Paraphrasing is rewriting the thoughts and words of others in your own words. Paraphrasing is preferred to using direct quotations because it demonstrates that you have thought about what was said, understood it and expressed it in your own words. Remember, only around 10% of your assignment should be direct quotations, so you will need to do some paraphrasing of the sources that you are using. Be aware though, paraphrasing isn't merely a matter of using different words; you have to restructure sentences/paragraphs in your own style. Don't worry if your version isn't as smooth or articulate as the original, what matters is that the reader can see that you’ve understood the source well enough to express it in your own words.
When to paraphrase:
How to paraphrase:
Bad paraphasing is when you simply change a few words in the original text, as below taken from the Plagiarism Examples page
| Original Text | Submitted Work |
|---|---|
| Since its first discovery by non-indigenous people in the mid-nineteenth century, Yosemite Valley has held a special, even religious, hold on the American conscience because its beauty makes it an incomparable valley and one of the grandest of all special temples of Nature. While Yosemite holds a special grip on the western mind, perceptions about the Valley have evolved over time due to changing politics, migration patterns and environmental concerns as man has become more attuned to his relationship and impact on nature. | Since it was found by non-native people in the mid-nineteenth century, Yosemite Valley has held a unique, even sacred, hold on the American psyche because its beauty makes it an exceptional valley and one of the greatest of all special temples of Nature. While Yosemite has a special hold on the western mind, attitudes to the Valley have changed over time due to new political movements, migration patterns and environmental concerns as people have become more concerned about their relationship and impact on nature. (Harrick 1996) |
This is bad paraphrasing because only a few words have been changed and the sentence structure and voice are the same as the original text.
Better paraphrasing involves changing words, sentence structure and voice
| Original Text | Submitted Work |
|---|---|
| Since its first discovery by non-indigenous people in the mid-nineteenth century, Yosemite Valley has held a special, even religious, hold on the American conscience because its beauty makes it an incomparable valley and one of the grandest of all special temples of Nature. While Yosemite holds a special grip on the western mind, perceptions about the Valley have evolved over time due to changing politics, migration patterns and environmental concerns as man has become more attuned to his relationship and impact on nature. | The dramatic scenery of Yosemite Valley has endeared it to Americans since being discovered by settlers in the mid-nineteenth century. But although it holds a special place in the American psyche, attitudes towards the valley have been changing in recent years. This is due to a number of factors: changing political attitudes, immigration and the rise of environmentalism, which has changed the way that people think about the natural world (Harrick, 1996) |
This is better paraphrasing because
