Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing

Putting it in your own words

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

• Paraphrasing: Same information, different words, about the same length as the original text

• Summarizing: Only the most important details, so it is much shorter than the original text

Step 1: Change the sentence structure

Rearrange the sentence so that the structure is different from the original text. You can also break apart or combine sentences.

Changing the sentence structure

• A strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast over the next few days. >>> Over the next few days, a strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast.

• I am determined to go to college when I finish high school. >>> When I finish high school, I am determined to go to college.

• The winners were chosen by the judges. >>> Judges chose the winners.

• The saltwater corroded the metal beams. >> The metal beams were corroded by the saltwater.

Open Ended

Change the sentence structure: Although he was wealthy, he was still unhappy.

Open Ended

Change the sentence structure: The Grand Canyon is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Open Ended

Change the sentence structure: Around 30,000 students might be helped by the free lunch program.

Step 2: Replace words and phrases with synonyms.

• I am determined to go to college when I finish high school. >>> When I finish high school, I am determined to go to college >>>

• After graduating from high school, I plan on attending college.

Step 2: Replace words and phrases with synonyms.

• A strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast over the next few days. >>> Over the next few days, a strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast. >>>

• Within the week, a powerful hurricane is predicted to slam coastal areas.

(Together) Replace words and phrases with synonyms.

If I exert myself, I know I can accomplish a lot.

Open Ended

Replace words and phrases with synonyms: You can gain a lot of knowledge from articles on the internet.

Open Ended

Replace words and phrases with synonyms: This semester, I am going to improve my scores on tests.

Before settling on a paraphrase, check whether it is:

• Correct (Does it contain the same information as the original text?)

• In your own words (Has it been changed as much as possible? Are there any structures that could be changed or more words/phrases you could replace?)

• Makes sense (Did you choose a synonym that doesn't fit in the sentence?)

COM Check

• Original: A strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast over the next few days.

• Initial paraphrase: Within the week, a powerful hurricane is predicted to slam coastal areas.

COM Check - Revised

• Original: A strong hurricane is expected to hammer the coast over the next few days.

• Initial paraphrase: Within the week, a powerful hurricane is predicted to slam coastal areas.

• Revised paraphrase: Meteorologists predict that within the week, a powerful hurricane will slam coastal areas.

COM Check

• Original: We do not yet understand all the ways in which brain chemicals are related to emotions and thoughts, but the salient point is that our state of mind has an immediate and direct effect on our state of body.

• Initial paraphrase: We still do not know all the ways in which brain chemistry is related to emotions and thoughts, but the important point is that our mental state has an immediate and direct effect on our physical state.

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COM Check

• Original: We do not yet understand all the ways in which brain chemicals are related to emotions and thoughts, but the salient point is that our state of mind has an immediate and direct effect on our state of body.

• Initial paraphrase: We still do not know all the ways in which brain chemistry is related to emotions and thoughts, but the important point is that our mental state has an immediate and direct effect on our physical state.

• Revised paraphrase: Although the relationship between brain chemistry and thoughts and feelings is not fully understood, we do know that our psychological state affects our physical state.

   

Multiple Choice

Which is the best paraphrases for this sentence?

"A handshake does not mean the same thing around the world."

• A handshake means something different around the world.

• Internationally, a greeting by shaking hands is not the same.

• A handshake does not mean the same thing around the world.

Multiple Choice

Read the excerpt below.

Which sentence best restates the ideas?

"Although television was not widely used in American homes until the 1950's, small, experimental television images were broadcast in the 1920's."

• Television was not widely used in American homes until the 1950's.

• Television became popular in the 1950's, but the first televisions were used thirty years earlier.

• Television became popular in the 1920's, and again in the 1950's.

Multiple Choice

While most people are aware of such medical possibilities, they are less aware of the fact that genes can also uncover a great deal about humankind's history and culture.

• Many persons are aware of such medical possibilities, but they are less knowledgeable about people's history and culture.

• Most people know that genes are linked to potential medical advances.However, what they do not realize is genes can also tell us about a society and its past.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct paraphrase of the following sentence:

During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in factories.

• In the time of the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in the factories.

• Factories employed children-even three-year-olds-in the Industrial Revolution.

• During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in factories.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct paraphrase of the following sentence:

During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in factories.

• In the time of the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in the factories.

• Factories employed children-even three-year-olds-in the Industrial Revolution.

• During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as three worked in factories.