Integrating Research by Paraphrasing
Working with Source Material
Introduce the ideas that you are discussing and how the source
pertains to your discussion
The first time that you include a source, you should introduce the
source with a summary sentence
Purpose of a Paraphrase
Provides clarity for complex ideas
Provides details for discussion
Used in conjunction with summaries
Uses your own words (not just synonyms for the original text)
Features of a Paraphrase
Detailed – it can be as long, shorter, or longer than the original
Neutral – do not include your opinion
Accurate – be careful not to misconstrue ideas
Uses your own words – write in your voice
Paraphrasing
An excerpt from The Language Wars: A History of Proper English by
Henry Hitchings:
o No language has spread as widely as English, and it continues to
spread. Internationally, the desire to learn it is insatiable. In the
twenty-first century the world is becoming more urban and more
middle class, and the adoption of English is a symptom of this,
for increasingly English serves as the lingua franca of business
and popular culture. It is dominant or at least very prominent in
other areas such as shipping, diplomacy, computing, medicine
and education (300).
This paraphrase is ineffective because of the use of synonyms; it is
plagiarized. Do not write paraphrases like this one.
o Internationally, the desire to learn English is insatiable. In today’s
society, the world is becoming wealthier and more urban, and
the use of English is a symptom of this (Hitchings 300).
This paraphrase is effective. Model your work after this example.
o Because English is used so frequently in global communications,
many people around the world want to learn English as they
become members of the middle class (Hitchings 300).
Working with Source Material
Introduce the ideas that you are discussing and how the source
pertains to your discussion
The first time that you include a source, you should introduce the
source with a summary sentence
Purpose of a Paraphrase
Provides clarity for complex ideas
Provides details for discussion
Used in conjunction with summaries
Uses your own words (not just synonyms for the original text)
Features of a Paraphrase
Detailed – it can be as long, shorter, or longer than the original
Neutral – do not include your opinion
Accurate – be careful not to misconstrue ideas
Uses your own words – write in your voice
Paraphrasing
An excerpt from The Language Wars: A History of Proper English by
Henry Hitchings:
o No language has spread as widely as English, and it continues to
spread. Internationally, the desire to learn it is insatiable. In the
twenty-first century the world is becoming more urban and more
middle class, and the adoption of English is a symptom of this,
for increasingly English serves as the lingua franca of business
and popular culture. It is dominant or at least very prominent in
other areas such as shipping, diplomacy, computing, medicine
and education (300).
This paraphrase is ineffective because of the use of synonyms; it is
plagiarized. Do not write paraphrases like this one.
o Internationally, the desire to learn English is insatiable. In today’s
society, the world is becoming wealthier and more urban, and
the use of English is a symptom of this (Hitchings 300).
This paraphrase is effective. Model your work after this example.
o Because English is used so frequently in global communications,
many people around the world want to learn English as they
become members of the middle class (Hitchings 300).
