Paraphrasing What is it, and how do we do it?

It’s different from a summary A summary is just a few sentences about the main events and details from a text. A paraphrase includes ALL the information from the original text, not just a few highlights. A paraphrase is at least as long as the original text. When you paraphrase, you are putting the original words into your own words.

Paraphrasing: STEP ONE Examine the context. What’s the situation? Who is involved? Where? When? EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?” Context: Juliet is at her parents’ home, thinking about Romeo. She’s upset that he’s a Montague and she’s a Capulet. She wishes the situation were different.

STEP TWO Read the passage through one time completely EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?”

STEP THREE If you see unfamiliar words, use context clues or a dictionary to determine their meaning. EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?” What does “wherefore” mean? (Dictionary definition: It actually means “why,” not “where.”)

STEP FOUR Use your own words– try not to have the original language in your paraphrase. EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?” Oh Romeo! Why do you have to be called Romeo?

STEP FIVE Use “regular,” easy to understand language. EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name.” Oh, Romeo! Why do you have to be called Romeo? Reject your dad’s wishes! Don’t be a Montague.

STEP SIX Use the same point of view and verb tense as the original. But you can rearrange the words into a different order if you need to! EXAMPLE: “Romeo, oh Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name.” Oh Romeo! [sigh] Why do you have to be called Romeo? Don’t obey your dad! Don’t do what your family [the Montagues] want you to do!”

WHEN YOU’RE DONE Reread your paraphrase out loud to make sure that: It’s accurate (true to the original text) It makes sense It’s easy to understand