Paraphrasing

1. Paraphrasing • WHAT is a Paraphrase? • = rewording of another writer's text, explanation, argument, or narrative • Length approx.= original text ( NOT simplified) • w/ DIFFERENT wording & sentence structure

2. Paraphrasing • WHY paraphrase? • to make sure you completely understand a text • to directly discuss sb’s argument/text • to use as expert evidence for a point you’re making •  to present an opposing point of view you want to refute

3. Paraphrasing • HOW to Paraphrase a text? • 1. use alternative wording to the writer’s throughout your paraphrase. • 2. if the author’s words are used to name important ideas, use quotation marks to enclose his/her phrases

4. Paraphrasing • How to paraphrase a text (cont.) • 3. ALWAYS use your own words & sentence structure to present the ideas of original, otherwise (even following the author’s sentence structure!) it’s considered plagiarised! • 4. CITE your source.

5. Paraphrasing • How to paraphrase a text (cont.) • 5. Use your own word to introduce the topic if a paraphrase is included in your text and ALSO use expressions such as “Smith argues that…”, “According to …,” or “Lee also claims that…” to present someone else’s ideas

6. Paraphrasing • Example 1: From The New Century Handbook • Original Text • "If you're coping with an illness or want to exchange views about a medical topic, you'll want to find your way to a newsgroup. Despite the name, these are not collections of news items. They are, in effect, virtual bulletin boards open to anyone who cares to participate. The messages generally consist of plain text" (Schwartz 28).

7. Paraphrasing • Example 1 Paraphrase • In a recent Consumer Reports article, the author suggests finding a relevant newsgroup if you have a particular medical problem or if you want to talk with others about a medical subject. Newsgroups are online bulletin boards that are available to anyone; in spite of their name, they are not news reports. Anyone who wishes to may join in a newsgroup discussion (Schwartz 28).

8. Paraphrasing • Example 2: From Rules for Writers • Original Text • “In some respects, the increasing frequency of mountain lion encounters in California has as much to do with a growing human population as it does with rising mountain lion numbers.  The scenic solitude of the western ranges is prime cougar habitat, and it is falling swiftly to the developer’s spade.  Meanwhile, with their ideal habitat already at its carrying capacity, mountain lions are forcing younger cats into less suitable terrain, including residential areas.  Add that cougars have generally grown bolder under a lengthy ban on their being hunted, and an unsettling scenario begins to emerge” (Rychnovsky, “Clawing into Controversy,”

9. Paraphrasing • Example 2 Paraphrase • Californians are encountering mountain lions more frequently because increasing numbers of humans and a rising population of lions are competing for the same territory.  Humans have moved into mountainous regions once dominated by the lions, and the wild habitat that is left cannot sustain the current lion population.  Therefore, the older lions are forcing younger lions out of the wilderness and into residential areas.  And because of a ban on hunting, these younger lions have become bolder—less fearful of encounters with humans.

10. References • Hult, Christine A., and Thomas N. Huckin. The New Century Handbook.  Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1999.  207-208. • Hacker, Diana.  Rules for Writers.  5th ed.  Boston:  Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.  398-399. • BCWC Paraphrasing Tips: http://www.bridgewater.edu/WritingCenter/Workshops/paraphrastips.htm

11. HINTS • Break long sentences into shorter ones, and combine short sentences for variety. • Move the position of phrases for clearer sentences. • Use a thesaurus for synonyms, but be careful of subtle changes in the meaning of words. For example, to express does not necessarily have the same meaning as to vent. • Make sure your paraphrase considers the complete meaning of the original quotation. • Be sure to cite original ideas that are not your own.

12. Exercise • Write a paraphrase of the following paragraph: • "Beginning in 1952, television caused structural as well as superficial changes in American politics. That year, delegates of both parties were warned that the probing television lenses could capture every movement they made in their chairs. They were admonished to be careful about what they said to one another lest lip readers pick up the conversation from the television screen. Women delegates were cautioned against affronting blue-collar viewers by wearing showy jewelry" (Donovan and Scherer 21).

13. Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Words • Some useful steps: • Find alternative expressions for the original passage • From the level of words or vocabulary  phrase sentences  paragraph • Use your own words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs by either replacing the original ones and reordering the order of words and sentences

14. Change of words Paraphrasing exercise 1: • Vast  abundant • Exert  have • Fragility  weakness/demerit/disadvantage Paraphrasing exercise 2: • Against the law  illegal/unlawful/illegitimate • Liquor  alcohol/spirit • Organized  systematic/planned • Powerless  unable/incapable • Heroes  idols • Symbolized  represented/stood for

15. Change the part of speech of a word • Very often, you can change the part of speech of a word to make up a new term or phrase • Examples: • She symbolized America’s break with the past i. Being/As the symbol of America’s break with the past, she …… ii. She is symbolic of America’s break the with past

16. Modern products are standardized which is one of the phenomena of the capitalist society  • The standardization of products is one of the characteristics of the capitalist society • One of the symptoms of the capitalist society is the standardization of products [more overtly negative and critical statement]

17. Some examples to compare The original passage: • 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.

18. A legitimate paraphrase In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

19. An acceptable summary: • Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

20. A plagiarized version • Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

21. The difference between summary and paraphrase • Paraphrase is to reword but not to shorten the original passage • Summary involves shortening and rewording • Summarizing always requires paraphrasing but paraphrasing does not necessarily requires summarizing

22. Summarizing

23. Step 1 Read the original text thoroughly  understand its overall meaning Read between the lines  pick up 'hidden' information Unfamiliar words  use a dictionary

24. Step 2 Underline or highlight the main points of the text Ignore: • unnecessary facts, • descriptions • opinions

25. Step 3 Make a note of the most important details • Draw a diagram • Use pictures

26. Step 4 • Use your own words to write the main points that you’ve chosen • Use synonym (two words that can be interchanged in a context) to replace some main words in the original text E.g. Soccer betting Soccer gambling

27. Step 5 • Summarise by linking together the key points using sentences or paragraphs • Stick to the ideas from the author • Use your own words • Do NOT copy words to words from the original text

28. Shortening a very long text • Use headings • E.g. A. History of English • Sub-headings • E.g. 1.1 French in English

29. When you finish… • Read your draft • Make sure: you haven't lost the overall point of the original information • Make amendments

30. A written summary – Do’s • Brief & easy to read • Contain the main points of the original text • In your own words • Correct grammar, punctuation and sentences

31. A written summary – Don'ts • DON’T just copy out 'chunks' of the original version • DON’T contain information, descriptions or opinions that do not support the general meaning of the text