Intensive English Language Program (IELP): Intermediate

Three Criteria for a Good Paraphrase

1. A good paraphrase has the same meaning as the original. There are no new ideas.
2. A good paraphrase is in your own words.
3. A good paraphrase cites the original source. 

Tips for Paraphrasing

1. Read the original text. Spend a minute to think about the meaning of the text. Turn over the paper. Then, write the meaning of the text in your own words.
2. Tell a friend. Review the text until you understand the meaning. Tell your friend about the meaning of the text in your own words. If you cannot talk with someone, try to record your voice and listen to it.
3. Take good notes. Use your notes without looking at the original text. 
4. Change the grammar. Use synonyms, change the order of the structure (phrases and clauses), change the word forms, or use different grammar. You should use multiple grammar strategies. Never use just one!

How to Cite a Paraphrase

Step 1: Introduce the person or source you are paraphrasing with an introductory phrase.

• With an author: According to [Author's full name], . . .
• With no author: According to the article, ["Title of the Article"] . . . 

Step 2: Use one of the paraphrasing tips and write your sentence.

• this is my paraphrase

Step 3: For page numbers, put the page number between parentheses. Put the period at the end.

• this is my paraphrase (2). 

Examples:

1. With an author: According to Elizabeth Lee, a variety of social robots have facial expressions and facial movements similar to humans (1).
2. With no author: According to "Issues in Values and Freedoms," when traveling from West Africa to the Americas, up to one quarter of African slaves did not make it alive (2).

How to Quote Complete Sentences

Step 1: Introduce the person or source you are quoting with an introductory phrase.

• With an author: According to [Author's full name], . . . 
• With no author: According to the article, ["Title of the Article'] . . . 

Step 2: Put quotes around the whole sentence. Check that you copied the exact words from the source. 

• "This is my quote"

Step 3: For page numbers, put the page number between parentheses. Put a period at the end.

• "This is my quote" (2). 

Example:

1. With an author: According to Elizabeth Lee, "Many social robots have faces with blinking eyes and moving mouths and different expressions" (1). 
2. With no author: According to "Issues in Values and Freedoms," "Experts estimate that between 10 and 25 percent of the slaves died on the journey" (2). 

A summary restates the main points of an article. Being able to summarize an article demonstrates your comprehension of the reading. Annotating and taking notes are important for writing a good summary.

Criteria for a Good Summary

1. A good summary includes the main idea of the entire article.
2. A good summary includes all of the main points that support the main idea.
3. A goods summary does not include specific details, such as statistics, specific examples, or specific facts. 
4. A good summary is in your own words.
5. A good summary includes the source information in the first sentence: title and author(s). 

Tips for Summarizing

1. Find the main idea of the article. Look in the introduction or conclusion. 
2. Find the main points that support the main idea. If your article is divided into headings, use the headings to identify the main points. 
3. Annotate for the main idea and the main points. Then, put these in your notes in your own words. 
4. Organize the information using transitions and other important phrases to connect the ideas. 
5. Restate the main idea in the concluding sentence.