Love, Medicine and Miracles (p. 69). New York: Harper and Row.)
Words like are generic and do not need to be changed.
Words like and are generic and do not need to be changed.
Example 5: Unacceptable Paraphrase
Original | Unacceptable Paraphrase #1 | Unacceptable Paraphrase #2 |
---|---|---|
We do not yet understand all the ways in which brain chemicals are related to emotions and thoughts, but the salient point is that our state of mind has an immediate and direct effect on our state of body.
(Source: Siegel, B. (1986). | Siegel (1986) writes that still know brain chemistry is important mental state on our physical state.
. | According to Siegel (1986), our mind affects our body quickly and directly, although every aspect of
. |
Writers often reference others’ ideas as support, and paraphrasing is one way to integrate sources into a text. While quoting is also used, paraphrasing may be expected or more appropriate for certain writing contexts. Unsuccessful paraphrasing can sometimes lead to plagiarism , which must be avoided.
Summarized Explanation
Detailed Explanation
Note that a paraphrase is not a summary. A summary typically recaps larger chunks of text, while paraphrases reiterate specific places within texts. It is best to paraphrase no more than a few sentences at a time from a given text. Paraphrases should communicate an author’s original ideas but in a way that does not resemble the original word choice or sentence structure. And paraphrases should never add extra information to an author's original ideas. Furthermore, quotes should ideally not be included within a paraphrase; typically, information can easily be reworded and restructured, so quoted content is not necessary. However, if a writer feels that the original information cannot or should not be reworded, quotation marks can be used around specific words or phrases from the original text. Lastly, a paraphrase should be the same length or shorter than the original text; a paraphrase should ideally not be longer than the content that is being restated.
A Helpful Strategy for Paraphrasing:
Original Text : Writers often reference others’ ideas as support, and paraphrasing is one way to integrate sources into a text. While quoting is also used, paraphrasing may be expected or more appropriate for certain writing contexts. Unsuccessful paraphrasing can sometimes lead to plagiarism, which must be avoided.
Possible Paraphrase : Paraphrasing and quoting allow writers to enhance their ideas with outside support, and while both methods are valuable, paraphrasing is sometimes preferred. Thus, writers must know how to paraphrase well to keep from inadvertently copying someone else’s ideas.
Original Text : Note that a paraphrase is not a summary. A summary typically recaps larger chunks of text, while paraphrases reiterate specific places within texts.
Possible Paraphrase : Unlike summarizing, paraphrasing involves isolating smaller sections of a work, so summarizing and paraphrasing are not synonymous.
Original Text : Furthermore, quotes should ideally not be included within a paraphrase; typically, information can easily be reworded and restructured, so quoted content is not necessary. However, if a writer feels that the original information cannot or should not be reworded, quotation marks can be used around specific words or phrases from the original text.
Possible Paraphrase : Quoting and paraphrasing are separate methods for integrating support that should not be combined if it can be avoided. Quoting within a paraphrase should be used sparingly and only for situations in which a writer wants to maintain the effectiveness of the author’s original wording.
Integrating sources into a paper can be challenging. How much of a source do you use? When should you use quotation marks? It is important to remember that you are the author of a paper, so sources are properly used to back up your own arguments, not state an argument in themselves, so how you use them depends on the structure of your paper and your argument.
Let's use this paragraph from a scholarly article to illustrate examples of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing a source
Examples using the paragraph above: Randler (2009) states that late risers have “a high misalignment of social and biological time” which results in a mismatch between their natural schedules and the normal workday (p. 2793). or “People with a high misalignment of social and biological time may be less able to act in a proactive manner, probably because of sleep delay” (Randler, 2009, p. 2793).
Note that there are two ways to incorporate the source:
Examples using the paragraph above: Randler (2009) states that people who are naturally morning people often also display traits that are considered proactive. He also suggests that late risers may not show as many proactive traits because they naturally operate on a different sleep schedule (p. 2793). or People who are naturally morning people have been shown to also display traits that are considered proactive, and late risers display fewer of these traits because they don’t get enough sleep on days when they have to go to work or school. (Randler, 2009, p. 2793).
Examples using the paragraph above: Recent research shows that people who are not naturally early risers often have persistent issues adjusting themselves to the morning-oriented schedule of most schools and workplaces, and because of this may be less proactive in their behaviors (Randler, 2009). or The natural alignment of sleep schedules to work and school schedules allows early risers to have more energy and display proactive traits, while people who are natural late risers, and thus often combating sleep delay in adhering to regular schedules, display fewer of these traits (Randler, 2009).
Note that when summarizing, you do not always have to include the page number as you are summarizing the findings from the whole study, rather than just a small part of it.
Used with permission from Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library, Fitchburg State University
Understanding Plagiarism Tutorial Test your knowledge on plagiarism with this short tutorial!
In general, it is best to use a quote when:
In general, it is best to paraphrase when:
Adapted from The Process of Research Writing Chapter 3: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism. Steven D. Krause
A publication of the harvard college writing program.
Harvard Guide to Using Sources
Depending on the conventions of your discipline, you may have to decide whether to summarize a source, paraphrase a source, or quote from a source.
Scholars in the humanities tend to summarize, paraphrase, and quote texts; social scientists and natural scientists rely primarily on summary and paraphrase.
When you summarize, you provide your readers with a condensed version of an author's key points. A summary can be as short as a few sentences or much longer, depending on the complexity of the text and the level of detail you wish to provide to your readers. You will need to summarize a source in your paper when you are going to refer to that source and you want your readers to understand the source's argument, main ideas, or plot (if the source is a novel, film, or play) before you lay out your own argument about it, analysis of it, or response to it.
