Absolutely!
Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills in academic writing — and your exam definitely includes it
(5-mark questions each). Let’s go step-by-step so you understand it clearly, then practice it easily.
What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means rewriting a passage in your own words, without changing the original meaning.
You must:
Use different words
Change sentence structure
Keep the original idea
Why Is Paraphrasing Important?
In your exam:
It tests comprehension and vocabulary
Prevents copy-pasting
Shows your writing skill
✍ Example 1 (From Notes)
Original:
"The sun sets in the west, painting the sky with vibrant colors, before it finally disappears below the horizon."
Paraphrase:
"As the sun descends in the west, it colors the sky with vivid hues before vanishing beneath the horizon."
✍ Example 2 (Academic Style)
Original:
"AI tools like ChatGPT can write essays, generate code, and even pass exams, raising concerns about academic
integrity."
Paraphrase:
"Artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT are capable of producing essays, coding solutions, and clearing
assessments, which has led to worries regarding honesty in education."
Tips to Paraphrase Effectively
Step-by-Step:
1. Read the whole sentence carefully. Understand it fully.
2. Use synonyms for key words
Important → vital,
Use → apply,
Show → demonstrate
3. Change the structure
Active ↔ Passive voice
Split or combine sentences
4. Change word forms
“Decision” → “decide”,
“Analysis” → “analyze”
5. Keep the technical terms (e.g., AI, ChatGPT, climate change)
Useful Synonym Examples (From
Notes)
Original Synonyms
Increase Rise, grow, escalate
Problem Issue, challenge
Original Synonyms
Help Support, assist
Important Crucial, significant
Show Demonstrate, reveal
Use Apply, employ
Change Alter, modify
Memorize from your notes — page 1 and 2 of Final Notes.
⚠ What NOT to Do:
Don’t copy the same sentence and only change 1–2 words.
Don’t change the meaning.
Don’t mix phrases from the original and your version.
Practice Challenge:
Original:
“Climate change affects not only the environment but also economies and public health across the globe.”
Try paraphrasing it! I'll check it for you immediately and give feedback.
Would you like a list of 5 short sentences to practice on right now?
Great question! Let’s focus on the “Change the structure” part of paraphrasing — this is often where students get
confused.
What Does “Change the Structure”
Mean in Paraphrasing?
It means you rearrange how the sentence is built without changing the meaning. You can:
1. Change active voice to passive voice
2. Break one long sentence into two shorter ones
3. Combine short sentences into one
4. Rearrange clauses (start from the end, etc.)
1. Active ↔ Passive Voice
Original (active):
Researchers discovered a new vaccine. Paraphrased (passive): A new vaccine was discovered by researchers.
Same meaning, new structure!
2. Split One Sentence into Two
Original:
The teacher praised the student for her presentation, which was well-researched and confidently delivered.
Paraphrased:
The student received praise from the teacher. Her presentation was confident and based on strong research.
Clear, and still academic.
3. Join Two Short Sentences into One
Original:
AI is powerful. It can help in healthcare. Paraphrased: AI is a powerful tool that can be applied in the healthcare
sector.
Cleaner structure + better flow
4. Reorder Clauses
Original:
If we reduce plastic usage, marine life will benefit. Paraphrased: Marine life will benefit if plastic usage is
reduced.
Same idea — new order
✍ Try It Yourself
Original:
The government launched a campaign to increase voter turnout.
Now try changing the structure in one of these ways:
Use passive voice
Reorder the sentence
Want to try and I’ll check it? Or should I show the answer?
Let me know if you want 3–5 more examples to practice “structure change” specifically.
