How To Paraphrase
How To Paraphrase
How to Paraphrase
Lesson Objective
In this lesson, you will practice using your own words to present facts and
opinions of others. This is called paraphrasing. We paraphrase for a variety
of reasons in both speaking and writing. In this lesson, we will focus on
writing. Let’s start by exploring a block of written text.
Warm-Up
A. Writing
Find an excerpt of text (no more 1. What was the original piece mainly about?
than three sentences) and rewrite
2. W
hat’s the one word or phrase you placed in quotations,
it in your own words. Choose
and why did you choose to include it in your version?
one exact word or phrase from
the original and place quotations 3. Who was the author and what was the source?
around it in your own version.
B. Vocabulary Preview
2. paraphrase b) proof
7. evidence g) the copying and presenting of another’s work as if it were one’s own
10. parenthetical citation j) the place that holds the original information (book, video, article, etc.)
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Introduction to Paraphrasing
A. What is Paraphrasing?
When you paraphrase, you use your own words to rephrase the
original thought or information. You also give credit where credit is due.
B. 3 Keys To Paraphrasing
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
When paraphrasing in writing, it 1. Use synonyms to change some of the original words.
is not enough to change a few of
2. Change the parts of speech for some of the original words.
the original words. You also need
to change the sentence structure hange information that is in the active voice to the
3. C
and style of the excerpt (syntax) passive voice (or third person to second or first person).
to make it your own.
4. Change the order of how the information is presented.
D. Practice
Use the information from pages 2–3 to write your responses below.
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
A. T
o Explain B. T
o Simplify and/or Condense
In an academic setting (e.g., answering comprehension Sometimes you paraphrase to make the original
questions on a test), you often need to prove that information easier for your readers. You use a
you understand what you read, heard, or saw by simpler structure and shorter words that are
explaining it in your own words. easier to understand.
Task 1
Note:
1. Look up some facts. Copy one full sentence When summarizing, we only include the main idea(s).
(word-for-word) about a fact that interests you. When paraphrasing, we can simplify but still include
most of the original details. This type of paraphrasing
is very common in speaking.
Task 2
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
D. T
o Distinguish/Share Opinions
Task 3
Ask two classmates their feelings about “the secret to success.” Take notes.
Paraphrase their answers below or in your notebook. Add your own opinion.
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
PLAGIARIZED PASSAGE:
Reminder: If you look at word endings and sentence patterns at the same time,
Many students and writers English makes a lot more sense. Students can try to guess the function and
do not plagiarize on purpose. sentence position of the words even if they don’t know the word meanings.
Accidental plagiarism is still
plagiarism. Try taking notes by PAR APHR ASED PASSAGE:
hand in your own words when
Teaching suffixes can help students gain a much better grasp of
you do your research. Do your
the language. On her grammar teaching blog, editor Tanya Trusler
writing on another day and
recommends combining word endings with sentence patterns. This
use your notes instead of the
encourages students to predict the function of a word (e.g., noun, verb,
original source.
adjective) without even knowing the meaning. (Trusler, ESL Library)
Task 4
Answer the following questions based on the example from Part E above.
3. How does the third example differ from the example of plagiarism?
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Quoting
At times when paraphrasing, you may want to use the exact word
or phrasing from the original source because you think it works best.
If you want to use the exact word or phrase within your paraphrased
version, use quotation marks around it and credit the source.
Example
ORIGINAL PASSAGE: PAR APHR ASED PASSAGE:
“To help students remember what an embedded Are your students struggling to understand embedded
question is, think of ‘embed’ as ‘in bed.’ When questions? On the ESL Library blog, editor Tanya Trusler suggests
you’re in bed, you’re tucked in between the sharing the analogy of a bed. First, explain to your students
sheets. An embedded question is simply a that when they get into their beds, they are “tucked in between
question tucked inside another one!” the sheets.” Then demonstrate how an embedded question
—Tanya Trusler, ESL Library blog (Nov 21, 2016) is basically one question resting within another question.
Task 5
Note:
Choose an English grammar target (e.g., conditionals) that you find difficult.
In some specialized fields
Go online (or use a textbook) and find an excerpt about this grammar (e.g., linguistics), there are
target. Paraphrase the information and use quotation marks around certain words and phrases
at least two words or phrases from the original. that are specific to the industry
(e.g., embedded questions).
This is called “shared language.”
When paraphrasing, you don’t
need to place shared language
in quotation marks. Don’t try to
put industry-specific words into
your own words either.
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Parenthetical Citations
Within an academic piece of Examples:
writing, you must provide (in-text)
1. “ Where we come from influences both
parenthetical citations when a
what we write and how we write” (Goldberg 90).
thought is not your own (including
paraphrased information and any 2. Our origin helps shape “what” and “how” we write (Goldberg 90).
direct quotations).
3. B
onni Goldberg, an expert in creative writing, notes that our
background influences the content and style of our writing (90).
In-text citations allow the reader
to locate the full citation in the 4. A
re you curious about what drives the content and
reference page at the end of your style of your favorite writer? You can start by looking
paper. An in-text citation has at “where they come from” (Goldberg, Room to Write).
very brief information, such as an
author’s last name and the page
number of a book. Occasionally, an *Note:
in-text citation includes a title or
Learn how to format and punctuate different types of in-text citations
abbreviated title of the source.* (including electronic sources) and reference pages in our lesson
on How to Cite a Source.
Task 6
3. W
hy are the words “what” and “how”
in quotations in the second example?
4. W
hy do you think the format of the parenthetical citation
looks a bit different in the paraphrased versions (ex. 2, 3, & 4)?
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Reference
USEFUL PHR ASES FOR PAR APHR ASING
A. E
xplanation & Clarification
Useful Verbs
B. Evidence & Opinions
HE/SHE...
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Comprehension Check-In
Work with a partner and answer the
following questions based on the lesson so far.
3. What five reasons for paraphrasing in writing are given in the lesson?
5. W
hat should writers use to provide a reference
to an original source within a body of academic text?
A Checklist
PAR APHR ASING
� Did I use quotation marks when borrowing exact wording from an original source?
� Did I provide parenthetical citation for anything that is not common knowledge?
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
Writing Challenge
PAR APHR ASING
2. C
hoose an excerpt to work with within the article (approximately
one paragraph with no more than five sentences). Highlight it.
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How to Paraphrase
Writing in English
� Self
� Partner Paraphrasing Reading, Writing
� Teacher
shows evidence of
effective note-taking
paraphrases effectively
using a variety of methods
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