How to paraphrase effectively
Paraphrasing means using the ideas or research of other writers but putting them into your own words. It’s more common than quoting because it shows the reader that you have understood what you’ve read, as well as ensuring that your whole text is written in a cohesive style.
Steps for paraphrasing effectively
1. Read the original sentence(s) several times
Make sure that you fully understand what you've read. Highlight the key words that you must keep (or find a synonym for) to ensure that the same meaning stays the same.
For example:
Note-taking is regarded as the first step towards the organisation of an essay and is a process of selection.
Source: Strongman, L. (2013) Academic Writing, Cambridge Scholars Publisher. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uts/detail.action?docID=1753150.
The bold words are essential to the meaning, so either those exact words or a synonym need to be used in the paraphrase.
2. Write it in your own words without looking at the original text
Try to ensure that you are changing the sentence structure as well as most of the words.
For example:
Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay.
Notice how the sentence has been restructured, so it’s significantly different from the original sentence but still has the same basic meaning.
3. Compare your paraphrase with the original text
You should check that the essential meaning is still the same, but the words and sentence structure are significantly different.
4. Ensure you have appropriately cited and referenced the original text.
You need both an in-text citation and a reference list entry to show the reader where this information originally came from.
For example, the in-text citation in this case would be:
Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay (Strongman, 2013).
Common errors when paraphrasing
1. The words and sentence structure are too similar to the original
Many students do a “copy and paste” method of paraphrasing, where they basically copy the original text into their assignment and then change a few words.
For example:
Original text: Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay.
Attempted paraphrase: Selecting main information when note-taking is vital to ensure a well-structured essay (Strongman, 2013).
Although a few words have been changed, it hasn’t been properly rewritten and this is considered plagiarism. Turnitin will usually highlight a sentence if most of the words are the same as the original text.
Avoid this by ensuring you completely rewrite the sentence, including changing the sentence structure and most of the words.
2. The meaning of the paraphrase is different from the meaning of the original text
This usually happens because either:
- you deliberately change the meaning to better suit the point you’re trying to make, or
- you’re trying so hard to change the words that you unintentionally change the meaning while doing so.
For example:
Original text: Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay.
Attempted paraphrase: In order to structure an assignment well, the research process is the most important aspect (Strongman, 2013).
The meaning has been changed because the original text refers specifically to note-taking rather than the whole research process.
Avoid this by ensuring that you compare your paraphrase carefully against the original text to ensure they have the same essential meaning.
3. The paraphrased text doesn’t make sense
This usually happens because:
- You haven’t properly understood the original text, or
- You’ve used an online paraphrasing tool.
For example:
Original text: Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay.
Attempted paraphrase: The provision of indispensible instruction during the seizing of letters is vital for the safeguarding of architecturally sound manuscripts (Strongman, 2013).
As you can see, the attempted paraphrase makes no sense, because rather than focusing on the overall point being made, the writer has used a thesaurus or paraphrasing tool to find a synonym for each word.
Avoid this by:
- being clear what the information means and why you’re including it in your assignment,
- avoiding paraphrasing tools, which often completely change the meaning of the text, and
- using simple language where possible, rather than trying to use complex words.
4. No citation has been included
This usually happens because you’re in a rush or you are worried about citing the source too frequently in your assignment.
For example:
Original text: Selecting key information when taking notes is essential for ensuring a well-structured essay.
Attempted paraphrase: In order to write well, you must take good notes that capture the main ideas when researching.
This paraphrase is good because it significantly changes the words and sentence structure but captures the essential meaning of the original. However, without a citation, it would be considered plagiarism and can mean that you fail the assignment (or worse).
Avoid this by:
- including your citations as you write rather than adding them afterwards,
- including a citation every time you include information from another source, even if you’ve already cited it, and
- allowing time to proofread your draft carefully so you can see if any citations have been missed.
go to the avoiding plagiarism website to learn more about paraphrasing, quoting and summary.
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