Paraphrasing

You are not a robot.

If you only repeat what you read and hear, you'll sound like a robot.

You will sound like a very boring robot.

_{(Image by DavidRockDesign from Pixabay.com)}

So how can you sound human?

If you don't want to sound like a robot, you should use your own words to explain what you read and hear.

^{(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.com)}

Here is an example.

This is Ms. Smith and Mr. Jones.

Ms. Smith is interviewing Mr. Jones for a job as a manager at her convenience store.

_{(Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.com)}

She asks him, "What are your qualifications, Mr. Jones?"

He says, "Looking for a hardworking manager who can work weekends."

Ms. Smith thinks Mr. Jones is weird. That is what she wrote for the job ad!

Mr. Jones has just repeated exactly what he had read.

Ms. Smith worries that Mr. Jones does not understand what the job is.

She worries he may not understand that the manager will have to work weekends.

She worries he has no idea what is going on.

Ms. Smith wonders if Mr. Jones is a robot or just an idiot.

Mr. Jones does not get the job.

:(

Here is another example.

Ms. Smith decides to interview

Mr. Clark.

Ms. Smith asks him, "What are your qualifications?"

Mr. Clark says, "I am not a lazy employee and I can direct other employees. Also, I can manage the store on both Saturdays and Sundays."

Ms. Smith is excited!

Mr. Clark is not a robot nor an idiot! He didn't repeat the job advertisement!

Instead, he used his own words to show he understood what the job required.

Ms. Smith hires Mr. Clark.

Mr. Clark makes the store very successful.

Ms. Smith decides to marry him.

They lively richly and happily ever after.

Don't be a robot.

You want to sound smart.

Explain ideas in your own words. This is called paraphrasing.

_{(Image by Sinisa Maric from Pixabay.com)}

But how do you paraphrase?

The next two slides will tell you.

PLEASE take notes!

^{(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.com)}

When you paraphrase, you change the key words. Key words are:

• Nouns (not proper nouns like names or pronouns)

• Verbs

  • ​Not "be" verbs (am/is/are/was/were/been)

  • ​Not helping verbs: When 2+ verbs together, the last verb is the main verb. The verbs before the main verb are the helping verbs:

    • ​EXAMPLE: I have been sleeping. (Do not paraphrase "have been" but change "sleeping") --> I have been resting.

    • ​Watch for contractions! You want to keep "not" because "not" is important to the original sentence

• Adjectives

• Adverbs

When you paraphrase, don't change

• "There is/are" or "There was/were"

​ EXAMPLE:

Original: There are several results of eating too much junk food.

Paraphrase: There are some effects of consuming excessive

unhealthy edibles.

Let's paraphrase together.

Original sentence: "Some of the men don't look taller than the women."

• First: Find all the nouns. (men, women)

• Second: Find all verbs (look)

  • ​​"Don't" is a helping verb since it's the first verb in a verb phrase (2+ verbs together: Some of the men don't look taller than the women.

  • ​You do not change helping verbs.

• Third: Find all adjectives (some, taller)

• Fourth: Find all adverbs (--) No adverbs

We are paraphrasing this sentence:

"Some of the men don't look taller than the women."

• Now replace the nouns with similar words. Use words YOU ALREADY KNOW. Don't use a translator or app or a book to find new words.

• Other words for "men" are "grown males" or "adult boys"; other words for "women" are "grown girls" or "adult females."

"Some of the men don't look taller than the women."

• Now replace the action verb "look," but keep the same meaning.

• The word "look" can mean "see" or "appear." These two words have different meanings. Which word is best for this example?

• "Appear" is the best choice.

"Some of the men don't look taller than the

women."

• Now replace the adjectives:

• Some --> many, a few

• Taller --> bigger, higher

• Don't change "than" or any of the other words.

Now let's compare our original sentence with our paraphrased sentence.

The meaning must be the same!

• Some of the men don't look taller than the women.

• Many of the adult boys don't appear bigger than the grown females.

Please write these steps down:

This is easiest way to paraphrase.

1. Find all the nouns. Change them to words you already know.

2. Find all the verbs. Change them to words you already know.

​Do not change the helping verbs or contractions

​Do not change "be" verbs (am/is/are/was/were/been)

3. Find all the adjectives. Change them to words you already know.

4. Find all the adverbs. Change them to words you already know.

​REMEMBER: You do not have to change "There is/are/was/were."

​ EXAMPLE:

Original: There are three ways to clean your room.

​ Paraphrased: There are a few methods to organize your personal space.

Multiple Choice

Let's practice! Remember ALL key words in a sentence MUST be changed (nouns, action verbs, adjectives, and adverbs).

DIRECTIONS: Choose the BEST paraphrased sentence for this sentence: "Cats make good pets."

_{(Image by Marta Simone from Pixabay.com)}

• Cats are helpful pets.

• Cats are good animal friends.

• Adults kittens make helpful friends.

• Adult kittens are great animal friends in the house.

Multiple Select

Original: "Cats make good pets."

(Click both boxes below as correct.)

• ANSWER: Adult kittens are great animal friends in the house.

• (This answer keeps the same idea and replaces all nouns, action verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.)

Multiple Choice

Here's one more easy practice:

DIRECTIONS: Choose the BEST paraphrased sentence for this sentence: "There aren't benefits of cooking at home."

(Image by nugroho dwi harman from Pixabay.com)

• Some bad benefits of cooking at home.

• Some terrible things about cooking at home.

• There aren't  benefits of preparing food at home.

• There aren't advantages of preparing food in a house.

Multiple Select

Original: "There aren't benefits of cooking at home."

(Click both boxes below as correct.)

• ANSWER: There aren't  advantages of preparing food in a house.

• (This answer keeps the same idea and replaces all nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.) --You may have to change a word to make a sentence grammatically correct. (I changed "at home" to "in a house" so the sentence was grammatically correct.)

Open Ended

Sometimes you have to paraphrase a word that is very difficult.

For example, the word "technology" can be tricky.

Does it mean space ships? Smartphones or computers?

Maybe any kind of machine, even one that does not need electricity?

We have to read the sentence to know what "technology" means.

When you think of technology, what do you think of? Type a few ideas below.

^{(Image by Thor Deichman from Pixabay.com)}

Multiple Choice

Choose the best paraphrased sentence for this sentence:

"We use technology to talk to our friends around the world."

• We like to use smartphones.

• Smartphones are good for talking to friends.

• We use smartphones and computers to speak to our friends around the world.

• We utilize smartphones and computers to speak to our pals around the globe.

Multiple Select

Original: "We use technology to talk to our friends around the world."

our pockets.

(Click both boxes below as correct.)

• ANSWER: We utilize smartphones and computers to speak to our pals around the globe.

• (This is the correct answer because it keeps the same meaning and replaces all nouns, action verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.)

Multiple Choice

Choose the best paraphrased sentence for this one:

"It is easy to produce clothing using technology."

• It is easier to produce clothes because of technology.

• Technology is clothes for computers.

• Machines make it easy to produce clothing.

• It is simple to make things to wear because of machines.

Multiple Select

Original: "It is easy to produce clothing using technology."

(Click both boxes below as correct.)

• ANSWER: It is simple to make things to wear because of machines.

• (This answer keeps the same idea and replaces all nouns, active verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.)

Be creative!

Paraphrasing takes creativity!

It takes practice!

​

(Image by talha khalil from Pixabay )

​

Don't forget!

If you don't follow the rules for paraphrasing, you will lose a lot of points on your exam.

And you won't marry Ms. Smith. ;)

(Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay)