Paraphrasing is an essential skill when writing essays, research papers, and other documents. It is a way to express the same ideas in different words, which is important in academic writing. When paraphrasing, it is important to include only the main ideas and the most important supporting details.

Understanding Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is a writing technique that involves interpreting the original text, summarizing it, and then expressing the main ideas in your own words. It is important to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form and that it is not a direct quote. In order to ensure that the paraphrase is accurate, it is important to reference the original text and review it to make sure that your interpretation of the ideas is correct.

Important Details

When paraphrasing a passage, there are several key details that should be included in the paraphrase. First, the main idea should be accurately expressed in the new text, while details that are not essential should be omitted. Additionally, only the most important supporting details should be included. Finally, the new text should contain the same level of detail as the original text.

Example

For example, a passage in The Odyssey by Linda J states, “A shipmate cried out three times for each life lost.” When paraphrasing this passage, it is important to include the fact that one of the crew members was mourning each life lost, as this is the main idea. It is also important to include the number of times the crew member was calling out (three, in this case). Other details, such as the fact that it was a shipmate, may not be as important and can be omitted.

Conclusion

Paraphrasing is an important skill to master when writing academic papers. When paraphrasing, it is important to accurately express the main ideas and the most important supporting details. It is also important to follow citation guidelines in order to properly reference the original source.