Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Learning Basic Concepts
• Method 2 of 2: Learning to paraphrase correctly
• Tips

If you have been asked to rephrase the text, but you do not know how to do it, do not worry. Periphrase is simply rewriting the original text in your own words, changing its structure while maintaining the basic idea of ​​the original text. In Step # 1, you will find information on the basic concepts of periphery. If you just want to remember what needs to be changed in the source code, skip straight to Method # 2 (you'll also find some useful examples there).

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Learning Basic Concepts

1. 1 Understand what a "paraphrase" is. “Periphrase” is a retelling in your own words of what the other person said. You are retelling the same thoughts, only in a different way. This skill can come in handy, especially if you have to write essays or articles.
   • Of course, you should be aware that you are using other people's thoughts, but paraphrase gives you the opportunity to clothe them in your own words and avoid direct quotation. By paraphrasing the source text in your own words, you can better incorporate information into your text and thus provide a smoother transition from one thought to another.
2. 2 Remember the difference between paraphrase and abbreviated presentation. Some of the similarities between these concepts may mislead you, but in fact, they are two different methods of rewriting text. In both cases, you rewrite the original text in your own words, but when summarized, some phrases in the original may remain unchanged, depending on your goals.
   • For example, take this sentence in the source text: “The fox is waiting for its prey by the light of the moon; her big ears and shining eyes were alert, trying to catch the next movement of the rabbit. "
   • Paraphrase example: "The rabbit did not move in the light of the moon, while the fox was looking for its prey with the help of ultra-sensitive hearing and night vision."
   • An example of an abbreviated presentation of the original text: "Foxes hunt rabbits using their ears and eyes."
3. 3 Note that when paraphrasing, it is not necessary to abbreviate the original text. In abbreviated form, you shrink the original text and summarize the idea succinctly in your own words. But this is not the case with paraphrase. Moreover, sometimes the periphrase is even slightly longer than the original text, depending on the words you use.

Method 2 of 2: Learning to paraphrase correctly

1. 1 Change the words of the original text. When you paraphrase, you must replace the words of the original text. This means that as a writer you need to be able to express thoughts in your own unique way, and, therefore, your ability to express yourself is of great importance here. Expression is simply the ability to choose words to express your thought.When paraphrasing, you must convey the same idea of ​​the original text in other words.
   • For example, you will not use the same words as another writer when explaining how to ride a motorcycle. Another might write "climb on a motorcycle" and you write "get on a motorcycle." In both phrases, the idea of ​​"getting on a motorcycle" does not change, but it is expressed in different words.
2. 2 Use synonym dictionaries to search for words. If you cannot remember another word with the same meaning, use a synonym dictionary, as it may remind you of another, similar word that you already know (for example, use the Thesaurus dictionary if you are looking for a synonym for an English word) ... But use only those words that fit the meaning exactly. The connotation of a word you do not know may not match the style of the original text. "Connotation" is the feeling that a word evokes in the reader.
   • For example, grumble and protest have similar meanings and are recorded as synonyms in the Thesaurus. However, they have different connotations: “to be dissatisfied” can be used in political discourse, but “to murmur” - not.
3. 3 Change the syntax of the source text. Paraphrasing the original text, you need to change not only its words, but also its syntax and structure. "Syntax" is how you combine words in a sentence.
   • For example, the syntax for "Jane ate an orange while keeping her eyes on the setting sun" is different from the syntax for "Without taking her eyes off the setting sun, Jane ate oranges."
4. 4 Try to change the structure of the source text. "Text structure" is how sentences and paragraphs are organized in the text. Of course, you want to arrange the sentences and paragraphs in the test so that it retains meaning and shows the reader how the thought unfolds. However, there is little room for interpretation here. When you paraphrase, you can't just replace all the words in the source text and claim the job is done. You must restructure it so that a completely new text appears that retains the meaning of the original text.
   • Here is the original text you want to rephrase: “Jane turned sharply to the side so as not to run over the deer. As the car turned, she thought this might be her last day. Images of children and spouse flashed before Jane's eyes. The car crashed into a tree with a hideous crash, and Jane passed out. However, after a few seconds she woke up. Jane's body ached from the bruises, but she was alive. "
   • The first option to paraphrase the text: “Jane saw a deer on the road and sharply turned the car so as not to drive into the animal. Her car flew towards the trees. The faces of relatives came to her mind, and she wondered if she would die today. As soon as the car crashed into a tree, Jane lost consciousness for a minute, but luckily she survived with a few bruises. "
5. 5 Remember that text can be paraphrased in different ways. There are as many ways to paraphrase source text as there are writers. For example, the original text from the previous step can be rewritten in different ways, using less expressive vocabulary, omitting some details. Nevertheless, paraphrase retains the idea of ​​the original text, expressing it in other words.
   • Second example of paraphrasing text“When Jane was driving, she crashed into a tree because she made a sharp turn so as not to hit a deer on the road. She wondered how her family would miss her if she were gone before the car hit a tree. Although Jane was a little hurt, she still lost consciousness for a minute. "

Tips

• Don't worry if you don't get it right at first. Over time, if you practice, you will get better at it.
• Do not forget to get a dictionary of synonyms so that it helps you out in the process.