How to WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS, Basics: How to Paraphrase in an Essay

Summary

This video tutorial focuses on the essential skill of paraphrasing, particularly for English learners. The speaker explains that paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else's words using your own vocabulary and structure. The video emphasizes its importance in academic settings, where students are often required to paraphrase rather than directly quote. Two methods for paraphrasing are introduced: the ‘Tell your friend’ method, which simplifies ideas for easier restatement, and the ‘Grammar Toolkit,’ which uses grammar tools like synonyms, sentence restructuring, and changing parts of speech to create unique paraphrases. The tutorial provides helpful examples and tips to master paraphrasing effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Paraphrasing is the act of rewording what someone else said or wrote using your own words.
• 😀 Paraphrasing is a vital skill for English learners, especially in academic settings.
• 😀 In school, you often need to paraphrase to demonstrate your understanding without copying verbatim.
• 😀 There are two main paraphrasing techniques: the 'Tell your friend' method and the 'Grammar Toolkit'.
• 😀 The 'Tell your friend' method involves understanding a text fully and explaining it in your own words.
• 😀 Using the 'Tell your friend' method, focus on summarizing the key ideas rather than every small detail.
• 😀 The 'Grammar Toolkit' method uses various grammatical tools like synonyms and sentence structure changes.
• 😀 To paraphrase effectively, you need to use more than one tool from the Grammar Toolkit to make the text your own.
• 😀 Tools like synonyms, sentence movement, parts of speech changes, and combining sentences can help you paraphrase.
• 😀 Paraphrasing requires careful use of synonyms to avoid awkward phrasing and to maintain accuracy in meaning.
• 😀 When paraphrasing complex texts, consider the meaning behind the words and use a combination of grammar tools to ensure clarity and originality.

Q & A

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is when we repeat what someone else said or wrote using our own words. It's a way of expressing the same idea but with different vocabulary and structure.

Why is paraphrasing considered difficult for English learners?

Paraphrasing in a second language is challenging because it requires a good command of vocabulary and grammar to express the ideas in a natural and accurate way.

Why is paraphrasing important in school and academic writing?

Paraphrasing is crucial because students are often required to repeat ideas from a source without directly copying the words. This helps to avoid plagiarism and shows that students understand the material.

What are the two methods for paraphrasing discussed in the video?

The two methods for paraphrasing are 'Tell your friend,' which is a shorter method, and the 'Grammar Toolkit,' which is a longer, more detailed approach.

Can you explain the 'Tell your friend' method of paraphrasing?

'Tell your friend' involves reading and fully understanding the paragraph, then putting the text away and restating the main ideas in your own words, as if explaining them to a friend.

What is the purpose of using the 'Grammar Toolkit' method?

The 'Grammar Toolkit' method uses various grammar tools such as synonyms, sentence structure changes, and different parts of speech to help transform the original text into a paraphrase while maintaining its meaning.

What is a synonym, and how should it be used in paraphrasing?

A synonym is a word with a similar meaning to another. While paraphrasing, synonyms are useful for changing the wording, but overuse of them can make the paraphrase sound unnatural, so they should be chosen carefully.

How can you move parts of a sentence in paraphrasing?

You can rearrange the parts of a sentence, like shifting introductory phrases or changing the order of clauses, to make the paraphrase sound different while preserving the meaning.

What is the role of changing parts of speech in paraphrasing?

Changing parts of speech, such as turning nouns into adjectives or verbs into nouns, can help to create a paraphrase that is grammatically correct and distinct from the original text.

Why is it important to use more than one tool from the Grammar Toolkit in paraphrasing?

Using multiple tools from the Grammar Toolkit ensures that the paraphrase is truly your own and doesn't closely resemble the original. This approach helps to fully transform the text while retaining the original meaning.