Practice...

FAQ—

What’s a paraphrase?

A paraphrase is your own (usually shorter) version of ideas and information expressed by someone else that you present in a new form.

Why paraphrase?

·         It is a faster way to provide essential information.

·         It ensures you understand the full meaning of what you are reading.

·         It adds to your ethos.  In other words, it shows you have done your research.

·         It helps you not use direct quotations as much.  (Pro Tip:  only 10% of your borrowed information should be directly quoted.)

What are the most important things to remember about paraphrasing?

You must tell the reader about the original source and it has to be entirely in your own words.  It’s not okay to just exchange synonyms, or move pieces of sentences around.  The structure of the sentence needs to be altered.

How do you paraphrase?  (Some strategies)

1.      Acronym:  R.A.P.:  Read the passage.  Ask what the main ideas and details are to be sure you understand.  Put it into your own words.

2.      Use synonyms for all words that are not generic. Words like world, food, or science are so basic to our vocabulary that is difficult to find a synonym.

3.      Flip it!  Take the end of the sentence and make it the beginning and make the beginning the end.

Example of  2 above, flipped:  It is hard to find a replacement word for the most common words in our language.  Sometimes some words can stay the same in a paraphrased passage.

So, basically, a paraphrase is when you restate another writer’s words in your own, unique way.

Let’s practice to get the hang of putting something into our own words.  We aren’t going to worry about giving credit to the original source, yet.  But, remember, this is one of the most important parts of paraphrasing! 

I’ll do the first one, and then in teams of 2 or 3, paraphrase sayings 1-5.  You’ll complete the last one on your own and submit it to me as a check for understanding.

Common English Sayings:  Remember—RAP and/or Flip! 

Read the passage.  Ask what’s important to understand it.  Put it into your own words.

Ex:       Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Paraphrase: 

1.      Actions speak louder than words.

Paraphrase:

2.      When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Paraphrase:

3.      Two wrongs don't make a right.

Paraphrase:

4.      Blood is thicker than water.

Paraphrase:

5.      Complete this last one on your own and turn it in to me as a check for understanding.

Don’t forget to combine all three strategies: R.A.P., flip the sentence, and use synonyms.

“Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes.”

Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.

Paraphrase:

Final Note-

In our next class, we’ll continue focusing on paraphrasing by learning the correct ways to document a paraphrased source in MLA format.