Paraphrasing
What do you already know about paraphrasing?
Think about the two questions below.
- What does ‘to paraphrase’ mean?
- Why is paraphrasing an important academic skill?
What is Paraphrasing and Why is it Important?
Paraphrasing is putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. It is an important academic skill to develop because when you do it, you are showing you understand what you have read and are also processing and adapting that information to your writing purpose.
It is very important to remember that when you paraphrase, you still need to credit the original author(s). Although the words are yours, the ideas belong to the original author(s), and you must clearly show that through proper citation.
Adapted from 3.3 Paraphrasing in Writing for Success – 1st Canadian H5P Edition by Tara Horkoff. Licensed under CC BY NC SA 4.0 licence.
How to Paraphrase
Watch the video: 5 Easy Steps to Paraphrasing (4 minutes)
Review
Exercise 1
Answer the question below to review the key characteristics of paraphrasing.
Exercise 2
Complete the exercise below to review the 5 easy steps to paraphrasing.
Exercise 3
Complete the exercise below to review the 4 tips for easier paraphrasing.
Exercise 4
Please click on each term to review the elements of a good paraphrase.
Practice
Exercise 1
Paraphrase the following text. Compare your paraphrase to the original text. Does your it meet the criteria of a good paraphrase? Share and discuss with a classmate.
“Studies indicate that screen time before bed can increase the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, reduce sleep quality, and affect attentiveness the following day. In the long term, nightly exposure to light in the evening may increase the risk of certain sleep disorders and cancers.” (Breus, 2023, para. 3)
Reference
Breus, M. (2023, August 15) Technology and Sleep. Sleep Doctor. https://sleepdoctor.com/technology/
Exercise 2
Paraphrase the following text. Compare your paraphrase to the original text. Does your it meet the criteria of a good paraphrase? Share and discuss with a classmate.
“Humans need consistent sleep each night to maintain their overall health. To achieve restful sleep, try creating a bedtime routine for yourself and your family. Maintaining consistent habits each night can help you reach a more relaxed state and facilitate a smooth transition to sleep.” (Breus, 2023)
Reference
Breus, M. (2023, August 15) Technology and Sleep. Sleep Doctor. https://sleepdoctor.com/technology/
Attributions
Text Attributions
- Text under the “What is Paraphrasing and Why is it Important?” heading was adapted from 3.3 Paraphrasing in Writing for Success – 1st Canadian H5P Edition by Tara Horkoff. Licensed under CC BY NC SA 4.0 licence.
Media Attributions
- 5 Easy Steps to Paraphrasing video by Scribbr is licensed under the Standard YouTube licence.
