What is a Paraphrase?
A paraphrase is the conversion of an idea
or concept that you have read or heard into your own words. A paraphrase is the restatement of an idea into your own words. You turn an idea that you have heard or read into approximately the same number of your own words. It is based on what
you have understood form what you have read or heard. It is essentially a
restatement of an idea into your own words. The sentence you have read or heard
is turned into about the same number of words. Another way of putting it is,
you state an idea in your own words with your own understanding of what you
have learnt. Different words are used, but with the same meaning. For example:
Original sentence: "Taking
a few minutes away from our too-busy lives each day can provide the mental
refreshment we need to recharge and move forward." --Anony Mous
Paraphrase: According to Anony Mous,
we should interrupt our overly busy daily schedule each day by spending a few
minutes off, to supply the mental restoration we require to refill our energy
and continue our productivity. --Anony Mous
Here we have 24 words paraphrased
into 31 words, which is a similar number. The central idea of a paraphrase is
that it preserves all the meaning and details (whereas a summary omits details
and preserves only the main ideas).
Original sentence: Smoking
in public also causes cancer from passive smoking and cigarette butts cause
litter from the detritus of smoking.
Paraphrase: Cancer is also
caused from passive smoking in public places. Also, cigarette butts from
smoking in public places causes detritus from cigarette butts.
Here we have 18 words paraphrased
into 23 words, which is a similar number. The central idea of a paraphrase is
that it preserves all the meaning and details (whereas a summary omits details
and preserves only the main ideas).
Note: You will usually get a few more words in your paraphrase then from the original text. Do not be alarmed. The extra words are needed usually because of the use of the passive voice in paraphrasing.
Note: You will usually get a few more words in your paraphrase then from the original text. Do not be alarmed. The extra words are needed usually because of the use of the passive voice in paraphrasing.
What is Paraphrase used for?
1. A Paraphrase Is an Aid to Learning.
Paraphrasing is a valuable and effective learning strategy for the following reasons:
A. Active Engagement with the material: When we paraphrase a statement into our own words and either writing them down or typing them up, our minds and bodies are engaged with the content. Writing down or typing up content involves kinesthetic interaction with the learning content as well as mental or cognitive involvement. Paraphrasing involves thinking about what we have read or heard, understanding it and then assigning it in writing or type. When we paraphrase we do not merely passively absorb learning content, rather we are actively engaging with content.
B. Improved Memory: Memory retention of learning content is increased because we are actively engaged with the content. Even when we write down or type up ideas, this increases our memory of the content. However, paraphrasing is an even more powerful tool in aiding memory retention because we are thinking about the content and understanding it we before consigning it in writing or typing it. Paraphrasing makes for connection between what is read or heard and what is learnt. Without understanding , we will soon forget what we have learnt because our brains did not see a connection to anything else.
How to Paraphrase:
Original Sentence: "It turns out to be very difficult, for instance, to unlearn or ignore bad information--even when we know it is wrong or should be ignored." --Joseph T. Hallinan, Why We Make Mistakes .
Paraphrase: Even when we are told that some information is wrong and should be disregarded, we still find it hard to forget it or avoid it. --adapted from Joseph T. Hallinan, Why We Make Mistakes.
Original Sentence: "Leaders empower employees through consistent information sharing and increased decision-making responsibility and autonomy." --Paul Marciano, Carrots and Sticks Don't Work.
Paraphrase: When leaders regularly share information, give decision-making authority, and allow autonomy, they empower their employees. --adapted from Paul Marciano, Carrots and Sticks Don't Work.
Paraphrasing is a valuable and effective learning strategy for the following reasons:
A. Active Engagement with the material: When we paraphrase a statement into our own words and either writing them down or typing them up, our minds and bodies are engaged with the content. Writing down or typing up content involves kinesthetic interaction with the learning content as well as mental or cognitive involvement. Paraphrasing involves thinking about what we have read or heard, understanding it and then assigning it in writing or type. When we paraphrase we do not merely passively absorb learning content, rather we are actively engaging with content.
