Paraphrasing Techniques and Challenges

John McDonald from Editage discusses the common issue of plagiarism in academic papers, especially among non-native English speakers. He explains the concept of paraphrasing and provides steps and strategies to effectively paraphrase text to avoid unintentional plagiarism. The video offers practical tips on using different vocabulary, changing word order, and altering grammar to create original content. Viewers are encouraged to visit Editage for more resources.

What is a common reason for paper rejection in academia?

• Lack of references

• Incorrect formatting

• Poor grammar

• High percentage of plagiarized content

Why do non-native English speakers often struggle with paraphrasing?

• They have difficulty understanding scientific literature

• They are not interested in paraphrasing

• They find it hard to express ideas in their own words

• They lack access to resources

What is a challenge for non-native speakers when paraphrasing?

• Understanding the original text

• Finding synonyms

• Writing in a different language

• Rewording without help

What is the primary goal of paraphrasing?

• To rewrite the content in your own words

• To summarize the text

• To copy the original text

• To translate the text

What should you do first when trying to paraphrase a text?

• Read and re-read the source material

• Ask someone else to explain it

• Write down the text verbatim

• Consult a dictionary

What is the first step in the paraphrasing process?

• Writing down key points

• Reading the source material

• Consulting a thesaurus

• Asking for help

What is a key strategy to avoid similarity with the source material?

• Use the same words

• Copy the structure

• Reword your writing

• Ignore the source material

What should you do if your writing is similar to the source material?

• Submit it anyway

• Reword your writing

• Ignore it

• Add more content

What is a common mistake when paraphrasing?

• Adding personal opinions

• Keeping the same sentence structure

• Changing the meaning

• Using too many synonyms

How can you use different vocabulary effectively?

• By using the same words

• By using antonyms

• By using technical jargon

• By using synonyms