The Art of Paraphrasing: Avoiding Plagiarism

Summary

In this video, Isabelle May from The UNB Writing Center discusses the essential skill of paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism. She outlines a seven-step process: reading the original text, taking notes from memory, rewriting in a new structure, comparing with the original, addressing identical phrases, and properly citing sources. Isabelle illustrates these steps with an example from a consumer report on bike helmets, demonstrating how to effectively paraphrase while maintaining academic integrity. This guidance is crucial for writers to express original ideas while appropriately acknowledging source material.

Takeaways

• 📚 Read the original material multiple times to fully understand its content.
• 📝 After familiarizing yourself, set the original text aside to avoid copying.
• 💡 Take notes from memory, focusing on the main ideas without looking at the original.
• 🔄 Rearrange the ideas when writing your paraphrase to create a new flow.
• 🔍 Compare your paraphrase with the original to ensure significant differences.
• ⚠️ If you find identical phrases, rephrase them or use quotation marks.
• 📖 Always include proper citations for any material referenced, using the required style (e.g., APA).
• 🧠 Aim to paraphrase as much as possible instead of relying on direct quotations.
• 🚫 Be aware that insufficient paraphrasing and lack of citations are common causes of plagiarism.
• 🔗 Integrate quotes smoothly into your writing and always provide attribution.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The video aims to teach viewers the art of paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism.

Why is proper paraphrasing important?

Proper paraphrasing is important to avoid plagiarism and ensure that original sources are adequately represented in one's own writing.

What is the first step in successful paraphrasing?

The first step is to read the original text several times to become familiar with its content.

What should you do after reading the original passage?

After reading, you should put the original passage away and write down the main ideas from memory.

How can rearranging ideas help in paraphrasing?

Rearranging ideas can change the flow of the narrative, increasing the chances of creating a unique paraphrase.

What should you check after writing your paraphrase?

You should compare your paraphrase with the original to ensure it is sufficiently different and accurately conveys the original meaning.

What should you do if you find identical phrases in your paraphrase?

You should either rephrase those phrases further or put them in quotation marks if you decide to quote directly.

What citation style is mentioned in the video?

The video mentions APA (American Psychological Association) style for citations.

What common mistakes lead to plagiarism?

Common mistakes include insufficiently paraphrasing original material and failing to cite sources properly.

What is the recommended approach for integrating quotes?

Integrate quotes into your sentence structure while also providing the appropriate citations.