This document discusses paraphrasing skills and suggested methods for paraphrasing texts while maintaining the original meaning. It provides examples of paraphrasing sentences by using synonyms, rearranging ideas, changing word forms, and combining methods. The goal of paraphrasing is to rewrite texts in one's own words without plagiarizing. Effective paraphrasing requires understanding the original text and using a variety of rewriting techniques.

1. Paraphrasing Skill
November 5, 2010

2. Paraphrase
• Rewrite a text in your own words and keep the
original meaning.
in your own words
You have to learn how to:
Choose synonyms
Use alternative grammatical structures

3. Suggested Paraphrasing Methods
• Use synonyms
– Original version
• Rain forests are often located near the equator.
– Paraphrased version
• Rain forests are frequently situated close to the equator.
often located near
frequentlyfrequently situatedsituated close toclose to

4. • Rearrange ideas in a different order as long as
they still make sense.
– Original version
• Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand.
– Paraphrased version
• The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok.
• Thailand’s capital city is Bangkok.
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods
The capital city of Thailand Bangkokis

5. • Combine two short sentences and simplify their
structure.
– Original version
• When playing online games, you can talk to people you are
playing with.
• Also, you can make friends with them.
– Paraphrased version
• You can talk and make friends with people you are playing
online games with.
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods

6. • Change word forms. (V  N / N  V)
– Original version
• Parents should put restrictions on their children’s use of cell
phones.
– Paraphrase versions
• Parent should restrict their children’s use of cell phones.
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods
restrictions (n.)  restrict (v.)

7. • Change from the active voice to the passive voice
and vice versa.
– Original version
• Architects can use a domed roof to conserve floor space.
– Paraphrased version
• A domed roof can be used by architects to conserve floor space.
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods
A domed roof by architectscan be used to conserve floor space.

8. • Combine several methods in order to write a
meaningful and accurate paraphrase.
– Original version
• Europe’s first clinic for people who are addicted to games has
opened.
– Paraphrased version
• A clinic for game addicts has opened for the first time in Europe.
(using a synonym and changing the order in which ideas are
presented.)
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods

9. Example of Paraphrasing
• A college student usually has homework to do.
A person going to college
• A person going to college usually has assignments to do.
• People taking college frequently has assignments to do.
People taking college
frequently assignments

10. Paraphrasing Exercise
• If we persist with the treatment, we will have a
huge debt.
• If we continue the treatment, we will get into
serious debt.
continue be in debt / get into debt
enormous / large / serious

11. • Hidden-video cameras can give us a sense of
safety.
• Hidden-video cameras can make us feel safe.
Paraphrasing Exercise
safe feelmake

12. • We should have a right to assemble peacefully
without surveillance.
• It’s our right to gather peacefully without being
watch over.
Paraphrasing Exercise
meet / gatherwatch over
without (prep) + N / V+ing
It’s our right to…

13. • Doctors said that Terri Schiavo was in a persistent
vegetative state.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• According to doctors, Terri Schiavo could not move
or speak.
could not move or speak
According to…

14. • The police use hidden-video cameras. Therefore,
they do not have to put their lives in danger
patrolling dangerous areas.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• Because the police use surveillance cameras, they
do not have to risk their lives patrolling unsafe
areas.

15. • The entire town was devastated by the blaze.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• The fire destroyed the whole city.
• There has been a significant growth in the use of
the Internet since 2000.
• Since 2000 the use of the Internet has significantly
grown.

16. • If you suspect your babysistter does not treat your
child properly, get a hidden camera.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• If you are not sure whether your child is well taken
care of by your babysitter get a hidden camera.

17. • A person who is addicted to alcohol consumes
more but gets less pleasure than a person who
drinks just to be sociable.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• Although alcoholics drink more, they enjoy it less
than social drinkers.

18. • The inadequacy of baggage carts is one of the
major problems at the airport.
Paraphrasing Exercise
• One of the airport’s main problems is the shortage
of trolleys.