Paraphrasing


 * Paraphrasing means to take an author’s ideas and express them in your own words.**
 * You might change the vocabulary or grammar, but you keep the original meaning.**
 * The length of a paraphrase will probably be about the same as the original.**


 * //Why paraphrase?//**


 * The purpose is to show your own audience that you understood what you read and are**
 * not merely repeating it, and also to avoid plagiarism!**


 * //How do you paraphrase?//**


 * Here are some strategies that may help you do your own paraphrasing!**
 * You should always try to apply as many of these as possible in order to**
 * be sure you are not plagiarizing.**


 * (1) use synonyms or synonymous phrases**


 * Original: Germs are everywhere.**
 * New: Potentially harmful microorganisms are everywhere.**


 * (2) change the form of words**


 * Original: Storing food properly is important.**
 * New: Proper food storage is important.**


 * (3) change the grammar – word order, shifting clauses, changing singular to plural,**
 * etc.**


 * Original: Molds are able to grow under refrigeration.**
 * New: A mold is able to grow under refrigeration.**


 * Original: When food is frozen, most microorganisms in it de.**
 * New: Most microorganisms in food die when it is frozen.**


 * Original: Bacteria, molds and yeast cause food spoilage.**
 * New: Food spoilage is caused by bacteria, molds and yeast.**


 * (4) change the point of view**


 * Original: You can kill microorganisms in soup by boiling.**
 * New: We can kill microorganisms in soup by boiling.**
 * It is possible to kill microorganisms in soup by boiling.**


 * (5) omit unnecessary words or phrases** **Original: The earliest method of food preservation was drying, which means**
 * removing up to 99 percent of the moisture in food.**
 * New: The earliest method of food preservation was drying.**


 * (6) change conjunctions and transition words**


 * Original: Refrigeration slows the growth of microorganisms. However, it**
 * does not kill them**
 * New: Refrigeration slows the growth of microorganisms, but it does not**
 * kill them.**


 * SAMPLE**

//**The original passage:**//


 * Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result**
 * they overuse quotations in the final paper. Probably only about 10% of your**
 * final essay should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should**
 * try to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes.**

//**L A plagiarized version: L**//


 * 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.**

//**J A legitimate paraphrase: J**//


 * 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 word for word.**