Before you summarize a source in your paper, you should decide what your reader needs to know about that source in order to understand your argument. For example, if you are making an argument about a novel, you should avoid filling pages of your paper with details from the book that will distract or confuse your reader. Instead, you should add details sparingly, going only into the depth that is necessary for your reader to understand and appreciate your argument. Similarly, if you are writing a paper about a journal article, you will need to highlight the most relevant parts of the argument for your reader, but you should not include all of the background information and examples. When you have to decide how much summary to put in a paper, it's a good idea to consult your instructor about whether you are supposed to assume your reader's knowledge of the sources.
Stanley Milgram (1974) reports that ordinarily compassionate people will be cruel to each other if they are commanded to be by an authority figure. In his experiment, a group of participants were asked to administer electric shocks to people who made errors on a simple test. In spite of signs that those receiving shock were experiencing great physical pain, 25 of 40 subjects continued to administer electric shocks. These results held up for each group of people tested, no matter the demographic. The transcripts of conversations from the experiment reveal that although many of the participants felt increasingly uncomfortable, they continued to obey the experimenter, often showing great deference for the experimenter. Milgram suggests that when people feel responsible for carrying out the wishes of an authority figure, they do not feel responsible for the actual actions they are performing. He concludes that the increasing division of labor in society encourages people to focus on a small task and eschew responsibility for anything they do not directly control.
This summary of Stanley Milgram's 1974 essay, "The Perils of Obedience," provides a brief overview of Milgram's 12-page essay, along with an APA style parenthetical citation. You would write this type of summary if you were discussing Milgram's experiment in a paper in which you were not supposed to assume your reader's knowledge of the sources. Depending on your assignment, your summary might be even shorter.
When you include a summary of a paper in your essay, you must cite the source. If you were using APA style in your paper, you would include a parenthetical citation in the summary, and you would also include a full citation in your reference list at the end of your paper. For the essay by Stanley Milgram, your citation in your references list would include the following information:
Milgram, S. (1974). The perils of obedience. In L.G. Kirszner & S.R. Mandell (Eds.), The Blair reader (pp.725-737).
When you paraphrase from a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words. Whereas a summary provides your readers with a condensed overview of a source (or part of a source), a paraphrase of a source offers your readers the same level of detail provided in the original source. Therefore, while a summary will be shorter than the original source material, a paraphrase will generally be about the same length as the original source material.
When you use any part of a source in your paper—as background information, as evidence, as a counterargument to which you plan to respond, or in any other form—you will always need to decide whether to quote directly from the source or to paraphrase it. Unless you have a good reason to quote directly from the source , you should paraphrase the source. Any time you paraphrase an author's words and ideas in your paper, you should make it clear to your reader why you are presenting this particular material from a source at this point in your paper. You should also make sure you have represented the author accurately, that you have used your own words consistently, and that you have cited the source.
This paraphrase below restates one of Milgram's points in the author's own words. When you paraphrase, you should always cite the source. This paraphrase uses the APA in-text citation style. Every source you paraphrase should also be included in your list of references at the end of your paper. For citation format information go to the Citing Sources section of this guide.
Source material
The problem of obedience is not wholly psychological. The form and shape of society and the way it is developing have much to do with it. There was a time, perhaps, when people were able to give a fully human response to any situation because they were fully absorbed in it as human beings. But as soon as there was a division of labor things changed.
--Stanley Milgram, "The Perils of Obedience," p.737.
Milgram, S. (1974). The perils of obedience. In L.G. Kirszner & S.R. Mandell (Eds.), The Blair reader (pp.725-737). Prentice Hall.
Milgram (1974) claims that people's willingness to obey authority figures cannot be explained by psychological factors alone. In an earlier era, people may have had the ability to invest in social situations to a greater extent. However, as society has become increasingly structured by a division of labor, people have become more alienated from situations over which they do not have control (p.737).
The basic rule in all disciplines is that you should only quote directly from a text when it's important for your reader to see the actual language used by the author of the source. While paraphrase and summary are effective ways to introduce your reader to someone's ideas, quoting directly from a text allows you to introduce your reader to the way those ideas are expressed by showing such details as language, syntax, and cadence.
So, for example, it may be important for a reader to see a passage of text quoted directly from Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried if you plan to analyze the language of that passage in order to support your thesis about the book. On the other hand, if you're writing a paper in which you're making a claim about the reading habits of American elementary school students or reviewing the current research on Wilson's disease, the information you’re providing from sources will often be more important than the exact words. In those cases, you should paraphrase rather than quoting directly. Whether you quote from your source or paraphrase it, be sure to provide a citation for your source, using the correct format. (see Citing Sources section)
Once you have decided to quote part of a text, you'll need to decide whether you are going to quote a long passage (a block quotation) or a short passage (a sentence or two within the text of your essay). Unless you are planning to do something substantive with a long quotation—to analyze the language in detail or otherwise break it down—you should not use block quotations in your essay. While long quotations will stretch your page limit, they don't add anything to your argument unless you also spend time discussing them in a way that illuminates a point you're making. Unless you are giving your readers something they need to appreciate your argument, you should use quotations sparingly.
When you quote from a source, you should make sure to cite the source either with an in-text citation or a note, depending on which citation style you are using. The passage below, drawn from O’Brien’s The Things They Carried , uses an MLA-style citation.
On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha's letters. Then he burned the two photographs. There was a steady rain falling, which made it difficult, but he used heat tabs and Sterno to build a small fire, screening it with his body holding the photographs over the tight blue flame with the tip of his fingers.
He realized it was only a gesture. Stupid, he thought. Sentimental, too, but mostly just stupid. (23)
O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried . New York: Broadway Books, 1990.
