BORROWING LANGUAGE AND IDEAS PARAPHRASING BORROWING LANGUAGE AND IDEAS

WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE? DEFINITION: Paraphrasing is when we borrow ideas, language, or phrases from another person’s text; we write these using our own language and sentence patterns.

WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE? continued Paraphrasing a text (such as a movie, an article, a book chapter, or a song) helps the reader grasp the important parts without having to read the source. The writer is an expert in the content of that one source, and she talks the research to her reader.

What About Paraphrasing? Think about the following questions: consider what you think a writer does. It’s good to start with what we already know or assume: When do we paraphrase? How do we paraphrase? Can we switch words around? How do we cite our paraphrases? How is paraphrase different than quote?

HERE ARE SOME INCORRECT ASSUMPTIONS STUDENT WRITERS SOMETIMES HAVE ABOUT PARAPHRASING: --If we switch words around we are O.K.. NO --If somebody did not “say it,” then they are my words. NO --I have learned about the topic somewhere else; I don’t need to cite it. NO --This comes from my own expertise. NO --I don’t know what the article is about, but I switched the words around in this one part; they are my words. NO --I don’t think we have to cite a paraphrase. We only cite quotes. NO

WHY DO WE PARAPHRASE? MOST Paraphrasing allows the reader to trust the writer. We walk away from our reading informed, and we have confidence in the researcher because she knows her source materials. MOST OF YOUR RESEARCH WRITING WILL INCLUDE PARAPHRASING.

WHY DO WE PARAPHRASE? PARAPHRASE IS USED MORE THAN SUMMARY AND QUOTES BECAUSE: PARAPHRASE GIVES MORE DETAIL THAN SUMMARY AND ALLOWS MORE INSIGHT. PARAPHRSE PREVENTS OVERRELIANCE ON QUOTING AND SHOWS AN AUTHOR’S CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE PARTICULAR SOURCE. WE SHOULD ONLY QUOTE IN SPECIFIC INSTANCES

REVIEWING WHEN TO QUOTE As a review, writers use quotes sparingly and only with the following rules: Quoting an authority (who is absolutely necessary to include in the paper). Using necessary dialogue. Highlighting necessary bias or opposite opinions. Analyzing unusual language.

ACTIVITY: LOOK AT THE PAPER YOU ARE WORKING ON. HIGHLIGHT EVERY PLACE YOU QUOTE. WRITE YES NEXT TO QUOTES THAT FOLLOW ONE OF THE RULES, AND WRITE NO NEXT TO THOSE THAT DON’T. FOR THOSE THAT DON’T FOLLOW ONE OF THE RULES (AND THERE PROBABLY ARE SEVERAL YOU SHOULD REVISE), THEN CONSIDER PARAPHRASING IN PLACE OF THE QUOTE.

IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT PARAPHRASING: 1. Use only important information. 2. Paraphrasing is better than quoting too much. 3. We must use our own voice and words.

Three paraphrasing rules: 1. We are allowed to use common terms, such as the author’s name or topic. No quotation marks are necessary when we use these. 2. If we borrow any key words, we must put them in quotations. We must box in the source by introducing source first and then citing at the end.

LET’S PRACTICE: Any common terms? Yes: Paraphrase ORIGINAL STATEMENT: When we paraphrase, we should make sure to allow our original voice to explain the text to our readers without stealing the original tone or sentence patterns. Paraphrasing is always better than quoting too much. PARAPHRASE ATTEMPT: Diana Agy, in her text “How to Paraphrase” seems to privilege paraphrasing in place of “quoting too much.” She talks about how important it is for a writer to know his or her sources and to “talk” the research to his or her readers (Agy13). Any common terms? Yes: Paraphrase Notice it is not in quotation marks because it is a common term. 2. Are there any unique or key words that we borrowed from original writer? Yes: “quoting too much” and “talk” Notice how we put this phrase in quotation marks because we borrow the original writer’s language. We think this is an important phrase. 3. Did the author introduce the source and cite it at the end? Yes. She introduced the source here, and she cites it at the end. This helps us know where this paraphrase begins and where it ends.

INCORRECT PARAPHRASING: Sample #1 Students can benefit from the Writing Fellow Program by understanding redirection and considering sample papers. The more students talk about writing, the more skilled they become. Did the writer use common terms? Yes: “writing” and “students” . She did not need quotation for these common words. Did the writer borrow key words and use quotations correctly? YES, she borrowed key words, BUT She did not use quotations with borrowed language. To correct, she should use quotation marks with “redirection”, “sample papers” and “talk about writing” Did the writer introduce the source and cite it at then end? No. We do not know where the writer begins and ends and where the source begins and ends.

HERE IS AN ORIGINAL TEXT: The more we write and talk about writing, the better writers we become. The Writing Fellow Program provides an outlet for students to chat with peers about any stage of writing: prewriting, drafting, revising, close editing, etc… Writing Fellows use redirection and sample writings to help students better understand the whys of each writing stage.

CORRECT PARAPHRASE: Correct paraphrasing: In the text by Diana Agy, she explains the importance of communication and social activities centered around writing. She particularly targets a program she calls “Writing Fellow Program,” and she explains how these tutors help engage their tutees through various methods. Her text also highlights the importance of understanding writing as a process and that we become better writers if we understand the “whys” of various “writing stages” (qtd. In Paraphrase GPAW). Does it use common terms: Yes: writing (writers) , importance, understanding—no need for quotation marks. Does it borrow key words and cite them with quotation marks? Yes:”writing stages” and “whys” Does it introduce and cite the source correctly? Yes: In the text, and (qtd. In Paraphrase GPAW).

THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM The main problem is using the original source as a mirror. Mirroring occurs when the writer imitates the original sentence patterns and voice. Some writers have learned that as long as they replace the original text with their own language, then all is well. But, they are mistaken! When we paraphrase we are putting someone else’s information in our own sentence patterns. Not only must the wording be different, but the rhythm and pattern must also be our own. We think that we are paraphrasing when we are rearranging our source’s sentences while we keep their original sentence patterns, BUT WE ARE NOT. Be very careful here. This is the most common form of plagiarism.

Consider this example: Incorrect paraphrase--plagiarism Original: Ask not what your country can do for you. But ask what you can do for your country. Incorrect Paraphrase: Don’t ask what your nation can give you; instead, consider what you are willing to do for your country. Notice the rhythm, the sentence pattern, and the sound are exactly the same. Notice also, although there are some word changes, the second example only mimics the first—it does NOT paraphrase the first. Correct Paraphrase: John Kennedy’s introduction stresses the importance of citizens becoming civically engaged in their country’s affairs.

PARAPHRASE APPLICATION Revisit your entire essay. Write down each of your paraphrases. Find the original article. Highlight the sections where the paraphrases comes from. Staple the original source text to your work so your instructor can scan it. Answer the following questions. Does your paraphrase mirror the rhythm of the original? have similar sentence patterns? sound like the original? simply substitute your source’s words for another? If yes, you must revise!