Or write in your own words.
Think of paraphrasing as a form of translation – of someone else’s ideas into your own language.
Why do we paraphrase?
It’s not just about avoiding plagiarism. It’s about learning. If you can understand a concept enough to explain it in your own words, then you are well on your way to deeper understanding.
So how to do it?
- Read the original text a number of times for full understanding
- Circle any specialized words (these usually cannot be changed)
- Underline key words that CAN be changed
- Find synonyms for these words (careful they’re not changing the meaning)
- Put the text away & write from memory
- Check against the original text for same meaning
We need to talk about Grammar.
You could:
- Change word forms such as from verb to noun e.g observe to observation. This will force you to change the structure of the sentence.
- Change from an active to passive voice (or vice versa) i.e. swap the subject for the object & see what happens.
e.g The nurse treated the patient - The patient was treated by the nurse.
- Break down complex/long sentences into shorter sentences.
These are just a few ideas on how to master this important study skill. If you would like further help with paraphrasing, contact the Learning Skills Centre.