Paraphrasing Skills

“The increase in the number of students attending university has led to changes in the methods and style of lecture delivery” (Mendez, 2010, p.8). Which paraphrase is too similar to the original?

• Mendez (2010) argues that the ways and style of lectures being delivered at universities has changed due to the increased numbers of tertiary students.

• According to Mendez (2010), many more students attending universities has resulted in changes within the delivery of lectures.

• The growth in the number of students at university has resulted in changes in the ways and style of lecture delivery (Mendez, 2010).

• Mendez (2010) claims that changes in tertiary teaching and learning are the result of a rise in the number of learners.

“Academic writing plays a very important role in university education as it is the medium in which students demonstrate their understanding of the subject” (Carter, 2001, p.222). Which paraphrase is too similar to the original?

• Carter (2001) asserts that through academic writing, tertiary students show their understanding, or otherwise, of their subject.

• Academic writing is very important in university education because it is how students demonstrate their knowledge of their subject (Carter, 2001).

• Carter (2001) highlights the importance of academic writing as it is the form in which tertiary students’ understanding is measured.

• Carter (2001) stresses the importance of writing within university as being a way that students can illustrate whether or not they understand their subject.

“Courses should contain a practical component ensuring graduates have skills that are transferable to the work place” (Simons, 1999, p.44). Which paraphrase is too close to the original?

• Simons (1999) believes that practical parts to courses at university ensure that graduates learn skills that they can use in the work place.

• Simons (1999) maintains that university courses need practical components in order to prepare graduates for their place in the work place/ workforce.

• Courses at university should contain hands-on practice, which would enable those students who are graduating to have skills which they can utilise immediately once they are part of the workforce (Simons, 1999).

• Simons (1999) argues that university programmes should provide students with skills that are applicable to the work place.

“The introduction of certain austerity measures has greatly reduced the amount of disposable income for most middle income homes” (Briggs, 2007, p.27). Which paraphrase is too similar to the original?

• According to Briggs (2007), the amount of extra money available for most middle income households has shrunk because of the cutbacks that were introduced.

• Briggs (2007) states that cutbacks have placed financial pressure on middle income households.

• Briggs (2007) maintains that budgetary constraints due to hard times in the economy, has left most middle income workers short of cash to spend on non-necessities.

• Certain austerity measures have decreased greatly the amount of income available for many middle income homes (Briggs, 2007).

“Mass tourism in developing countries needs to be addressed to allow for a more sustainable approach” (Kowalski, 2008, p.2)

• Kowalski (2008) outlines some of the problems associated with mass tourism and explains that a more sustainable model needs to be implemented.

• Mass tourism in developing countries needs to be dealt with to allow for a more sustainable way (Kowalski, 2008).

• The popularity of tourism in developing countries has proved to be unsustainable and needs to be tackled to relieve the problems associated with mass tourism (Kowalski, 2008).

• Developing countries are suffering from mass tourism, which is not sustainable and needs to be changed (Kowalski, 2008).

Read the original text and decide – which option is giving different information?

“Adolescents cannot escape the constant barrage of ads on television, in magazines and on the web. While some teenagers take this new-found knowledge and begin eating more appropriate foods and exercising regularly, others become obsessed with weight loss”.

• Even though there are many opportunities for teenagers to learn about proper diet and exercise, many disregard this information and focus solely on losing weight.

• Advertisements are constantly telling adolescents to be supermodel thin; as a result, many teenagers starve themselves to death.

Read the original text and decide – which option is too similar to the original?

"Adolescents cannot escape the constant barrage of ads on television, in magazines and on the web. While some teenagers take this new-found knowledge and begin eating more appropriate foods and exercising regularly, others become obsessed with weight loss”.

• There is no escape for adolescents from the constant onslaught of ads on television, in magazines and on the web. Although some take this new knowledge and begin eating better foods and exercising regularly, others become fixated on weight loss.

• Even though there are many opportunities for teenagers to learn about proper diet and exercise, many disregard this information and focus solely on losing weight.