B. Improved Memory: Memory retention of learning content is increased because we are actively engaged with the content. Even when we write down or type up ideas, this increases our memory of the content. However, paraphrasing is an even more powerful tool in aiding memory retention because we are thinking about the content and understanding it we before consigning it in writing or typing it. Paraphrasing makes for connection between what is read or heard and what is learnt. Without understanding , we will soon forget what we have learnt because our brains did not see a connection to anything else.
C. It makes the idea your own.
When we are paraphrasing we are using our own vocabulary, our own writing style and our own thinking, we are then adding the idea into our mental inventory or library of ideas and thoughts. When a question is raised, we will answer in our own words or in our own style instead of reciting the phrasing directly from a book or other material where we drew the content from.
2. Paraphrasing allows for the arrangement of ideas.
A. Put the ideas in a different order: Ideas can be rearranged in the order that you want it to be in, or in a different order. If the author wrote in a way that is not the way you understood it, then you ca rearrange what was written in the way you understand it. If what is written is in an order different from the way you find useful for your study, then the words can be rearranged in a way in the paraphrase to emphasize you point.
B. Simplify the language: This is perhaps the greatest benefit of paraphrasing. Sometimes, some writers use excessive elaboration on sentence structure, complex vocabulary, abstract vocabulary and too much jargon. You can paraphrase with simpler language and sentence structure and use plain English to emphasize the same point without compromising on the facts.
C. Clarify Ideas: Some writers do not make themselves clear or lucid. Even great thinkers and experts in many academic fields sometimes do not know how to make themselves understood. Paraphrasing makes such writing easier to understand and accessible to you or another reader.
B. Simplify the language: This is perhaps the greatest benefit of paraphrasing. Sometimes, some writers use excessive elaboration on sentence structure, complex vocabulary, abstract vocabulary and too much jargon. You can paraphrase with simpler language and sentence structure and use plain English to emphasize the same point without compromising on the facts.
C. Clarify Ideas: Some writers do not make themselves clear or lucid. Even great thinkers and experts in many academic fields sometimes do not know how to make themselves understood. Paraphrasing makes such writing easier to understand and accessible to you or another reader.
How to Paraphrase:
The formula for paraphrasing is:
- Read the sentence or passage over and over until it has been really understood.
- Write out the meaning, either in outline form or
conversational style
- Locate the main ideas and arrange the order you want to
present them
- Write the paraphrase from your rearranged outline
- Check to see that you have preserved the meaning and
included all the ideas
- Edit as needed
- Add a citation to give the source credit. (You can't
make an idea your own simply by changing it into your own words. You still
need to cite the source of the idea.)
Examples
of Paraphrases
Original Sentence: "It turns out to be very difficult, for instance, to unlearn or ignore bad information--even when we know it is wrong or should be ignored." --Joseph T. Hallinan, Why We Make Mistakes .
Paraphrase: Even when we are told that some information is wrong and should be disregarded, we still find it hard to forget it or avoid it. --adapted from Joseph T. Hallinan, Why We Make Mistakes.
Original Sentence: "Leaders empower employees through consistent information sharing and increased decision-making responsibility and autonomy." --Paul Marciano, Carrots and Sticks Don't Work.
Paraphrase: When leaders regularly share information, give decision-making authority, and allow autonomy, they empower their employees. --adapted from Paul Marciano, Carrots and Sticks Don't Work.
Original
Sentence: "Learning occurs best when new information is incorporated
gradually into to the memory store rather that when it is jammed in all at
once. --John Medina, Brain Rules
Paraphrase: The best way to learn something it is to study it a little at a time instead of trying to memorize it all at the same time. --adapted from John Medina, Brain Rules.
Paraphrase: The best way to learn something it is to study it a little at a time instead of trying to memorize it all at the same time. --adapted from John Medina, Brain Rules.
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