Even as Jimmy Cross burns Martha's letters, he realizes that "it was only a gesture. Stupid, he thought. Sentimental too, but mostly just stupid" (23).
If you were writing a paper about O'Brien's The Things They Carried in which you analyzed Cross's decision to burn Martha's letters and stop thinking about her, you might want your reader to see the language O'Brien uses to illustrate Cross's inner conflict. If you were planning to analyze the passage in which O'Brien calls Cross's realization stupid, sentimental, and then stupid again, you would want your reader to see the original language.
Click here for Full Text of 3 Ways to Avoid Plagiarism
Integrating sources into a paper can be challenging. How much of a source do you use? When should you use quotation marks? It is important to remember that you are the author of a paper, so sources are properly used to back up your own arguments, not state an argument in themselves, so how you use them depends on the structure of your paper and your argument.
Here is a paragraph from a scholarly article:
These results suggest that morning people, or early chronotypes—as measured on the morningness–eveningness continuum are more proactive than are evening types. Additionally, the misalignment of social and biological time, as assessed by the difference between rise times on weekdays and on free days, correlated with proactivity, suggesting that people with a high misalignment of social and biological time may be less able to act in a proactive manner, probably because of sleep delay. Their biological schedules seem not to fit neatly into social demands (e.g., school, university, work schedules) as do those of less misaligned people.
Work Cited:
Randler, C. (2009). Proactive people are morning people. Journal of Applied Social Psychology ,
39 (12), 2787-2797.
See examples of how to quote, paraphrase and summarize this paragraph below:
Examples using the paragraph above:
Randler (2009) states that late risers have “a high misalignment of social and biological time” which results in a mismatch between their natural schedules and the normal workday (p. 2793).
“People with a high misalignment of social and biological time may be less able to act in a proactive manner, probably because of sleep delay” (Randler, 2009, p. 2793).
Notice that there are two ways to incorporate a source:
Randler (2009) states that people who are naturally morning people often also display traits that are considered proactive. He also suggests that late risers may not show as many proactive traits because they naturally operate on a different sleep schedule (p. 2793).
People who are naturally morning people have been shown to also display traits that are considered proactive, and late risers display fewer of these traits because they don’t get enough sleep on days when they have to go to work or school. (Randler, 2009, p. 2793).
Recent research shows that people who are not naturally early risers often have persistent issues adjusting themselves to the morning-oriented schedule of most schools and workplaces, and because of this may be less proactive in their behaviors (Randler, 2009).
The natural alignment of sleep schedules to work and school schedules allows early risers to have more energy and display proactive traits, while people who are natural late risers, and thus often combating sleep delay in adhering to regular schedules, display fewer of these traits (Randler, 2009).
Notice that with a Summary we do not always have to include the page number as we are summarizing the findings from the whole study, rather than just a small part of it.
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How to Paraphrase and Tips for Paraphrasing Correctly
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As if the research process isn't hard enough already—finding relevant and reliable sources, reading and interpreting material, and selecting key quotations/information to support your findings/arguments are all essential when writing a research essay.
Academic writers and students face the additional stress of ensuring that they have properly documented their sources. Failure to do so, whether intentionally or unintentionally, could result in plagiarism, which is a serious academic offense.
That's why we've written this article: to provide tips for proper paraphrasing. We'll start with an overview of the difference between paraphrasing and quoting, and then we'll provide a list of paraphrasing dos and don'ts, followed by strategies for proper paraphrasing.
We will include paraphrasing examples throughout to illustrate best practices for paraphrasing and citing paraphrased material .
As mentioned in our previous article on plagiarism , "simply taking another writer's ideas and rephrasing them as one's own can be considered plagiarism as well."
Paraphrasing words is acceptable if you interpret and synthesize the information from your sources, rephrase the ideas in your own words, and add citations at the sentence level. It is NOT acceptable if you simply copy and paste large chunks of an original source and modify them slightly, hoping that your teacher, editor, or reviewer won't notice.
Passing off another's work as one's own is a form of intellectual theft, so researchers and students must learn how to paraphrase quotes and be scrupulous when reporting others' work.
You might be familiar with all this. Still, you might be concerned and find yourself asking, "How do I paraphrase a source correctly without running the risk of unintentional plagiarism?"
For many writers, especially those who are unfamiliar with the concepts of a particular field, learning how to paraphrase a source or sentence is daunting.
To avoid charges of plagiarism, you must not only document your sources correctly using an appropriate style guide (e.g., APA, Harvard, or Vancouver) for your reference list or bibliography but also handle direct quotations and paraphrasing correctly.
Quoting uses the exact words and punctuation from your source, whereas paraphrasing involves synthesizing material from the source and putting things in your own words. Citing paraphrases is just as necessary as citing quotations.
Even if you understand quoting versus paraphrasing, you might still need some additional paraphrasing help or guidance on how to paraphrase a quote.
Summarizing is when you're discussing the main point or overview of a piece, while paraphrasing is when you're translating a direct quote into language that will be easy for your readers to understand .
It's easy to see how the two are similar, given that the steps to paraphrasing and summarizing both include putting ideas into your own words.
But summarizing and paraphrasing are distinctly different. Paraphrasing highlights a certain perspective from a source, and summarizing offers more of an overview of an entire subject, theme, or book.
You can usually tell the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing by the length of what you're writing abore writing about. If you’re writing about a quote, that would be a smaller theme inside a larger work, so you'd paraphrase.
If you're writing about the themes or plot of an entire book, you'd summarize. Summaries are usually shorter than the original work.
When learning how to paraphrase a quote, you first need to consider whether you should be paraphrasing a text or quoting it directly.
If you find the perfect quote from a reliable source that fits your main topic, supports your argument, and lends authority to your paper but is too long (40+ words) or complex, it should be paraphrased. Long/complex quotes can also be shortened with omissions and editorial changes (as discussed below).
Introduce the quote with a signal phrase (e.g., "According to Ahmad [2017] . . .") and insert the entire quotation, indicating the text with quotation marks or indentation (i.e., a block quote).
If you only need to use parts of a long quotation, you can insert an ellipsis (. . .) to indicate omissions. You can also make editorial changes in square brackets [like this].
Keep in mind that you need to reflect the author's intent accurately when using this strategy. Don't change important words in a quotation so that it better fits your argument, as this is a form of intellectual fraud.
Changes in square brackets should only be used to clarify the text without altering meaning in the context of the paper (e.g., clarifying antecedents and matching verb tense). They signal to the reader that these changes were made by the author of the essay and not by the author of the original text.
Demonstrate that you clearly understand the text by expressing the main ideas in your own unique style and language. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Do paraphrases need to be cited like quotes?" The answer is a resounding "yes."
When deciding whether to paraphrase or use a direct quote, it is essential to ask what is more important: the exact words of the source or the ideas.
If the former is important, consider quoting directly. If the latter is important, consider paraphrasing or summarizing.
Direct quotation is best for well-worded material that you cannot express any more clearly or succinctly in your own style. It's actually the preferred way of reporting sources in the arts, particularly in literary studies.
Shortening a long quote is a great way to retain the original phrasing while ensuring that the quote reads well in your paper. However, direct quotations are often discouraged in the sciences and social sciences, so keep that in mind when deciding whether to paraphrase or quote.
Paraphrasing is best used for long portions of text that you can synthesize into your own words. Think of paraphrasing as a form of translation; you are translating an idea in another "language" into your own language. The idea should be the same, but the words and sentence structure should be totally different.
The purpose of paraphrasing is to draw together ideas from multiple sources to convey information to your reader clearly and succinctly.
As a student or researcher, your job is to demonstrate that you understand the material you've read by expressing ideas from other sources in your own style, adding citations to the paraphrased material as appropriate.
If you think the purpose of paraphrasing is to help you avoid thinking for yourself, you are mistaken.
When you paraphrase, be sure that you understand the text clearly . The purpose of paraphrasing is to interpret the information you researched for your reader, explaining it as though you were speaking to a colleague or teacher. In short, paraphrasing is a skill that demonstrates one's comprehension of a text.
Yes, paraphrases always need to be cited. Citing paraphrased material helps you avoid plagiarism by giving explicit credit to the authors of the material you are discussing.
Citing your paraphrases ensures academic integrity. When you sit down to write your paper, however, you might find yourself asking these questions: "Do paraphrases need to be cited? How do I paraphrase?"
Here is a quick paraphrase example that demonstrates how to cite paraphrased ideas. The opening lines to one of Juliet's most famous speeches are "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? / Deny thy father and refuse thy name; / Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, / And I'll no longer be a Capulet" (Romeo and Juliet, 2.2.880–884).
If you needed to paraphrase these lines in an essay, you could do so as follows:
Juliet muses about why Romeo's family name is Montague and concludes that if either gave up their name (and thereby their family affiliations) for the other, they could be together (Romeo and Juliet, 2.2.880–884).
Generally speaking, you must include an in-text citation at the end of a paraphrased sentence.
However, if your paraphrased material is several sentences long, then you should check with your preferred style guide. Some style guides (such as APA) call for a paraphrase citation after the first paraphrased sentence. Other style guides (such as MLA) call for a paraphrase citation after the last paraphrased sentence.
Remember, no matter what style guide you use, it is not necessary to cite every single sentence of paraphrased material in a multi-sentence paraphrase.
This might shock you, but a thesaurus is NOT the answer to the problem of paraphrasing. Why? Using a thesaurus to swap out a few words here and there from an original source is a form of patchwriting, which is a type of plagiarism.
You shouldn't have to resort to a thesaurus unless you are completely unsure about what a word means—although, in that case, a dictionary might be a better tool. Ideally, you should be able to use clear, simple language that is familiar to you when reporting findings (or other information) from a study.
The problem with using a thesaurus is that you aren't really using your own words to paraphrase a text; you're using words from a book. Plus, if you're unfamiliar with a concept or if you have difficulty with English, you might choose the wrong synonym and end up with a paraphrase like this: "You may perhaps usage an erroneous word."
This is a common mistake among writers who are writing about a field with which they are unfamiliar or who do not have a thorough grasp of the English language or the purpose of paraphrasing.
If you choose to keep a few phrases from the original source but paraphrase the rest (i.e., combining quoting and paraphrasing), that's okay, but keep in mind that phrasing from the source text must be reproduced in an exact manner within quotation marks.
Direct quotations are more than three consecutive words copied from another source, and they should always be enclosed in quotation marks or offset as a block quotation.
A sentence that combines a direct quote with paraphrased material would look like this:
In "The Laugh of the Medusa," Cixous highlights women's writing as a specific feat and speaks "about what it will do" when it has the same formal recognition as men's writing (Cixous 875).
The paraphrased paragraph of Cixous' essay includes a direct quote and a paraphrase citation.
Did you know that copying portions of a quote without quotation marks (i.e., patchwriting) is a form of plagiarism—even if you provide an in-text citation? If you've reworded sections of a quote in your own style, simply enclose any direct quotations (three or more words) in quotation marks to indicate that the writing is not your own.
When learning how to paraphrase, you need to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate forms of paraphrasing. The Office of Research and Integrity , a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, puts it this way:
Taking portions of text from one or more sources, crediting the author/s, but only making 'cosmetic' changes to the borrowed material, such as changing one or two words, simply rearranging the order, voice (i.e., active vs. passive) and/or tense of the sentences is NOT paraphrasing.
What does paraphrasing too closely look like? Here is an overly close paraphrase example of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' description of plagiarizing:
Using sections of a source, citing it, but only making surface-level changes to the language (such as changing a few words, the verb tense, the voice, or word order) fails as a paraphrase. True paraphrasing involves changing the words and syntactical structure of the original source. Keep reading for strategies for paraphrasing properly.
Hire an expert academic editor , or get a free sample.
In an article on how to paraphrase , the Purdue University Online Writing Lab suggests that you read the source text carefully and write paraphrases on notecards. You can then compare your version with the original, ensuring that you've covered all the key information and noting any words or phrases that are too closely paraphrased.
Your notecards should be labeled with the author(s) and citation information of the source text so that you don't lose track of which source you used. You should also note how you plan to use the paraphrase in your essay.
If you are a visual learner, the benefit of this strategy is that you can visualize the content you intend to paraphrase.
Because a notecard is a tangible object, you can physically arrange it in an essay outline, moving the right information to the appropriate paragraph so that your essay flows well. (If you're not sure how to write an outline , check out our article.)
Plus, having a physical copy of paraphrased information makes it harder for you to accidentally plagiarize by copying and pasting text from an original source and forgetting to paraphrase or quote it properly. Writing out your paraphrase allows you to distance yourself from the source text and express the idea in your own unique style.
For more paraphrasing help, Jerry Plotnick from the University College Writing Centre at the University of Toronto provides a similar strategy for paraphrasing.
Plotnick advises that you take point-form notes of text that you want to use in your paper. Don't use full sentences, but instead "capture the original idea" in a few words and record the name of the source.
This strategy is similar to the notecard idea, but it adds another step. Instead of just reading the source carefully and writing your complete paraphrase on a notecard, Plotnick recommends using point-form notes while researching your sources. These notes can then be used to paraphrase the source text when you are writing your paper.
Like handwriting your paraphrases on notecards, taking notes and coming back to them later will help you distance yourself from the source, allowing you to forget the original wording and use your own style.
The Plotnick method above describes how to use point-form notes while researching a paper to keep your paraphrasing original. To paraphrase in your paper using Plotnick's method above, look at your sources and try the following:
Write down the basic point(s) you want to discuss on a notecard (in your own words).
Take your notecard points and turn them into sentences when you write your essay.
Add the reference for the source.
Compare your paraphrase to the original source to make sure your words are your own.
In an article on how to paraphrase by the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the first two strategies are acknowledged—taking notes and looking away from the source before you write your paraphrase.
The authors then suggest another two-step strategy for paraphrasing: change the structure first and then change the words. Let's break down this process a bit further.
Sentences in English have two main components: a subject and a predicate . The subject is who or what is performing an action (i.e., a noun or pronoun), and the predicate is what the subject is doing (i.e., a verb). Sentences can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
Here are some paraphrase examples using different sentence structures:
Simple: It was difficult.
Compound: It was difficult, but she knew there was no going back.
Complex: Although it was difficult, she knew there was no going back.
Compound-complex: Although it was difficult, she knew there was no going back, so she kept calm and carried on.
Once you have identified the structure of the original sentence, you can reconstruct it using one of the different types of sentences illustrated above.
You can also change passive voice to active voice, or vice versa.
The active voice is structured like this: Subject + Verb + Object (e.g., She learned how to paraphrase.)
The passive voice is structured like this: Object + "To Be" Verb + Past Participle (e.g., How to paraphrase was learned by the girl.)
See how awkward the passive sentence example is? It's best not to force a sentence into an unnatural sentence structure.
Otherwise, you'll end up with Yoda-speak: "Forced to learn how to paraphrase a sentence, the girl was." (Did you like the unintentional "force" pun?)
Another way to distinguish your paraphrase from the original source is to use different sentence lengths. Often, scholarly articles are written using long, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentences. Use short sentences instead.
Break down complex ideas into easy-to-understand material. Alternatively, you can combine several ideas from the source text into one long sentence, synthesizing the material. Try to stick with your own style of writing so that the paraphrased text matches that of the rest of your document.
Once the paraphrased sentence structure is sufficiently different from the original sentence structure, you can replace the wording of the original text with words you understand and are comfortable with.
Paraphrasing isn't meant to hide the fact that you are copying someone else's idea using clever word-swapping techniques. Rather, it is meant to demonstrate that you are capable of explaining the text in your own language.
One handy article on word choice by the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lists some strategies for successful word choice, such as eliminating jargon and simplifying unnecessary wordiness. While this applies to academic writing in general, the "questions to ask yourself" are also useful as great paraphrasing help.
Once you have completed a sentence-long paraphrase, you include an in-text citation at the end of that sentence. However, if your paraphrased material is several sentences long, then you should check with your preferred style guide.
Some style guides (such as APA) call for a paraphrase citation after the first paraphrased sentence. Other style guides (such as MLA) call for a paraphrase citation after the last paraphrased sentence.
To paraphrase properly, you need to explain a text in your own words without using a direct quote . Keep in mind, however, that different styles require different formats when it comes to documenting paraphrased sources. Some styles require a citation after the first paraphrased sentence, while others require a citation after the last.
For this reason, we've outlined examples of how to paraphrase in the APA, MLA, and Chicago styles below. Be sure to check with your professor to see which style your essay requires.
APA guidelines for paraphrasing include citing your source on the first mention in either the narrative or parenthetical format. Here's a refresher of both formats:
Narrative format: Koehler (2016) noted the dangers of false news.
Parenthetical format: The news can distort our perception of an issue (Koehler, 2016).
Here's an example of how to paraphrase from a primary source in APA:
Dudley (1999) states that "direct quote" or paraphrase (Page #).
Note: It's not always necessary to include the page number, but it's recommended if it'll help readers quickly find a passage in a book.
Below are a couple of examples of how to paraphrase in APA. Keep in mind that for longer paraphrases, you don't have to add the citation again if it's clear that the same work is being paraphrased.
Short paraphrase:
Stephenson (1992) outlined a case study of a young man who showed increasing signs of insecurity without his father (pp. 23–27).
Long paraphrase:
Johnson et al. (2013) discovered that for small-breed dogs of a certain age, possession aggression was associated with unstable living environments in earlier years, including fenced-in yards with multiple dogs all together for long periods of time. However, these effects were mediated over time. Additionally, with careful training, the dogs showed less possession aggression over time. These findings illustrate the importance of positive reinforcement over the length of a dog's life.
When paraphrasing in MLA, include an in-text citation at the end of the last paraphrased sentence.
Your in-text citation can be done either parenthetically or in prose, and it requires the last name of the cited author and the page number of the source you're paraphrasing from. Here are MLA citation examples :
Parenthetical:
Paraphrase (Author's Last Name Page #)
Author's Last Name states that paraphrase (Page #)
In addition to adding a short in-text citation to the end of your last paraphrased sentence, MLA requires that this source be included in your Works Cited page, so don't forget to add it there as well.
Here are two examples of how to paraphrase in MLA:
In an attempt to communicate his love for Elizabeth, all Mr. Darcy did was communicate the ways in which he fought to hide his true feelings (Austen 390).
Rowling explains how happy Harry was after being reunited with his friends when he thought all was lost (17).
Paraphrasing correctly in Chicago style depends on whether you're using the notes and bibliography system or the author-date system.
The notes and bibliography system includes footnotes or endnotes, whereas the author-date system includes in-text citations.
Below, you'll find the correct way to format citations when paraphrasing in both the notes and bibliography and author-date systems.
Notes and Bibliography
For the notes and bibliography system, add a superscript at the end of your paraphrase that corresponds to your footnote or endnote.
Johnson explains that there was no proof in the pudding. 1
Author-Date
For the author-date style, include the page number of the text you're referencing at the end of your paraphrase. If you mention the author, include the year the source was published.
Johnson (1995) explains that there was no proof in the pudding (21).
In summary, the purpose of paraphrasing is not to simply swap a few words; rather, it is to take ideas and explain them using an entirely different sentence structure and choice of words. It has a greater objective; it shows that you've understood the literature on your subject and are able to express it clearly to your reader.
In other words, proper paraphrasing shows that you are familiar with the ideas in your field, and it enables you to support your own research with in-text citations.
Knowing when to paraphrase or quote strengthens your research presentation and arguments. Asking for paraphrasing help before you accidentally plagiarize shows that you understand the value of academic integrity.
If you need help, you might consider an editing and proofreading service, such as Scribendi. While our editors cannot paraphrase your sources for you, they can check whether you've cited your sources correctly according to your target style guide via our Academic Editing service.
Even if you need more than just paraphrase citation checks, our editors can help you decide whether a direct quote is stronger as a paraphrase, and vice versa. Editors cannot paraphrase quotes for you, but they can help you learn how to paraphrase a quote correctly.
Paraphrasing is when you write text from another source in your own words. It's a way of conveying to your reader or professor that you understand a specific source material well enough to describe it in your own style or language without quoting it directly.
Paraphrasing (and citing your paraphrases) allows you to explain and share ideas you've learned from other sources without plagiarizing them.
You can write things in your own words by taking original notes on the sources you're reading and using those notes to write your paraphrase while keeping the source material out of sight.
You can also practice putting things in your own words by changing sentences from passive to active, or vice versa, or by varying word choice and sentence length. You can also try Jeremy Plotnick's idea of paraphrasing from your own point-form notes.
When you're paraphrasing something, it means you are putting someone else's writing in your own words. You're not copying or quoting content directly. Instead, you are reading someone else's work and explaining their ideas in your own way.
Paraphrasing demonstrates that you understand the material you're writing about and gives your reader the opportunity to understand the material in a simplified way that is different from how the original author explained it.
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Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023.
Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.
Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.
Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .
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How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.
If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.
The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:
Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.
You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for synonyms .
Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).
This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:
Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .
Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.
Here, we’ve:
Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.
Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.
Source text | Paraphrase |
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“The current research extends the previous work by revealing that to moral dilemmas could elicit a FLE [foreign-language effect] in highly proficient bilinguals. … Here, it has been demonstrated that hearing a foreign language can even influence moral decision making, and namely promote more utilitarian-type decisions” ( , p. 874). | The research of Brouwer (2019, p. 874) suggests that the foreign-language effect can occur even among highly proficient bilinguals, influencing their moral decision making, when auditory (rather than written) prompting is given. |
Source text | Paraphrase |
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“The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed to ban chrysotile asbestos, the most common form of the toxic mineral still used in the United States. … Chlorine manufacturers and companies that make vehicle braking systems and sheet gaskets still import chrysotile asbestos and use it to manufacture new products. “The proposed rule would ban all manufacturing, processing, importation and commercial distribution of six categories of products containing chrysotile asbestos, which agency officials said would cover all of its current uses in the United States” ( ). | Chrysotile asbestos, which is used to manufacture chlorine, sheet gaskets, and braking systems, may soon be banned by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed ban would prevent it from being imported into, manufactured in, or processed in the United States (Phillips, 2022). |
Source text | Paraphrase |
---|---|
“The concept of secrecy might evoke an image of two people in conversation, with one person actively concealing from the other. Yet, such concealment is actually uncommon. It is far more common to ruminate on our secrets. It is our tendency to mind-wander to our secrets that seems most harmful to well-being. Simply thinking about a secret can make us feel inauthentic. Having a secret return to mind, time and time again, can be tiring. When we think of a secret, it can make us feel isolated and alone” ( ). | Research suggests that, while keeping secrets from others is indeed stressful, this may have little to do with the act of hiding information itself. Rather, the act of ruminating on one’s secrets is what leads to feelings of fatigue, inauthenticity, and isolation (Slepian, 2019). |
Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.
