Paraphrase :)

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is taking someone’s ideas and rewrites it using your own words. When dealing with the sources, paraphrasing is the best way for you to integrate ideas from the authors into your own sentences. However, most of us face the difficulties when we want put the points from many sources into our own writing.

 As we already know, paraphrasing is useful in order to avoid the plagiarism. However, students sometimes mistaken about the paraphrasing concept and they tend to commit plagiarism. There are problematic areas that are very common especially among the students. Students usually tend to “nearcopy” or “patchwriting” as they always copy the important part of original text and or word for word. Some of them just make superficial changes when paraphrasing by using the synonym words. However, the word use may out of context and this will effect the original meaning of the text. Sometimes, students are under impression as they are not include the in-text citation of the original sources.

There are three conditions of a good paraphrase. Firstly, the paraphrase must have same meaning with the origin. You must include all the important ideas and it is not necessary to add new ideas and alter the tone and original attention. Second, the sentences must be in your own words. You need to change the vocabulary and sentences as much as possible and not copy more than five words in a row. Besides, you also must not use same distinctive vocabulary but quote instead. Lastly, you must cite the writing using in-text citation to tell the reader where the information is.

 I learned few tips of paraphrasing. Here are few tips on how to improve your skills in paraphrasing.   

Grammar Help Method

Grammar help method is one of simple way to paraphrase which is by changing the grammar and vocabulary. First step of grammar help method is you must understand the meaning of original sentences by read it several times. Next, you have to underline the important words, phrases and ideas that must included in the paraphrase. Then, you need to change the vocabulary and sentences structure. It is important for you to compare the paraphrased sentences with the original. Help yourself with techniques given from this method which are substitute some words with synonyms, change the verb to negative, change the sentences from active to passive and vice verse and use linkers. Using this method, you also can change the part of the sentences by change verbs to nouns, nouns to verbs, verb to adjective and adjective to verb.

Retelling method

Retelling method needs you to have deep understanding on what text means. Most important steps need to be taken is to understand the original sentences. Then, you have to put away the original text or minimize the view of electronic text. Lastly, rewrite the paraphrase using your own words.

Chunking method

We use this method when the original text is too long.  Chucking method is breaking the sentences to small and manageable pieces. The way on how to apply this method is by read the original text for several times in order for you to have fully understanding of the sentences. Then, divide the sentences into chunks and restate each of it. Make sure you understand the meaning of the chunks. Then, join all the chunks to make a perfect sentence.

Based on the methods given, the important is to double check the paragraph of each paraphrase sentences. The important part is to include the in-text citation that we learn it after this topic.