Paraphrase

Paraphrase means using your own English to express ideas you have found in someone else's writing, in other words, in the research you have done.  For American teachers it is very important that you use your own English-- even if you make mistakes-- rather than copy someone else's words (unless you use quotation).  If you don't use your own English, or if you use someone else's ideas without giving him or her credit, you may be accused of plagiarism. 

In this class I will encourage you to use a 3-step process to produce good paraphrase:  1.) highlight the information you want to use, 2.) take notes on this information on a separate piece of paper, 3.) write paraphrase from the notes (without looking at the original).

Highlight

The following paragraph is taken from the reading "Yo-Yo Shopping" on page 78 of your text.  Some of the key information is highlighted.

        When shopping becomes an addiction, it can destroy lives,
        and like other forms of addiction it has been the subject
        of scientific study.  Obsessive spending-- "fiscoholism," or
        or the need to spend money to create a mood change-- may
        not do serious harm to those with unlimited funds, time and
        closets.  But at some point it can result in personal, financial,
        and legal problems.  These, ironically, may produce depression
        in the shopper and lead to more binges.  As reported in the
        Journal of Consumer Policy in 1990, researchers found that
        compulsive shopping correlates with low self-esteem as well
        as anxiety.

Notes

        shopping addiction >>personal, financial, legal problems

        problems>>more depression>> more spending

        compulsive shopping relates:  low self-esteem, anxiety

Paraphrase

1.  Shopping addiction can cause personal, financial and legal
     problems, which can cause even more depression, which
     can result in still more compulsive shopping.  Compulsive   
     shopping is related to low self-esteem and anxiety.

2.  Compulsive shopping might be caused by low self-esteem and
     anxiety.  The compulsive shopper feels better when she or he
     spends money, but spending money can create personal,
     financial and legal problems.  Unfortunately these problems may
     make the person even more depressed, so she or he will spend
     even more.

If you work from notes, the result will be good paraphrase; if you work from the original, the temptation to copy may be too strong.  The notes should be as short as possible:  just long enough so you can remember the original idea.

Examples of student paraphrase:  paraphrase_examples.htm
Examples of plagiarism:  recognizing plagiarism

11/17/2004