(Brouwer, 2019, p. 874) | |
(Brouwer 874) | |
1. Susanne Brouwer, “The Auditory Foreign-Language Effect of Moral Decision Making in Highly Proficient Bilinguals,” 40, no. 10 (2019): 874. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2019.1585863. |
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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:
But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:
A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.
When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .
Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.
When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .
This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.
Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.
To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.
If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Plagiarism
To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:
The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.
Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.
However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .
As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.
Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.
So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?
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To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.
It’s appropriate to quote when:
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/
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Activate students’ schemata regarding the similarities and differences among summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting.
Chalkboard/whiteboard
Digital projector
Write the words Summarizing , Paraphrasing and Quoting along the top of the whiteboard.
Elicit from students the rules they know related to each writing strategy.
Add additional information as needed. The board may appear as follows:
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Rather than using the whiteboard, one may choose to open up and project the above table in a word processing program, like Microsoft Word, completing the table as answers are elicited from students.
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When your vehicle breaks down or needs maintenance, taking it to an auto repair shop is often the only option. Unfortunately, many drivers find themselves overpaying for services or being misled into unnecessary repairs. Understanding how to approach car repairs and knowing what to ask can save you time, money, and frustration. In this article, we’ll explore the top 8 tips to avoid overpaying at the auto repair shop, and offer insights into how extended warranties like those from Noble Quote Warranty can protect you from unexpected costs.
One of the best ways to avoid being overcharged at an auto repair shop is to compare car repair quotes from different mechanics. Prices for the same service can vary significantly, so getting at least three quotes will give you a clear idea of the reasonable range. When asking for an estimate, ensure it is itemized, detailing both parts and labor. This transparency helps you understand where the money is going and reduces the risk of hidden fees.
Pro Tip: Websites like RepairPal can help you find reliable estimates for common repairs, making it easier to spot outliers and potential scams.
Before authorizing any repairs, it’s important to ask key auto repair questions to avoid overpaying. Questions like:
Understanding your car’s maintenance schedule helps prevent mechanics from recommending unnecessary services. Every car manufacturer provides a recommended schedule for routine services like oil changes, brake inspections, and fluid replacements. Stick to this schedule to keep your vehicle in top shape and avoid being sold services you don’t need.
For example, if your mechanic suggests replacing your transmission fluid after 30,000 miles but your owner’s manual says 60,000 miles, you might be dealing with an upsell attempt.
Pro Tip: Use tools like the Edmunds maintenance tracker to stay on top of your car’s specific maintenance needs.
Unfortunately, some auto repair shops engage in shady practices. One of the most common car repair scams involves convincing customers to replace perfectly functional parts. Be wary of recommendations for replacing parts like air filters, brake pads, or spark plugs if they were recently serviced. Mechanics might also try to create urgency around problems that aren’t critical.
Avoid overpaying by staying vigilant for these signs:
When you get the final bill, it’s essential to know how to read it. Your car repair invoice should break down parts, labor, and other fees. Make sure everything listed matches what you authorized. Some repair shops tack on "shop supplies" or "hazardous materials fees" without explaining what they are, which can increase your car repair costs unnecessarily. Don’t hesitate to ask the mechanic to clarify any vague charges on the invoice.
Car repairs can be expensive, and an extended car warranty can help offset those costs. Programs like Noble Quote Auto Protection provide coverage beyond your manufacturer’s warranty, ensuring that you don’t have to foot the bill for major repairs like engine or transmission replacements.
If you’re someone who wants peace of mind, consider whether an extended car warranty could save you from major repair bills. It can protect you from paying out-of-pocket for common car repair problems, and it can even help you avoid getting caught in a cycle of constantly paying for repairs on an aging vehicle.
A reputable mechanic should be willing to explain repairs, provide written estimates, and back up their work with a warranty. Here are some auto repair red flags that might indicate it’s time to find a new shop:
Knowing how to find a good mechanic will save you time, stress, and money in the long run. You can check online reviews, ask for recommendations from friends and family, and even consult industry organizations like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) .
Many people don’t realize that auto repair negotiation is possible. Repair shops often have some flexibility in their pricing, especially for labor. If you’re quoted a price that seems high, don’t be afraid to ask if there’s room for a discount or if a different brand of part could lower the cost. Some shops may also offer discounts for repeat customers or promotions that they don’t advertise upfront.
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How can i avoid overpaying for car repairs.
You can avoid overpaying by getting multiple estimates, asking the right questions, sticking to your car’s maintenance schedule, and understanding your repair invoice. Additionally, be on the lookout for common scams, and consider an extended warranty for added protection.
Look for shops with good online reviews, ASE-certified mechanics, and a willingness to provide written estimates and explain repairs clearly. Avoid shops that push for immediate repairs without proper explanation.
An extended car warranty, like those offered by Noble Quote Warranty , can help cover the cost of major repairs after your manufacturer’s warranty expires. It’s a great option for those who want to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses.
