Learning

to
Paraphrase

NAME _____________________________
 What does it mean “To Paraphrase”?

“To paraphrase” means to put the thoughts and ideas of an author into your
own words.

In order to paraphrase correctly, you must do the following:

• Replace some of the author’s unique words with synonyms

• Rearrange the author’s order of ideas

• Reference the author

Here is an example

Original Phrase:

“Dinosaurs like Sinraptors never had to worry about losing or wearing

out their teeth. As one tooth became loose and fell out, another grew
in its place” (Currie and Mastin 8).

After changing vocabulary and sentence structure:

If a Sinraptor’s tooth fell out, it would be replaced by another one,

which is why losing teeth was not a concern to them (Currie and
Mastin 8).

 I replaced some of the author’s words with synonyms

 I rearranged the order of ideas around
 I referenced the author

If you quote the author (copy word for word), then you must ALWAYS put
quotations.

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 Example 1:

Original Passage

“The holiday called Juneteenth takes place on June 19. It dates back to 1865
when slaves in Texas first learned that they were free because President
Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Today,
Juneteenth is an official Texas holiday and is observed in many other states as
well (Beech 9).”

Source: Beech, Linda W. Short Reading Passages & Graphic Organizers to Build
Comprehension. New York: Scholastic, 2001.

Good Paraphrase Bad Paraphrase

On June 19, 1865, President Abraham Juneteenth is a holiday that takes

Lincoln signed the Emancipation place on June 19. It originated in
Proclamation, freeing the slaves in 1865, when slaves in Texas first
Texas. Since then, people in Texas and learned that they were free. This
in other states have been celebrating is because President Abraham
this day as a real Holiday, also known as Lincoln had signed the Emancipation
“Juneteenth” (beech 9). Proclamation. Now many people in
Texas and in other states celebrate
this day as an official holiday.

Why? Why?

* Words and phrases were * Word for word text was

changed copied with no quotation marks

* Sentence structure and order of * The ideas are in the same

ideas was changed order

* Source reference was given * No source reference was given

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Example 2:

Original Passage

Cyber-valentines were a breakthrough in 1994, but Valentine’s Day

gestures are nothing new. In fact, since Roman times, many “love-ly”
valentines customs and stories have evolved. The earliest surviving
valentine is a love letter written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans to
his wife while he was a prisoner of the British.
Source: Beech, Linda W. Short Reading Passages & Graphic Organizers to
Build Comprehension. New York: Scholastic, 2001.

Good Paraphrase Bad Paraphrase

People have been celebrating People have been celebrating

Valentines Day since the Roman Valentines Day since the Roman
times. According to Beech (26), times. In fact, the earliest
“The earliest surviving valentine is surviving valentine is a love
a love letter written in 1415 by letter written in 1415 by
Charles, Duke of Orleans to his Charles, Duke of Orleans to his
wife while he was a prisoner of the wife while he was a prisoner of
British”. the British.

Why? Why?

* Quotation marks were used to * The exact words were copied

indicate that the same words were with no quotation marks
copied
* No source reference was given
* A source reference was given

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Your Turn: Is it a good or bad paraphrase? Why?

Original Passage

As a federal facility, Ellis Island screened newcomers to make

sure they fit in the U.S. immigration policy. Doctors examined
them for diseases, and other officials sized them up.
“Undesirables” were sent back home on another ten-day to one-
month voyage. Because so many hopeful immigrants were turned
away, Ellis Island came to be called the Island of Tears.
Source: Heinrichs, Ann. New York. New York: Children’s Press: 1999.

______ Paraphrase ______ Paraphrase

All newcomers to the US were Heinrichs (43) explains that the

screened once they arrived at term Island of Tears, which
Ellis Island. Doctors examined refers to Ellis Island, came
them for diseases and other about because of the many
officials sized them up. If they immigrants who were sent back
didn’t pass the test they would home upon arrival to the United
be sent back home on a voyage States. All immigrants had to
that could take from ten days pass a series of tests before
to one month. Because so many being admitted into the US and
immigrants were sent away, Ellis if the doctors or officials
Island came to be known as the found something wrong with
Island of Tears. them, such as a sickness, they
would be sent back to their
native countries.

Why? Why?

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Your Turn: Is it a good or bad paraphrase? Why?

Original Passage

When Southern blacks arrived in New York, they soon learned

that they could not live where they pleased. Landlords who owned
buildings downtown would not rent apartments to them. But they
could find a place to live in Harlem.
Source: Young, Elizabeth Bernice. Harlem: The Story of a Changing
Community. New York: Julian Messner, 1972.

______ Paraphrase ______ Paraphrase

Harlem became the home of When Southern Blacks came to

Southern blacks who moved to New York, they found out that
New York because that was one they couldn’t live where they
of the few places where people wanted to. Landlords from
would rent them apartments downtown refused to let black
(Young 32). people live in the apartments
they owned. However, black
people were allowed housing in
Harlem (Young 32).

Why? Why?

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Review:

What do you have to do in order to paraphrase a body of text

(Remember the three R’s)?

4. If you quote an author, you must

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 Recognizing unique words or phrases that need to be changed

Sometimes authors use “unique” words or phrases in their writing. These are
words or phrases that are not a part of the average person’s everyday
vocabulary. Unique words or phrases should always be replaced with a
synonym. If you want to use it in your paraphrase, you must put quotations
around it/them.

Practice Activity 1:
One word in each of the following lists has more of a “unique quality”
than the others and, if it were in a text, should most likely be
substituted with a synonym and not copied. Circle that word.

