Required Materials. Study Skills Experiential English II

Transcription

1 Required Materials Study Skills Experiential English II Chulalongkorn University Language Institute Second Semester, 2009

2 1 Paraphrasing Skill What is paraphrasing? Paraphrasing means rewriting a text in your own style but keeping all the meaning of the original. Paraphrasing Procedures Read the original text carefully until you understand its full meaning. Check the meaning of terms you do not understand in a dictionary or try to guess the meaning from the context provided. Identify and underline the key words and main ideas in the text and write these ideas down. Use quotation marks to identify any unique vocabulary you have copied from the source. Set the original aside and write your paraphrase on a piece of paper. Check your version with the original to make sure that yours accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form. Suggested Paraphrasing Methods The following are some useful paraphrasing methods: 1. Use synonyms. You may use words or phrases that mean the same as those in the original text or try to make difficult words easier to understand. However, do not change technical terms and proper names. Hidden-video cameras are becoming increasingly popular. Hidden-video cameras are becoming more popular.

3 2 Hidden-video cameras are becoming increasingly popular. Hidden-video cameras are becoming more frequently used. 2. Change the order in which ideas are presented. You can also rearrange ideas in a different order as long as they still make sense. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok. Thailand s capital city is Bangkok. 3. Combine two short sentences and simplify their structure. If the original contains several short sentences, a paraphrased version can be more concise by combining them. When playing online games, you can talk to people you are playing with. Also, you can make friends with them. You can talk and make friends with people you are playing online games with. 4. Change word forms. You may change the word forms to vary the sentence structure.

4 3 a. Change the main verb into a noun. One result of playing word, puzzle and trivia games is that they can improve children s speech. [improve (v.)] The improvement of children s speech is one result of playing word, puzzle, and trivia games. [improvement (n.)] b. Change a noun into a verb. Parents should put restrictions on their children s use of cell phones. [restrictions (n.)] Parents should restrict their children s use of cell phones. [restrict (v.)] 5. Change transitions You can paraphrase by changing transitions e.g. because, when, although. Hidden-video cameras are becoming increasingly popular due to their proven effectiveness in monitoring abusive nannies and babysitters. Hidden-video cameras are becoming increasingly popular because they are effective in recording abuse by nannies and babysitters. 6. Change from the active voice to the passive voice and vice versa. When the original is in the active voice, change it to the passive voice.

5 4 Governments banned the use of asbestos in car brake pads more than ten years ago. The use of asbestos in car brake pads was banned (by governments) more than ten years ago. When the original is in the passive voice, change it to the active voice. However, this method is only possible when the agent of the active verb is known or can be assumed. The world s first digital camera was invented by Steven Sasson in Steven Sasson invented the world s first digital camera in Key Point When paraphrasing, you should combine several of these methods in order to write a meaningful and accurate paraphrase. When completed, you must check your version against the original to make sure that both contain the same basic information. Examples: Europe s first clinic for people who are addicted to games has opened. A clinic for game addicts has opened for the first time in Europe. (using a synonym and changing the order in which ideas are presented) This clinic offers treatment for people who can t leave their keyboards alone. Computer addicts can be treated in this clinic. (using a synonym and changing the active voice to the passive voice)

6 5 References discusses differences between quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing discusses how to paraphrase correctly and accurately suggests a process for paraphrasing and summarizing. 4.

7 6 Paraphrasing Exercise Paraphrase the following sentences by using the methods suggested. Make other changes where appropriate. You may use other methods if you wish as long as the meaning is the same. 1. If we persist with the treatment, we will have a huge debt. Use synonyms for the underlined words. 2. Hidden-video cameras can give us a sense of safety. Replace sense of safety with safe. Change the verb give. 3. We should have a right to assemble peacefully without surveillance. Begin a paraphrase with It s our right to 4. Doctors said that Terri Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state. Use according to. Replace was in a persistent vegetative state with could not

8 7 5. The police use hidden-video cameras. Therefore, they do not have to put their lives in danger patrolling dangerous areas. Make one sentence by replacing therefore with because. 6. The entire town was devastated by the blaze. Change from the passive voice to the active voice. 7. There has been a significant growth in the use of the Internet since Change the word form of growth. Change the order in which ideas are presented. 8. If you suspect your babysitter does not treat your child properly, get a hidden camera. Change from the passive voice to the active voice. Replace suspect with be not sure whether.

9 8 9. A person who is addicted to alcohol consumes more but gets less pleasure than a person who drinks just to be sociable. Replace but with although 10. The inadequacy of baggage carts is one of the major problems at the airport. Change the order in which ideas are presented.