Some key questions include: "What caused the issue?" "Can you show me the problem?" and "Is this repair urgent?" These questions will help you understand the repairs and avoid unnecessary services.
Signs you’re being overcharged include receiving a vague or inflated estimate, being pushed into unnecessary repairs, or being charged for services you didn’t authorize. Comparing quotes from other mechanics can help you spot overcharging.
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Quoting and Paraphrasing. Download this Handout PDF. College writing often involves integrating information from published sources into your own writing in order to add credibility and authority-this process is essential to research and the production of new knowledge. However, when building on the work of others, you need to be careful not ...
In other disciplines, especially the Sciences, quoting should be avoided for the most part. Instead, use paraphrasing. Paraphrasing:A paraphrase conveys the same meaning as another person's original words but without using those same words. As with quotations, paraphrases must be citedaccording to their original sources.
Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are all different ways of including evidence and the ideas of others into your assignments. Using evidence from credible sources to support your thesis is an important part of academic writing. Citing the source of any quote, paraphrase, or summary is an important step to avoid plagiarism.
LabSimone A. Fried, TF Spring 2021Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing SourcesThe three most common te. iques for writing with evidence are direct quotes, summarizing, and paraphrasing. Direct qu. tes are probably what most people think of first as a way to use academic evidence. In the U. . we often teach children to support an argument by ...
Key Rules of Quoting. Sample Quotation (APA Style) Step-by-Step Quoting. There are some key rules for quoting others' words and ideas. The exact words of the author are in quotation marks. The quote is introduced so the reader is alerted that these are not the words of the student. The quote is properly cited in the text and the reference list.
Paraphrasing allows you to use your own words to restate an author's ideas. Summarizing allows you to create a succinct, concise statement of an author's main points without copying and pasting a lot of text from the original source. What's the difference: Paraphrasing v. Summarizing. Explore the rest of the page to see how the same ...
A "quote" is a direct restatement of the exact words from the original source. The general rule of thumb is any time you use three or more words as they appeared in the original source, you should treat it as a quote. A "paraphrase" is a restatement of the information or point of the original source in your own words.
Quoting: To copy the author's exact words; Should be enclosed in quotation marks "like this" Use an in-text citation right after the quote; Use when the author said it best; Don't use too often; Paraphrasing: Explain the meaning of the author's ideas, in your own words; Use an in-text citation right after the paraphrase
Avoiding Plagiarism - Paraphrasing. In writing papers, you will paraphrase more than you will quote. For a report or research paper, you may need to gather background information that is important to the paper but not worthy of direct quotation. Indeed, in technical writing direct quotation is rarely used.
Possible Paraphrase: Quoting and paraphrasing are separate methods for integrating support that should not be combined if it can be avoided. Quoting within a paraphrase should be used sparingly and only for situations in which a writer wants to maintain the effectiveness of the author's original wording.
Quotes can help lend authority to an initial argument, but should not be relied upon too heavily in a paper. If you find yourself quoting an entire paragraph, a paraphrasing or summary of that content may often be more appropriate. Quotes can and should be used when the original author's wording is unusual, unique, or memorably states a point.
A good summary should be much shorter than the original; in most cases, a full paragraph will be more than enough. Using the same or very similar wording for part of the summary: Just as with paraphrasing, you want to avoid words, phrases, or patterns of wording from the original source. Stick to your own wording/ideas; if your summary does ...
Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting. Depending on the conventions of your discipline, you may have to decide whether to summarize a source, paraphrase a source, or quote from a source. Scholars in the humanities tend to summarize, paraphrase, and quote texts; social scientists and natural scientists rely primarily on summary and paraphrase.
Quotes can help lend authority to an initial argument, but should not be relied upon too heavily in a paper. If you find yourself quoting an entire paragraph, a paraphrase or summary of that content may often be more appropriate. Quotes can and should be used when the original author's wording is unusual, unique, or memorably states a point.
A "quote" is a direct restatement of the exact words from the original source. The general rule of thumb is any time you use three or more words as they appeared in the original source, you should treat it as a quote. A "paraphrase" is a restatement of the information or point of the original source in your own words.
To avoid plagiarism, you need to correctly incorporate these sources into your text. You can avoid plagiarism by: Keeping track of the sources you consult in your research. Paraphrasing or quoting from your sources (by using a paraphrasing tool and adding your own ideas) Crediting the original author in an in-text citation and in your reference ...
When learning how to paraphrase a quote, you first need to consider whether you should be paraphrasing a text or quoting it directly. If you find the perfect quote from a reliable source that fits your main topic, supports your argument, and lends authority to your paper but is too long (40+ words) or complex, it should be paraphrased.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly. Summarizing involves putting the main idea (s) into your own ...
Here is a quick overview of the difference between quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing: QUOTING. What it is: Using the exact words of your source; must be placed within quotation marks. When to use it: Specific terminology, powerful phrases. Example: McMillan Cottom explains that "Reading around a subject is about going beyond the object of ...
How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023. Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting ...
Use direct quotes sparingly. Most of the time, you should paraphrase instead. If you must quote directly, make it brief. Rather than a full sentence, select the most important phrase. Make sure to use quotation marks and add a citation, with a page number, just like the below example: In the text of your paper:
These resources provide lesson plans and handouts for teachers interested in teaching students how to avoid plagiarism. The resources ask students to practice summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. The resources with titles that include "Handout" provide handouts that are free to print for your students by using the print option in your web browser.
One of the best ways to avoid being overcharged at an auto repair shop is to compare car repair quotes from different mechanics. Prices for the same service can vary significantly, so getting at least three quotes will give you a clear idea of the reasonable range. When asking for an estimate, ensure it is itemized, detailing both parts and labor.