Helpful Hints for Writers
Paraphrasing
One of the hallmarks of an effective academic essay is the use of quotations and paraphrases. The use of a
paraphrase is usually more effective because it shows how well you understand what you’ve read. This
handout will help you understand when to paraphrase and how to do it.
Paraphrasing is restating a source's ideas in your own words. Paraphrased material
is around the same length as the original and does not use quotation marks.
When should I use a paraphrase?
Paraphrase a source when a good chunk of information is needed, but you want to
limit quotations and maintain your own voice. Most of your essay should be in your
own words. You should paraphrase when what you want from the source is the idea
it expresses and not the specific language used to express it. Even though you are
putting it in your words, since it’s not your idea, you still need to cite it.
What does a paraphrase look like?
Compare the original and paraphrased passages below, wherein the paraphrase
contains none of the exact language of the original passage, yet conveys the same
information while maintaining the writer’s own voice.
Original Passage:
Once the food industry saw there was a profit to be made, 'organic' stopped
being a guarantee of attention to flavor or individual care. -Corby Kummer, “Back
to Grass”
Paraphrased Passage:
Unfortunately, when big business realized how much interest was developing in
"organic" beef, the emphasis turned away from health and reverted back to
making a profit (Kummer 123).
How do I make sure I’m not plagiarizing when I paraphrase a source?
Even though the ideas in a paraphrase are not your own, the style should be. Do not
simply take the original passage and insert different words into an existing frame.
Notice how the passage below is too similar to the original:
Original Passage:
Whatever the current troubles of McDonald's and other burger purveyors, beef
remains America's most popular meat.
Faulty Paraphrase:
Despite the recent problems of McDonald’s and other fast-food sellers, beef is
still America's favorite meat.
STEPS FOR PARAPHRASING
1. Look away from the source; then write.
Read the text you want to paraphrase several times until you feel
you understand it and can use your own words to restate it. Then,
look away from the original and rewrite it in your own words.
2. Take notes.
Take abbreviated notes, then set them aside and come back a
day later to paraphrase them. If you can’t do steps 1 or 2, this
may mean you don’t understand the passage completely or you
need more practice (see 3).
3. Change the structure, then change the words.
• Start at a different place in the passage, basing your
choice on the focus of your paper. This will lead naturally
to some changes in wording.
• Break up long sentences, combine short ones, expand
phrases for clarity, or shorten them for conciseness.
• Eliminate unnecessary wording.
• Use synonyms or a phrase that expresses the same
meaning.
• If there are words that cannot be changed, leave them as
is “in quotation marks,” and paraphrase the rest.
You may need to go through this process several times to create
a satisfactory paraphrase.
Doerksen, C. “Plagiarism.” File last modified 5 Jul. 2011. Microsoft PowerPoint File.
“Paraphrasing vs. Quoting – Explanation.” The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin.
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. 2 Jul. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014.
The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin. Acknowledging, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
Sources. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. 2003. PDF file.
“Writing Resources Library.” The Portland State University Writing Center. The Writing Center
at PSU. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014.
Applying What You’ve Learned
Read each original passage and then decide if the subsequent paraphrase
is too close to the original and, therefore, plagiarized.
Use the lines at the bottom of the page to write your own paraphrase of
the following quotation:
YES or NO
“Critical care nurses function in a hierarchy of roles. In this open heart
surgery unit, the nurse manager hires and fires the nursing personnel.
The nurse manager does not directly care for patients but follows the
progress of unusual or long-term patients. On each shift a nurse
assumes the role of resource nurse. This person oversees the hour-byhour functioning of the unit as a whole, such as considering expected
admissions and discharges of patients, ascertaining that beds are
available for patients in the operating room, and covering sick calls.
Resource nurses also take a patient assignment. They are the most
experienced of all the staff nurses. The nurse clinician has a separate job
description and provides for quality of care by orienting new staff,
developing unit policies, and providing direct support where needed,
such as assisting in emergency situations. The clinical nurse specialist in
this unit is mostly involved with formal teaching in orienting new staff.
The nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist are the
designated experts. They do not take patient assignments. The resource
nurse is seen as both a caregiver and a resource to other caregivers. . . .
Staff nurses have a hierarchy of seniority… Staff nurses are assigned to
patients to provide all their nursing care” (Chase 156).
Original Passage
He was a very silent man by custom.
Chase, S.K. “The Social Context of Critical Care Clinical Judgment.”
Heart and Lung 24 (1995): 154-162. Print.
Original Passage
Devices in the iPod range are primarily digital audio players, designed
around a central click wheel — although the iPod shuffle has buttons also.
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
An iPod is an MP3 player that lets you choose and play songs to listen to
using a click wheel (or on older versions, buttons).
YES or NO
Original Passage
At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe
that the hard times would be only temporary.
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
At the beginning of the Great Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to
think that the hard times would be only temporary.
__________________________________________________________
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
He was usually a quiet person.
YES or NO
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Original Passage
A letter of thanks is a courteous acknowledgment of a gift or of something
that was done for you.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
A thank you note is a polite acknowledgment of a present or something nice
someone did for you.
YES or NO
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Applying What You’ve Learned
ANSWER KEY
Read each original passage and then decide if the subsequent paraphrase
is too close to the original and, therefore, plagiarized.
Use the lines at the bottom of the page to write your own paraphrase of
the following quotation:
YES or NO
“Critical care nurses function in a hierarchy of roles. In this open heart
surgery unit, the nurse manager hires and fires the nursing personnel.
The nurse manager does not directly care for patients but follows the
progress of unusual or long-term patients. On each shift a nurse
assumes the role of resource nurse. This person oversees the hour-byhour functioning of the unit as a whole, such as considering expected
admissions and discharges of patients, ascertaining that beds are
available for patients in the operating room, and covering sick calls.
Resource nurses also take a patient assignment. They are the most
experienced of all the staff nurses. The nurse clinician has a separate job
description and provides for quality of care by orienting new staff,
developing unit policies, and providing direct support where needed,
such as assisting in emergency situations. The clinical nurse specialist in
this unit is mostly involved with formal teaching in orienting new staff.
The nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist are the
designated experts. They do not take patient assignments. The resource
nurse is seen as both a caregiver and a resource to other caregivers. . . .
Staff nurses have a hierarchy of seniority… Staff nurses are assigned to
patients to provide all their nursing care” (Chase 156).
Original Passage
He was a very silent man by custom.
Chase, S.K. “The Social Context of Critical Care Clinical Judgment.”
Heart and Lung 24 (1995): 154-162. Print.
Original Passage
Devices in the iPod range are primarily digital audio players, designed
around a central click wheel — although the iPod shuffle has buttons also.
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
An iPod is an MP3 player that lets you choose and play songs to listen to
using a click wheel (or on older versions, buttons).
YES or NO
Original Passage
At the start of the Great Depression, many Americans wanted to believe
that the hard times would be only temporary.
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
At the beginning of the Great Depression, a lot of Americans wanted to
think that the hard times would be only temporary.
__________________________________________________________
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
He was usually a quiet person.
YES or NO
Answers will vary,___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Original Passage
A letter of thanks is a courteous acknowledgment of a gift or of something
that was done for you.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Is the Following Passage Plagiarized?
A thank you note is a polite acknowledgment of a present or something nice
someone did for you.
YES or NO
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________