Paraphrase
中央大學語言中心 陳若盈老師
[email protected]
• “Paraphrase” is a verb which means to
re-write a phrase or sentence with the
same meaning but using different words.
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Why paraphrasing?
• Provide support for claims or add credibility to
your writing
• Refer to work that leads up to the work you
are now doing
• Give examples of several points of view on a
subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to
agree or disagree with
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/
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How to paraphrase
1. Read the source carefully. It is essential that
you understand it fully.
2. Identify the main point(s) and key words.
3. Cover the original text and rewrite it in your
own words. Check that you have included the
main points and essential information.
4. Write the paraphrase in your own style.
5. Review your paraphrase.
6. Record the original source.
https://student.unsw.edu.au/paraphrasing-summarising-and-quoting
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While paraphrasing, consider these:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Meaning: keep the original meaning.
Words: Use synonyms. Keep specialised subject
Use quotation marks (“ ” ) for original words.
Change the grammar and sentence structure.
Change the order in which information/ ideas
are presented
f. Identify the attitude of the authors to their
subject (i.e. certain, uncertain, critical etc)
https://student.unsw.edu.au/paraphrasing-summarising-and-quoting
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Some Examples
Acceptable paraphrase:
• "Paraphrasing is a very important skill for
most English tests."
• "For many tests of English, being skillful at
paraphrasing is extremely important."
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Unacceptable paraphrase:
The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking
notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final
[research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final
manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. [1]
Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed., 1976, pp. 46-47.
A plagiarized version:
Students often use too many direct quotations when they
take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final
research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the
final copy should consist of directly quoted material.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/
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3 Main Techniques to Paraphrase
1. Use synonyms
2. Changes the word order
3. Change the grammar and sentence
structure.
• "Paraphrasing is a very important skill for most
English tests."
• "For many tests of English, being skillful at
paraphrasing is extremely important."
(Source: The above examples were adapted from the handbook of www.higherscore.ca
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1. Use synonyms
Compare the following 3 sentences:
• 1. "It can be difficult to choose a suitable place
to study English."
• 2. "It is often a challenge to pick up (x) a
relevant (x) school to learn English."
• 3. "It is sometimes hard to select an appropriate
place to learn English."
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Exercise—using synonyms
original
paraphrase
Typical Type A people
are the most susceptible
to heart problems,
because they are
strongly motivated to
overcome obstacles and
are driven to achieve
and to meet goals.
Classic Type A people
are most likely to have
coronary problems
because of their intense
desire to conquer
barriers and their drive
to realize their goals.
(Source: The above examples were adapted from the handbook of www.higherscore.ca
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2. Change the Order
• Tip: when you move a word you might need to
change some other words, add some other
words or cut some other words to ensure that
the new sentence is grammatically correct.
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a. Change the order of the clauses
• "If they have some help, most people can
paraphrase effectively.
• "Most people can paraphrase effectively, if
they have some help.
• I can still remember, even though it was so
long ago.
• Even though it was so long ago, I can still
remember.
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Exercise—change the order of the clauses
original
paraphrase
Typical Type A people are
the most susceptible to
heart problems, because
they are strongly motivated
to overcome obstacles and
are driven to achieve and to
meet goals.
Because of their intense
desire to conquer barriers
and their drive to realize
their goals, classic Type A
people are most likely to
have coronary problems.
(Source: The above examples were adapted from the handbook of www.higherscore.ca
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b. Adjective + N. relative clause/phrase.
• "Writing essays can be a challenging task."
• "Writing essays can be a task which is
challenging."
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Exercise—change the adjective into a relative clause
original
paraphrase
Naturally not all Type A Not all people (who
or Type B people fit
are) identified as Type
these profiles exactly. A or Type B conform to
these profiles exactly.
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Method 3: Use Different Grammar
Suggestion a. Change words into different
parts of speech
• "The most effective way to build your
English skill is to study regularly."
• "The most effective way of building your
English skill is to do studying on a regular
basis."
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Exercise—change parts of speech
original
paraphrase
Typical Type A people
are the most
susceptible to heart
problems, because they
are strongly motivated
to overcome obstacles
and are driven to
achieve and to meet
goals.
Classic Type A people
are most at risk for
coronary problems
because of their
intense desire to
conquer barriers and
their drive to realize
their goals.
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Suggestion b. : Active voice  passive
or vice versa
• "To improve English, you should learn
new vocabulary on a daily basis."
• "To improve English, new vocabulary
should be learned on a daily basis“
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Add Signal Phrase & Citation
MLA Format
APA Format
Paraphrase with author in signal phrase: Paraphrase with author in signal phrase:
In “Childhood Nostolgia,” Andrew
Soria describes Zaboomafoo the
lemur as a furry, lovable, and
approachable PBS character that
instilled a love of wildlife and
science in young TV audiences [4].
In “Childhood Nostolgia,” Soria
(2014) described Zaboomafoo the
lemur as a furry, lovable, and
approachable PBS character that
instilled a love of wildlife and
science in young TV audiences.
Paraphrase without a signal phrase:
Paraphrase without a signal phrase:
Zaboomafoo the lemur is a furry,
lovable, and kind PBS character
that instilled a love of wildlife and
science in young TV audiences
[Soria 4].
Zaboomafoo the lemur is a furry,
lovable, and kind PBS character
that instilled a love of wildlife and
science in young TV audiences
(Soria, 2014).
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http://www.apu.edu/live_data/files/288/paraphrasing_and_quoting.pdf
Reference
• Academic Skills, The University of New South
Wales:
https://student.unsw.edu.au/paraphrasingsummarising-and-quoting
• Purdue Online Writing Lab:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/
563/01/
• High Score: www.higherscore.ca
• http://www.apu.edu/live_data/files/288/parap
hrasing_and_quoting.pdf
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