How to Paraphrase

Use synonyms

•According to Bailey (2006), plagiarism is common amongst students.

•Bailey (2006) claims that copying the work of others is common amongst students.

How to Paraphrase

Change word forms

•She found it difficult to change the words in the sentence.

•She had difficulty in changing the wording of the sentence.

How to Paraphrase

Change word order

•Thinking about the ideas in the sentence rather than the words, and interpreting them can help to reduce plagiarism.

•Plagiarism can be reduced by focusing on the ideas in the sentences instead of the words.

How to Paraphrase

Change sentence from negative to positive (or positive to negative)

•She failed her exams.

•She did not pass her exams.

How to Paraphrase

Use alternative linking words

•Although he changed some of the words, his lecturer said that it was plagiarism.

•Despite the student changing some of the words, his lecturer said that it was plagiarism.

How to Paraphrase

Change active- passive

•Turnitin found no evidence of plagiarism.

•No evidence of plagiarism was found.

How to Paraphrase

Change phrase - clause

•Citing references is essential. Citing references shows that you have done research and also that you are not passing off someone else’s work as your own.

•Citing references, which shows that you have done research and also that you are not passing off someone else’s work as your own, is essential.

Reporting verbs to use

See Academic Phrasebook http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Techniques for Paraphrasing

•Read and understand

•Make notes

•Rewrite using some of the techniques above

•Check your version against the original

•Paraphrased version should basically say the same things in different

words / order

Example

The original passage:

•Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.

A legitimate paraphrase:

•In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester, 1976, pp. 46-47). http://faculty.mckendree.edu/writing_handouts/paraphrase.htm