How to Paraphrase Quoted Material

Paraphrase means to read the quoted material and then put the idea into our own words. It is different from just quoting or summarizing in that you must read and comprehend the material in order to write your own version of what it says. Paraphrase lends clarity when the original passage is vague.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Read the article or story you wish to paraphrase. Make sure you understand the details of the passage.
2. Put the article out of your sight and take out your notebook or paper and pen. Alternately, bring up your notepad on your computer so you can write your paraphrase.
3. Write your paraphrase. Make sure your writing is roughly the same length as the quoted material.
4. Look again at the quoted material. Read the original article and then read your paraphrase. You should get a sense that both say the same thing but in different words.
5. Finish writing your paraphrase by citing the original source. If you needed to quote anything exactly from the original material put quote marks around it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not grasp the original subject matter do not try to paraphrase. If you must use a source you do not understand, then quote it directly, Use quotation marks and proper citation of the original material.
• You must avoid plagiarism. Make sure you cite the original article you paraphrased. Make sure you put quote marks around any exact quotes you took word-for-word from the passage. If you do not, this is plagiarism.