Paraphrasing

1
Paraphrasing

• at the Learning Skills Conference
• Mrs. Bowler
• October 2008

2
What does it mean to paraphrase?

• To use someone elses ideas,
• but put them in your own words.
• Do not
• just rearrange or replace a few words.

3
Dont Forget

• And even though you use your own words,
• you must still acknowledge
• the source of the information.

4
How do you paraphrase?

• Read over what you want to paraphrase carefully.
• Write out the idea in your own words without
  looking at the original, relying only on your
  memory.

5
How do you paraphrase?

• Check your paraphrase against the original text
  to be sure you havent used the same words or
  phrases accidentally, and to check that the
  information is accurate.
• Acknowledge the source of information (CITE the
  source).

6
Recognizing Unacceptable and Acceptable
Paraphrases
7
Heres the ORIGINAL text, from page 90 of Sports
Illustrated. Inside NASCAR The Big Done by Lars
Anderson

• In the days leading up to Sundays race at
  Talladega, Alabama Superspeedway, every driver in
  the chase for the Cup confessed to fearing the
  Big One, the multi-car wreck that always looms
  ominously like a storm cloud over the 2.66 mile
  track.

8
Heres an UNACCEPTABLE paraphrase that is
plagiarism

• In the days leading up to Sundays race at
  Talladega, Alabama Superspeedway, every driver in
  the chase for the Cup confessed to fearing the
  Big One, the multi-car wreck that always looms
  ominously like a storm cloud over the 2.66 mile
  track.

• In the days leading up to Sundays contest in
  Talladega, Alabama Superspeedway, every driver in
  the chase for the trophy confessed to fearing the
  Big One, the multi-car accident that always looms
  dangerously like a storm cloud over the 2.66 mile
  race-track.

9
What makes the last passage plagiarism?

• 1. The writer has only changed around a few words
  and phrases, or changed the order of the
  originals sentences.
• 2. The writer has failed to cite a source for any
  of the ideas or facts.
• If you do either or both of these things,
• you are plagiarizing.

10
Heres an ACCEPTABLE paraphrase

• In the days leading up to Sundays race at
  Talladega, Alabama Superspeedway, every driver in
  the chase for the Cup confessed to fearing the
  Big One, the multi-car wreck that always looms
  ominously like a storm cloud over the 2.66 mile
  track.

• All of the race-car drivers admitted they were
  scared of the worst case scenario on the track
  being caught in a major accident. They are all
  getting ready for the big event in Talladega,
  Alabama next Sunday. (Anderson 90).

11
Why is this passage acceptable?

• This is acceptable paraphrasing because the
  writer
• uses his/her own words.
• lets the reader know the source of the
  information.

12
Paraphrasingnow you try!

• Find a magazine you enjoy reading.
• Copy a few sentences from the original source.
• Show your paraphrased work and cite the source
  (Author page number).