Paraphrasing
The Graduate School
Academic Year 2016-17
PREPARING TO PARAPHRASE
First, you must know your material well.
1. Read the text to understand the whole argument
2. Read it again to pick up on the specific points you need
3. Make notes as you go on this second reading (be selective)
4. You only need to paraphrase the bits are specific to your research!
I.E. Only make notes on and paraphrase the information that answers your
own research questions
TIPS FOR PARAPHRASING
1. Look for signposting sentences like:
1. ‘This paper argues...’
2. ‘The aim of this research is to show...’
3. ‘In conclusion....’
2. You can use direct quotes when paraphrasing, but keep it to a minimum
1. Use snippet quotes of 1-5 words built within your own sentence
2. Quote relevant key phrases /terms (especially if the author has coined them)
3. You don’t need to put quotation marks around a shared language
3. Hopefully the author will have used topic sentences
1. Use these to help you understand and summaries their whole argument (if
needed)
2. Use these to pinpoint the main paragraphs that relate to your own research
HOW TO PARAPHRASE
When you sit down and try to paraphrase you should:
1. Put the paper away and then try to write your summary
2. Rewrite the summary in your own words (like you are explaining it to a relative
/ a new person to the field). You can use synonyms.
3. Do not use jargon
4. Break up long sentences; link together shorter ones, expand phrases for
clarification, or shorten them for conciseness
5. You can restructure the author’s argument so it flows better in your summary
notes
6. I.E. Start with what is most useful to your own research
7. Don’t forget you are only trying to summarise your brief/specific notes, not
the whole argument
CHECKING YOUR SUMMARY IS CORRECT
You need to make sure you have not misunderstood/misquoted the author’s
argument.
You can do this by checking your summary against the:
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Conclusion
4. The topic sentences
5. Your original notes
OBJECTIVES FOR THIS SESSION
Complete the sentence: ‘In the next 90 minutes I will…’
E.g. ‘In the next 90 minutes I will draft out a structure to my next chapter, complete with subheadings and
bullet points’
E.g. ‘In the next 90 minutes I will undertake generative writing to complete a concise 500 word
conclusion to my chapter’
E.g. ‘In the next 90 minutes I will free write the next section of my pre-planned thesis section’
E.g. ‘In the next 90 minutes I will edit and proof read my pre-written thesis section’
Things to consider:
•
Which section of your thesis you are going to work on
•
What word count you are aiming for
•
What type of writing you want to do: snack writing, free writing, generative writing
•
Be realistic!
Phones off. No talking.
Go!
I am here if you have any questions or
queries.
Stop!
[email protected]
@pgrhub
OBJECTIVES FOR NEXT SESSION
Complete the sentence: ‘Before the next session I will…’
E.g. ‘Before the next session I will draft out a structure to my next chapter,
complete with subheadings and bullet points’
E.g. ‘Before the next session I will undertake generative writing to complete a
concise 500 word conclusion to my chapter’
E.g. ‘Before the next session I will free write the next section of my pre-planned
thesis section’
E.g. ‘Before the next session I will edit and proof read my pre-written thesis
section’