2.2.3 Paraphrasing strategy

Paraphrasing is the preferred method of including sources but can be the most difficult technique because a good paraphrase will have very different vocabulary (words) and structure to the original text, while still delivering the same message.

Here is a step-by-step guide for how to paraphrase:

  1. Read the information you want to paraphrase, until you understand it.
  2. Make brief notes of the main idea(s) and concept(s).
  3. Hide the original text and take a break. This step allows you to clear the wording of the original text from your mind.
  4. Return to your notes and attempt to write the information in your own words. You may find a thesaurus helpful with finding synonyms.
  5. Check your paraphrase against the original text to ensure you:
    • have not changed the message
    • have changed the words sufficiently (ideally, every significant word should be different from the original text)
    • have changed the sentence structure, if possible
  6. Repeat step 4 and 5 until you are happy with the paraphrase.
  7. If you are unable to rewrite certain phrases, you may use quotation marks and include word-for-word phrases in your paraphrase.
  8. Provide an in-text citation.

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