Paraphrasing

 What is paraphrasing? Paraphrasing involves a detailed rewriting of a passage from source material into your own words.  Essentially, a writer will paraphrase when they want to incorporate someone else's idea into a paper without directly quoting (using quotation marks) them.  A paraphrase will typically be of similar length to the original source.  A paraphrase must be credited to the original source.

Tips on Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing can be tricky. You need to make sure that you don't copy the original author's style or wording. Even if you have a citation, such borrowing would be considered plagiarism. Paraphrases should sound like you, using vocabulary and sentence structures that your reader would recognize as your work. To make sure you are not plagiarizing unintentionally, think about and jot down the source's main points. Then, write your paraphrase without looking at the original. When you have finished, compare your paraphrase with the original: 

Have you simply changed a few words to synonyms? Try again. Being handy with a thesaurus is not enough to make the sentence yours.

Have you included exact sequences of words from the original? If so, make sure to put quotation marks around those phrases, or re-write until the entire paraphrase is your words.

Have you retained the meaning of the original? Changing the author's meaning is not plagiarism, but academic honesty requires you to represent other's work accurately in your writing.

How do I paraphrase? Step 1: Read over what you want to paraphrase carefully until you understand its full meaning.

Step 2: Set the original passage aside where you won't look at it.

Step 3: Write the meaning of the passage in your own words (i.e., explain it to yourself).  Be sure to give proper credit to the source.  (Write down the required citation information.)

Step 4: Check the paraphrase against the original to ensure you haven't accidentally used the same words or phrases and verify that the information you wrote is accurate.

Step 5: Set the material aside and work on something else for a few minutes.

Step 6: When you return to your work, reread your paraphrase and modify as necessary.  Setting yourself apart from a paraphrase will allow you to return with a fresh perspective and the words of the original source will have faded.  This will allow you to revise and polish your own sentence choices.

 

Note:  The materials presented in this section have been adapted from Purdue OWL's: Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Words, Colorado State University's: How to Paraphrase Without Plagiarizing, and Duke Libraries': Paraphrasing. 

Summary or paraphrase

If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to also provide the page number (although it is not required.)

According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.

APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998, p. 199).

Common signal verbs

acknowledges advises agrees allows answers asserts

believes charges claims concludes concurs confirms

criticizes declares describes disagrees discusses disputes

emphasizes expresses interprets lists objects observes

offers opposes remarks replies reports responds

reveals states suggests writes

Examples

The following paraphrase includes a signal verb (captures) and introduces the source’s author (Brown) to make the link between the quotation and the text easier to recognize.

In Death of a Salesman [by Arthur Miller], Willy Loman dreams the wrong dreams and

idealizes the wrong ideals. Brown captures Loman’s misguided perceptions: “He has lived on

his smile and on his hopes, survived from sale to sale, been sustained by the illusion that he

has countless friends in his territory, that everything will be all right” (97).

With a source introduction and signal verb

Mike Rose, a nationally recognized authority on education, claims that learning is facilitated

not by fear but by “hope, everyday heroics, the power and play of the human mind” (242).

Here, the use of the signal verb claims makes it clear that the quotation is by Rose. 

    The author used the verb “claims” to indicate that other authorities might disagree with Rose. Verbs like “notes” or “writes” are neutral and can be used by themselves. 

The signal verb you choose allows you to characterize the author’s viewpoint or perspective as well as your own, so you should choose with care.