Putting written information in your own words What is Paraphrasing? Putting written information in your own words

Paraphrasing Why is it important? 1. Keeps you from plagiarizing. 2. Effective way to take notes. 3. Helps you understand the information better.

Original Text Even when the weather is snowy and cold, songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active and can be seen at birdfeeders. Here is a sentence we are going to work with to learn the steps to paraphrasing. (Read)

Comparison Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when the weather is snowy and cold, songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active and can be seen at birdfeeders. Song birds like chickadees and cardinals are active even in winter weather. They can be viewed at birdfeeders.

How are the two similar? Which words were kept the same? Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when the weather is snowy and cold, songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active and can be seen at birdfeeders. Songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active even in winter weather. They can be viewed at birdfeeders.

How are the two different How are the two different? We use different words to express the same ideas. Say the same thing in a slightly different way. Words replaced with synonyms. Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when the weather is snowy and cold, songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active and can be seen at birdfeeders. Song birds like chickadees and cardinals are active even in winter weather. They can be viewed at birdfeeders.

Comparison – What parts are rearranged? Original Text 1 Paraphrased Text Even when the weather is snowy and cold, songbirds like chickadees and cardinals are active and can be seen at birdfeeders. Song birds like chickadees and cardinals are active even in winter weather. They can be viewed at birdfeeders.

What do you think? Accurate? Why or why not? Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when winter weather is cold, rhododendron leaves stay green. Rhododendron leaves stay green because of the cold.

What do you think? Accurate? Why or why not? Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when winter weather is cold, rhododendron leaves stay green. Leaves stay green in the winter.

What do you think? Accurate? Why or why not? Original Text Paraphrased Text Even when winter weather is cold, rhododendron leaves stay green. Rhododendron leaves are still green in chilly weather.

A strategy for paraphrasing One way to paraphrase is to visualize (imagine a picture in your head) what the sentence is saying, and then create a new sentence to describe your mental image.

What did we do to paraphrase? 1. Visualize (imagine a picture in your head) of what the sentence is saying. 2. Keep the main words – words that cannot be changed (underline). 3. Use synonyms – words that could be changed (circle). 4. Rearrange the order of the sentence. Remember: 1. New version does not need to be shorter 2. Check both sentences to make sure the paraphrased version means the same as the original.