Paraphrasing

What is Paraphrasing? O It’s taking the essential information and details from a text and writing them in YOUR OWN WORDS. O It’s one legitimate way to borrow from a source. O It’s more detailed and specific than a summary O It’s NOT an opinion or a new argument. O We paraphrase information to SUPPORT our opinion or argument.

What Can Be Paraphrased? O a short phrase O a sentence O a paragraph O In longer pieces, even a page can be paraphrased. O But it must come from a SPECIFIC place in the text.

Paraphrasing is best when… O using facts or plot from a text O you want to use specific information from a text that can be effectively written in many different ways O you’ve already used many direct quotes-- because it’s important that most of your analysis reflect your thinking and interpreting of the text

Paraphrasing Example from “Us and Them” Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them. The writer’s specific ideas are presented but in YOUR OWN WORDS.

Paraphrasing Example Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them. When we write about literature, we want to write in 3 rd person POV.

Use Synonyms Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them.

Use Synonyms Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them.

Use Synonyms Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them.

Use Synonyms Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them.

Use Synonyms Text: “…I tore off the wrappers and began cramming the candy bars into my mouth, desperately, like someone in a contest.” Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them.

Now we need to add some ELABORATION (context) for the reader Paraphrase: Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them. CONTEXT: Who, What, Where, When, How, Why (Not all will always apply.) WHY is Sedaris rushing to eat the candy bars? WHERE is he when he’s doing this? WHEN is this happening? Look back at the story and then rewrite this paraphrase by elaborating—add context.

Paraphrase with ELABORATION (context) added Paraphrase: Knowing he had little time before his mother took his Halloween chocolate to give to the Tomkey children, Sedaris frantically opened his treats and raced to devour them before she opened his bedroom door.

What kind of details from a text are easy to paraphrase? O facts or plot O specific information from a text that can be effectively written in many different ways

How to Paraphrase 1. Read and reread the text until you have a clear understanding of the main idea, including details. 2. Put the text away and see if you remember the main idea and details. Can you say them out loud? If not, reread again. 3. Now write down what you remember, but WITHOUT looking at the text. 4. Then compare your writing to the original. Are the writer’s specific ideas still there? If not, revise. 5. Have you paraphrased and not plagiarized? If not, revise again.

How to Paraphrase O Switch up the order of the ideas O Change the phrasing O Replace words from the original text with synonyms. NOTE: Names or basic common nouns where there isn’t a suitable synonym don’t need to be changed.

Now, you take a try! Paraphrase this text. O Original text: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put humpty back together again. - read and then look away from the text - use synonyms and change up the order of the ideas - compare your paraphrase to the original

How to Paraphrase and not Plagiarize O Replace words from the original text with synonyms. Original text: Humpty Dumpty [sat] rested [on] atop a wall. Humpty Dumpty [had a great fall] tumbled off and crashed to the ground. [All] Everyone of the king’s horses and [all the] king’s [men] workers [couldn’t] were unable to [put humpty back together] repair or rebuild him [again].

How to Paraphrase and not Plagiarize O Switch up the order of the ideas Original text: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put humpty back together again. O Switch up the order of the ideas: The king’s employees tried to…

How to Paraphrase and not Plagiarize Original text: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put humpty back together again. O Change the phrasing : While sitting on a wall, Humpty Dumpty…

Do you have to change every single word when paraphrasing? Original text: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put humpty back together again. NO. Names (Humpty Dumpty) or basic common nouns (wall, king, horse) where there isn’t a suitable synonym don’t need to be changed.

Need more practice?– Paraphrase this nursery rhyme into your own words Original text: Jack and Jill O Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown. And Jill came tumbling after. Read, look away, recall, and write this in your own words. Then compare your writing to the original. Use synonyms. Change sentence structure and/or the order of ideas. Do not alter the writer’s main ideas or add your opinion.

Should I Paraphrase or Quote Weave? Quote weaving is best when… O the writer’s exact words just can’t be beat O the writer’s phrasing and word choices are perfect to support your argument O using dialogue or description from a text O using specific word choices that express the tone/attitude of a writer or character

Should I Paraphrase or Quote Weave? Original Text: “I wanted to know what this something was, and so I began peering through the Tomkey’s windows.” This is plot, so it’s perfect for paraphrasing. Paraphrase: Since they don’t own a television, Sedaris is curious about how the Tomkeys spend their time, so he makes a habit of spying on them through the windows of their home (1).