Paraphrase:
Write it in
Your Own
Words
Brought
to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
A paraphrase is...
-
your own rendition of essential information and
ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
-
one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate
documentation) to borrow from a source.
-
a more detailed restatement than a summary, which
focuses concisely on a single main idea.
Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...
-
it is better than quoting information from an
undistinguished passage.
-
it helps you control the temptation to quote
too much.
-
the mental process required for successful paraphrasing
helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.
6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing
1. Reread the original passage until you understand
its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside, write your paraphrase
on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase
to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of
the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your
paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original
to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information
in a new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique
term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page)
on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate
the material into your paper.
Some
examples to compare
--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. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount
of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James
D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
--A legitimate
paraphrase--
In research papers students often quote excessively,
failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem
usually
originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material
recorded verbatim.
--An acceptable
summary--
Students should take just a few notes in direct
quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in
a research paper.
--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. So it is important to limit the amount of
source material copied while taking notes.
After reviewing this handout, try an exercise
on paraphrasing.
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Last Updated 3-1-00
jeanette.corey-gruenes@mankato.msus.edu
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