In the followingexercises, paraphrase each passage by clearly and briefly expressing the ideas in your own words. Hints: try to keep in mind the verb tense (past or present?), the sentence (question or statement?), and the difference between important information and unnecessary information. Also, use a dictionary to define words that you don't know.

 1) Will reputable scientists ever accept the claim that extrasensory perception and other paranormal powers really exist?

 2) Contrary to popular belief, exercise has never been shown conclusively to prolong life.

 3) Olfactory receptors for communication between different creatures are crucial for establishment of symbiotic relations.

 4) President Nixon lied to his wife, his family, his friends, longtime colleagues in the U.S. Congress, lifetime members of his own political party, American people, and the world. The lies persisted for more than two years, from at least June 23, 1972, when he personally undertook an active role in covering up the Watergate burglary, to his resignation on August 8, 1974. No lie is intelligent, but his were colossal stupidity because they involved the presidency of the United States.

 -from Barry M. Goldwater with Jack Casserly, Goldwater (New York: St. Martin s Press, 1990), p. 324.

 5) In law-school courses on criminal and procedure, emphasis is on the rights of suspects and not on the rights of victims. Individuals apparently tend to identify more with the offender than with the offended. It may be said that the law on criminal responsibility stems out of our fear of being accused or held accountable for something we may have done or imagined, even though beyond our reason or control.

 -from Ralph Slovenko, Psychiatry and Law (Boston: Little, Brown, 1973), p. 90.

 Items 1-2 taken from Weidenborner, Stephen, and Caruso, Domenick Writing Research Papers. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994: 84.

 Item 3 taken from Metcalf, Allan A., Research to the Point 2nd ed. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1995: 109-110.

 Items 4-5 taken from Lester, James D., Writing Research Papers 4th ed. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1984, 81.

 Summarizing and paraphrasing are necessary skills in the research writing process While summarizing simply reduces the information you gather, often into a list or a short review of the main ideas, paraphrasing retells the information in your own words an d sentence structure. You have probably noticed how difficult it can be to paraphrase If you keep too much of either the original author's words and/or sentence structure, you are guilty of plagiarism, a serious offense in all English writing. You are guilty of plagiarism even if you indicate where the material came from but have not paraphrased correctly. Unfortunately, you cannot let the original authors do all the talking either, since a paper filled with quotations indicates a lack of thought and argument. While there is no easy formula for paraphrasing, here are some suggestions on how to best avoid unintentional plagiarism:
 
 

• Begin at the beginning. This may sound like an odd statement, but it is perhaps the best way to avoid plagiarism and help you to paraphrase. 
• Decide well before you start your research what you want to write about. If you do not have a clear idea of what your argument is going to be, then much of what you read -- written by professional writers who have spent a great deal of time on the work you are using -- will persuade you so strongly that you will not be able to clearly see the argument that is your own.

 

 

• Second, when taking notes and doing research, try not to copy word for word the evidence before you. Put the evidence into your own words on your notecards, then you will have eliminated some of the difficulties. By doing this you are both tailoring the e evidence to fit your argument and beginning the paraphrasing process. If necessary, just jot down the important evidence in sentence fragments. Remember to always write down your source and page numbers, as these will be needed in the paper even if the evidence dence is not stated verbatim. If you do quote directly from the source do not forget to use quotation marks. It is also helpful to indicate in your note taking how the evidence has been recorded: quoted, paraphrased, summarized, listed, etc...

 

 

• Third, be familiar with your subject. In a sense you are paraphrasing all the time. You paraphrase in your mind as soon as you finish reading material and try to understand what you have read. You also paraphrase when you tell other people about what you have read. In some cases, if you translate what you have read into your own language you are also paraphrasing. How well you paraphrase in these cases is a measure of how well you understand the material. The more clearly you know your subject, the easier it will be to tell it in your own words.

 

 

• Fourth, simplify and experiment. In many cases, the reason you paraphrase is because the original author is not clear. Remember, a rough draft is supposed to be rough. Experiment with words and sentence structure. Ask yourself, 'What does this mean to my paper?'

 

 

• Follow through. Proofread your paper for plagiarism. This is essential. Compare the evidence in your notes or notecards to the way you have used them in the paper. If the vocabulary or sentence structure is very similar, double-check your notes. At this t ime, also make sure that all evidence has a proper source. If you can, have someone else, a friend or a schoolmate (or a Writing Center consultant) look at your paper for words that appear plagiarized.