If you've been asked to paraphrase a paragraph but aren't sure how, don't worry. Paraphrasing means nothing more than taking the original text and rewriting it using a different choice of words and a different structure, while keeping the content unchanged. Scroll to Step 1 to learn the basics of paraphrasing, or skip straight to Method 2 if you just need a refresher to find out what changes you need to make from the original paragraph (in addition, you will also find some useful examples).
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Understanding the Basics
Step 1. Know what it means to "paraphrase"
"To paraphrase" means to say something someone else said in your own words. The ideas you express are always the same; you just do it differently. This is a skill that can be useful, especially if you are trying to write an article or essay.
Of course, when you use someone else's ideas, you always have to credit the author for them, but paraphrasing them gives you the ability to say the same things in your own words, instead of employing a direct quote. Expressing it your way, the information may fit better with what you are writing, allowing your writing to flow more smoothly from one idea to another
Step 2. Be aware of the differences between a paraphrase and a summary
The paraphrase could be mistaken for a summary, but in reality they are two different methods of rewriting a text. Both serve to reproduce the text in your own words, although sometimes a summary uses the same sentences as the original, depending on your ultimate goals.
- For example, suppose the original text says: "The fox stalked its prey in the moonlight, its big ears and bright eyes alert for the rabbit's next move."
- Paraphrase example: "The rabbit stood motionless in the moonlight, while the fox scanned the ground with its impressive hearing and night vision."
- Summary example: "Foxes hunt rabbits at night, using their ears and eyes."
Step 3. Understand that paraphrasing does not necessarily mean shortening the text
When making a summary, you are trying to make a shorter, more succinct text out of a longer one, using your own words. This is not the case with paraphrase. In fact, it may happen that your paraphrase is slightly longer than the original paragraph, depending on your choice of words.
Method 2 of 2: Paraphrase Correctly
Step 1. Change the lexical choice of the original text
When you paraphrase, you have to change the words that are used. This means that, as a writer, you have a unique and personal way of presenting an idea, and consequently your elocution is important. The "elocution" is nothing more than the choice of words you make to express a concept. When paraphrasing, to express the same idea, you have to choose words other than those in the original text.
Example: The words you might choose to explain to someone how to ride a bicycle are different from what another writer would choose. Someone else might say "get on your bike", while you might say "sit on the saddle of the bike". Both phrases have essentially the same meaning ("get on your bike"), but are worded differently
Step 2. To help you choose words, use a thesaurus
If you can't find another word that conveys the same idea, you can use a thesaurus, which gives you a list of different words with the same meaning (synonyms, in fact). However, be careful to use only words that you know for sure fit the context well, because a word you don't know may have an inappropriate connotation for the paragraph in question. The "connotation" is a nuance of the meaning of a word.
For example, "grumble" and "protest" have similar meanings and a dictionary might list them as synonyms. Their connotations, however, are different. "Protesting", for example, is often linked to a political context, while "grumbling" is not
Step 3. Create your own syntax for the text you paraphrase
Paraphrasing is not just about choosing words; it also affects syntax and structure. "Syntax" is how you connect words together to form a sentence.
For example, "Jane watched the sunset while eating oranges" is syntactically different from "Jane ate oranges while watching the sunset"
Step 4. Try to change the paragraph structure
The "structure" is the way in which sentences and paragraphs are linked together. Of course, you need to organize your sentences and paragraphs in a way that makes sense. You have to lead the reader towards the idea you are presenting. However, you still have some leeway in how to organize a paragraph. When paraphrasing, you can't just replace words in the text with synonyms and think you've finished the job. What you need to do is restructure the entire text so that it becomes a whole new paragraph that conveys the same idea.
- Paraphrase you would like to paraphrase: "Jane swerved on the road to avoid hitting the deer. As the car swerved off the road, Jane couldn't help but think that today could be her last. Her thoughts passed for a moment to her children and her husband. The car hit the tree with a frightening noise, and Jane fainted. However, she woke up after a few seconds, bruised and in pain, but alive."
- Paraphrased paragraph (Example 1): "Jane saw a deer on the road, so she swung the car around to avoid the animal. The car was headed into the trees. Her mind was flooded with images of her family, and wondered if she would die today. When the front of the car hit the tree, she lost consciousness for a moment, but luckily she survived the crash with only a few bumps."
Step 5. Remember that there is more than one way to paraphrase a paragraph
It is important to note that the number of ways in which a paragraph can be rewritten is equal to that of the writers. For example, the same paragraph used in the previous step might be paraphrased in a different, not as lively and less detailed way. Nonetheless, it continues to provide the reader with the same information through the use of different words.
Paraphrased paragraph (example 2): "While driving, Jane hit a tree because she swerved to avoid a deer. As the car crashed into the tree, she thought about how much her family would miss her if she died. the impact knocked her unconscious for a while, she suffered only minor injuries."
Advice
- If you don't succeed on the first try, don't worry; with practice, you will improve your ability to paraphrase.
- Remember to keep a thesaurus handy, to help you with paraphrasing.
