Paraphrasing skills

PARAPHRASING versus
PLAGIARISM

Research Skills
Step 4: Using Information

What do I know about paraphrasing?

• Do I know what it is?
• Do I know how to do it?
• How have I paraphrased?

So, how do I feel about my ability to paraphrase?

What strategies should I use to pull out and
keep track of pieces of information?

Keep well organized succinct notes written in
own words

What is the difference between ….
SUMMARIZING PARAPHRASING
Summarizing involves Paraphrasing involves
putting the main idea(s) into putting a passage from source
your own words, including only material into your own words.
the main point(s). Once again, A paraphrase must also be
it is necessary to attribute attributed to the original
summarized ideas to the source.
original source. Paraphrased material is
Summaries are usually shorter than the
significantly shorter than the original passage, taking a
original and take a broad somewhat broader segment of
overview of the source the source and condensing it
material. slightly.
summarize = make notes paraphrase = synthesis

What is the difference between …
QUOTATION PLAGIARISM
Quotations must be Plagiarism is using someone
identical to the original, using else’s ideas and writings and
a narrow segment of the presenting them as your own.
source. They must match the
source document word for Plagiarism = Theft/Lying
word and must be attributed
to the original author.

So, why do we use quotations,
paraphrases and summaries?
• Provide support for claims or add truth to your
writing
• Give examples of several points of view on a
subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to agree
or disagree with
• Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence,
or passage by quoting the original [HOOK]
• Expand the breadth or depth of your writing
[providing concrete detail]

Advanced writers …
often combine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.
As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book,
a writer might include paraphrases of various key points
blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases.
Often, a short quotation works well when integrated
into a sentence.
Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that
quoting should be done only sparingly; you must have a
good reason to include a direct quotation.

Let’s look at an example.

In his famous and influential work
the Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud
argues that dreams are the "royal road to
the unconscious" (page #), expressing in
coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled
wishes through a process known as the
"dream-work" (page #). According to Freud,
actual but unacceptable desires are
censored internally and subjected to coding
through layers of condensation and
displacement before emerging in a kind of
rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).

How do I make notes?
• Read the entire text, noting the key points and
main ideas.
• Summarize in your own words what the single
main idea of the text is.
• Paraphrase important supporting points that
come up in the text.
• Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages
that you believe should be quoted directly.

How do I paraphrase (Noodletools)?

6
Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

TIME FOR A BRAINPOP MOVIE

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/paraphrasing
/preview.weml

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full
meaning. Do not paste the whole article into Noodletools.
2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note
card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind
you later how you envision using this material. At the top of
the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the
subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your version with the original to make sure that your
version accurately expresses all the essential information in a
new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or
phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card
so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the

Let’s read this original text.
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.

Let’s summarize this original text.

SUMMARY
Find the main idea and key points.

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).

Let’s paraphrase this original text.

PARAPHRASE
Find the supporting details and put them in your
own words.
Identify technical language which cannot be
paraphrased.

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).

If we had plagiarized, this is what it
would look like.

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.

Work with your partner

• Directions: Write a paraphrase of the first
passage in your worksheet.
• Find the main idea and supporting details.
• When you paraphrase, try not to look back at
the original passage.

Let’s check how you did
According to Jacques Cousteau, the activity
of people in Antarctica is jeopardizing a delicate
natural mechanism that controls the earth's
climate. He fears that human activity could
interfere with the balance between the sun, the
source of the earth's heat, and the important
source of cold from Antarctic waters that flow
north and cool the oceans and atmosphere
("Captain Cousteau" 17).

Work with your partner

• Directions: Write a paraphrase of the second
passage in your worksheet.
• Find the main idea and supporting details.
• When you paraphrase, try not to look back at

How did you do?

The use of a helmet is the key to reducing
bicycling fatalities, which are due to head
injuries 75% of the time. By cushioning the head
upon impact, a helmet can reduce accidental
injury by as much as 85%, saving the lives of
hundreds of victims annually, half of whom are
school children ("Bike Helmets" 348).

Time to work independently
Directions: Write a
paraphrase of the
third passage on your
worksheet.
Find the main idea
and supporting
details.
When you paraphrase,
try not to look back at

Tough stuff, isn’t it.

How much higher skyscrapers of the future
will rise than the present world marvel, the
Sears Tower, is unknown. However, the design of
one twice as tall is already on the boards, and an
architect, Robert Sobel, thinks we currently have
sufficient know-how to build a skyscraper with
over 500 stories (Bachman 15).

Let’s Reflect on our Learning
• What did I know about
paraphrasing before this lesson?
• How did I feel about paraphrasing
before this lesson?
• Now, how do I feel about my
ability to paraphrase?
• Why do I feel this way?

Paraphrasing skills

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