How to Paraphrase
Paraphrasing is a skill that needs to be practiced. It is different than summarizing because, in a summary, you are only including the most important information. In a paraphrase, you are taking the original words and rewriting them in your unique style. This can make writing more fun, interesting, and engaging for your audience!
Step One: Read and Understand
If you don't understand what you are reading, it is hard to paraphrase it correctly. Make sure you understand the general idea of the original reading, and look up any words you don't understand. Use this link to an Online Dictionary if you need to look up a word.
Step Two: Paraphrase
Ask yourself whether there are any words you can replace with their definitions and how to move and change sentences in order to put it in your words.
Paraphrasing can be as simple as changing the basic structure of a sentence: "Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae" can become "Zeus and Danae had a son named Perseus."
You can also make it fun, funny, and unique if you want, so long as you remain true to the original source: "Hercules had a bunch of problems to face, and some of them were animals looking for blood!"
Step Three: Check and Revise
Make sure you have all the ideas from the original myth, and that you have included all the information in your reading. If you have left something out, be sure to add it back in! Check to make sure that your work is not too similar to the original and that your sentences are clear and make sense.
Step Four: Cite the original website
In order to do this, simply copy and paste the website where you got your information. If an author is mentioned, include their name as well. Say something like: "Information found at www.awesomeconstellations.com" or "Original myth told by Jack Jackson at www.ilovestars.com."
Step One: Read and Understand
If you don't understand what you are reading, it is hard to paraphrase it correctly. Make sure you understand the general idea of the original reading, and look up any words you don't understand. Use this link to an Online Dictionary if you need to look up a word.
Step Two: Paraphrase
Ask yourself whether there are any words you can replace with their definitions and how to move and change sentences in order to put it in your words.
Paraphrasing can be as simple as changing the basic structure of a sentence: "Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae" can become "Zeus and Danae had a son named Perseus."
You can also make it fun, funny, and unique if you want, so long as you remain true to the original source: "Hercules had a bunch of problems to face, and some of them were animals looking for blood!"
Step Three: Check and Revise
Make sure you have all the ideas from the original myth, and that you have included all the information in your reading. If you have left something out, be sure to add it back in! Check to make sure that your work is not too similar to the original and that your sentences are clear and make sense.
Step Four: Cite the original website
In order to do this, simply copy and paste the website where you got your information. If an author is mentioned, include their name as well. Say something like: "Information found at www.awesomeconstellations.com" or "Original myth told by Jack Jackson at www.ilovestars.com."