Change from Quoted Speech to Indirect Speech

• Mr. Lee said, “I am ready for lunch.”

• Mr. Lee said he was ready for lunch.

“I am ready
for lunch.”
Change from Active Voice to Passive Voice

• A hotel employee will carry your bags.

• Your bags will be carried by a hotel employee.

 ……and replace words with
synonyms.
• A hotel employee will carry your bags.

• Your bags will be carried by a hotel employee.

Your luggage will be picked up by a bell boy.

 Change Word Forms

• Use an adverb instead of an adjective

• Use a verb to replace a noun.

• GROG is an accurate typist.

• GROG types accurately.

 Change to Synonyms
• Replace the original words with words that mean the same.

The stallion was content with the mare.

The stallion was happy with the mare.

 When You can’t find a Synonym

Replace the original word with a definition.

•The stallion was content with the mare.

•The male horse was happy with the female horse.

 Change to Synonyms

• Your best friend when trying to find the synonym of a vocabulary

item is a THESAURUS DICTIONARY.

• You can own a thesaurus dictionary, or download a soft version of

it on your computer.

• You can also search for online thesaurus dictionaries.

 Change to Synonyms

• However, be careful when choosing among the synonyms of a

word, especially of a verb: Always check the meaning twice if
you see that word for the first time.
 Combine Techniques
Change to a phrase & add synonyms or
definitions

• After he ate lunch, Mike took a nap.

• After eating lunch, Mike slept a little.

 Combine Techniques
Change to a phrase & add synonyms or
definitions
• The house that is across the street is old.

• The house across the street is old.

• The house on the other side of the street is old.

• The dwelling on the other side of the road is ancient.

 Interpret Meaning…….Identify the
underlying meaning of a statement.
The wolf said, “I am ready for lunch.”

The sheep looked very worried.

The wolf complained about being hungry which made the sheep extremely
anxious.

I am ready
for Lunch
 Change transitions

• Although it was raining, Bob walked to work.

• It was raining, but Bob walked to work.

• It was raining; however, Bob walked to work.

 …… and change word forms

• Although it was raining, Bob walked to work.

• It was raining, but Bob walked to work.

• It was raining; however, Bob walked to work.

Despite the rain, Bob went to work on foot.

 Your Turn
Paraphrase the following:
• Today, people are worried about internet security.

• Advocates of internet tracking believe that it helps marketers to

understand what people want.

• People who oppose internet tracking believe that it is an invasion of

privacy.

• This information age will cause more and more people to become
concerned with the level of personal detail that can be found from
the Internet.
 Variations:

• Today, people are worried about internet security.

- How to secure their Internet is a topic of concern for users,

nowadays.

- It bothers people to think about internet security these days.

- It’s bothering to think about internet security nowadays.

 Variations:

• Advocates of internet tracking believe that it helps

marketers to understand what people want.

- Those who support internet tracking maintain that it makes it

easier for marketers to have an idea about people’s demands.

 Variations:

• People who oppose internet tracking believe that it is an invasion

of privacy.

- Opponents of internet tracking think that it is disrecpecting

privacy.

- Opposers to internet tracking claim that this is intervening with

people’s private lives.
 Variations:

• This information age will cause more and more people to become

concerned about the level of personal detail that can be found

from the Internet.

- Even more people will be worried about how much of their

personal information can be tracked on the Internet in this

information age.
 Now Paraphrase the paragraph.

SAMPLE PARAPHRASE
Although very few people admire B. Mussolini because of what he
has done for his country, even people who despise him accept that
the country derived great benefits from the way he fought with
Mafia. It was an obsession with Mussolini, a cruel and arrogant
dictator, that Mafia was a challenge to his authority. As he was
determined to destroy any group which he could not keep under
control, Mussolini, with the help of police officials who were
themselves quite familiar with violence, was able to control the
much feared mafia, however, for a temporary period (Flemming,
1999, p.20).