1. big cavernous large

2. polish off end finish

3. decrease nosedive drop

4. odd strange uncanny

5. hoodwink fool trick

Practice Activity 2:
Read again the following passage and circle the words and/or phrases
that have a unique quality to them and should therefore be changed:

As a federal facility, Ellis Island screened newcomers to make sure

they fit in the U.S. immigration policy. Doctors examined them for
diseases, and other officials sized them up. “Undesirables” were sent
back home on another ten-day to one-month voyage. Because so many
hopeful immigrants were turned away, Ellis Island came to be called
the Island of Tears.

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Practice Activity3:
Read the following sentences. Circle one word in each sentence that you
think should not be used in a paraphrase and write down a synonym that
fits the context.

1. After years of slogging through her English lessons, stumbling over

impossible pronunciations and baffling rules of syntax, Chae Eun came up
with a better idea.

2. South Korea is known as one of the United States’ staunchest allies and is
host to 37,000 U.S. Troops.

3. In what might be a sign of things to come, China is the object of

infatuation at the moment.

4. Chinese studies are booming throughout the world.

(From: Who Needs English? B. Demick, Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2004,
Column One)

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 Introducing a Paraphrase

Sometimes, a good way to begin a paraphrase is by introducing the author of

the original passage.

For example:

According to Smith (33), the sun has long lasting and hidden effects
on our skin.

The following phrases can be used to introduce an author’s ideas that you
are going to paraphrase or quote.

1. According to (AUTHOR/ARTICLE),

2. As (AUTHOR) states/has stated/stated

(You can substitute the verb “states” with other verbs)

3. (AUTHOR) states that

Other verbs

The following verbs can be used for introducing a paraphrase or a quote.

Emphasizes Explains Mentions

Suggests Cautions Writes

Claims Points Out Describes

States Says Warns

Notes Stresses Urges

Example (MLA Style):

Martin (3) notes that acupuncture was first introduced in China by

the Daoists.
Author + (Page Number) + verb

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Practice Activity 4:
Circle the correct answer for each of the following questions.

1. Which three of the following verbs could introduce an author’s strong

claims?

argues asserts claims notes remarks

2. Which three of the following verbs could introduce a weak claim?

confirms maintains proposes speculates suggests

3. Which three of the following verbs could introduce a paraphrase that

represents an important point the author wants to make?

contends emphasizes mentions says stresses

3. Which three of the following verbs could introduce a paraphrase that

represents a point of lesser importance?

asserts mentions notes remarks urges

4. Which three of the following verbs could introduce a paraphrase in which

the author offers advice to readers?

cautions denies indicates warns urges

5. Which three of the following verbs could be used to introduce a

paraphrase in which the author simply states facts?

notes states urges says cautions stresses

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Practice Activity 5:
Paraphrase each of the following sentences by introducing the author in
one of the three ways mentioned above.

1. Trailers differ from other forms of human shelter because they are made
from metal and they have wheels. (Author: James Marshall, page 11)

2. Before you go outside in the sun, it is extremely important to put on

sunscreen on all exposed areas of your skin. (Author: Wendy Scone, page 2)

3. The year 1848 was important in California because in that year, gold was
discovered in a land that belonged to sawmill owner John Sutter. (Author:
Peter Harrison, page 8)

4. One unfortunate effect of the Gold Rush was that Sutter’s mill and land
were ruined. (Author: Peter Harrison, page 15)

5. Soda should not be sold in school cafeterias because of its high sugar
content and potential damage to teeth. (Author: Thomas Lin, Page 2)

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 Changing Sentence Structure

It is important to not only replace words that the author uses with your own
words or synonyms, but to also change around the order of ideas.

Practice Activity 8:
Practice paraphrasing by rewriting each of the sentences below using the
words in parenthesis. Try substituting words with synonyms and
changing the order of ideas around. The first one is done for you.

1. The large number of people living in the cities provided the labor to create
great palaces, temples, and other public buildings. (was supplied)

The labor needed to build public buildings such as palaces and

temples was supplied by the large number of people who lived
in the cities.

2. New methods and technologies in the field of Forensic Science mean that
getting away with a crime is becoming harder and harder to do. (increasingly
more difficult)

3. Remarkable breakthroughs in medicine help prolong human life. (live

longer)

4. In the 1920’s classical music was forgotten while Jazz spread throughout
the land. (turned away from)

5. Being absent in class deprives you of information useful in preparing for

tests or in doing homework. (If…then)

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Practice Activity 6:
Using the techniques we’ve learned up to now, paraphrase the following
sentences.

Remember to:

 Replace the author’s unique words with your own

 Change the order of ideas
 Use quotes if you copy word for word
 Provide a reference to the author of the original passage

1. Fireworks are dangerous because of the combinations of chemicals that

are used. These chemicals must be handled with care, and this is what
pyrotechnics are able to do. (Author: Marge Kline, Page 4)

2. A woodpecker is a true “birdbrain”. Sometimes the woodpecker pecks a

hole into a tree so fervently that it actually bores a hole right through to
the other side. The woodpecker continues to store nuts and seeds in the
hole, not noticing that the food is falling right out the other side of the
tree. (Author: Janice Smith, Page 53)

3. Another “birdbrain” is the turkey. When turkeys are young, they have to
be taught to eat, least they starve to death. (Author: Janice Smith, Page
54)

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4. Another result of the Gold Rush in California was the growth of San
Francisco, which went from a sleepy town to a booming metropolis almost
overnight. (Author: Hanna Leiman, Page 45)

5. Animals use many forms of communication, one of which is the release of

scent. The most well known example is the scent used by a skunk to frighten
off predators. (Author: Jarred Key, p32)

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Links:

Paraphrase Self Test

http://www.coedu.usf.edu/~dorn/testdiff.html

What is plagiarism?
http://caspian.switchinc.org/~tutorials/mod6/04-plag.html

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