When we use other sources in our essay, we’re often told to put the other author’s ideas into “our own words.” But what does this mean? And why is it so important at university? Putting another author’s idea into your own words is called paraphrasing, and it’s a key university skill.
When you cite evidence in an assignment, you have two options – you can quote directly or you can paraphrase. Paraphrasing is a key element of using evidence effectively and ethically. In some disciplines, particularly in the Sciences, direct quotation is used very sparingly and it’s essential that you develop strong paraphrasing skills.
In other disciplines, quotation may be more acceptable, but that doesn’t mean that you should avoid paraphrasing altogether. Good writing will often combine the two, and using paraphrasing appropriately and effectively will allow your voice to come over more strongly so that when you do use direct quotation will have more impact.
So, how can you begin to develop this key skill? Have a look at the recording of our ‘In Your Own Words’ Lightning Session then scroll down for our key steps for paraphrasing.
Step 1: Understand Why
Paraphrasing basically means putting someone else’s argument or idea into your own words. As we mentioned above, it’s an alternative to using direct quotation. But when and why would you use it?
As we’ve already seen, it may simply be the convention of your discipline to paraphrase evidence rather than to use direct quotation. In such disciplines you really don’t have much option other than to develop your paraphrasing skills.
In other disciplines there’s more choice. Often, paraphrasing allows you to express or show understanding of an idea or argument more clearly or concisely than the original quote, particularly if that quote is lengthy and you can summarise it effectively.
One useful way of thinking about whether to quote or paraphrase is to ask yourself why you want to use that evidence. If there’s something important about the way the idea or argument has been expressed, you may wish to quote directly (if your discipline allows). If it’s just the idea itself that you’re drawing upon, paraphrasing may be a more suitable option.
Step 2: Avoid ‘Word Substitution’
One important thing to avoid when paraphrasing is word substitution. As the name suggests, this occurs where you leave the original structure of the sentence intact and simply work your way along substituting words of the same or similar meaning.
This invariably results in clunky, clumsy prose. More importantly, it’s not good paraphrasing – indeed, it may be considered a form of plagiarism, even though you’ve cited the source. So, move the original text out of sight and instead focus on the idea or argument and try to express or summarise that in your own way.
Step 3: Practice Techniques
Okay, so you’ve hidden the original and now you want to try to summarise or explain the idea in your own words. One useful tip here is to imagine explaining it out loud to a friend, a fellow student, or your tutor. How would you explain it without having the quote in front of you?
Remember, we’re focused on the idea here and why you want to use it, so another helpful tip is to think carefully about how the paraphrase will fit into your wider point or argument. What will you go on to say about this evidence? Thinking about that may help you summarise the key points in an effective way. Just be careful not to change the meaning – when paraphrasing we must be careful not to twist the evidence to suit our own arguments.
For more useful advice, check out our video on paraphrasing (below). And one final point – paraphrasing may sound like a lot of work but with practice and experience it will become second nature and you’ll do it almost without thinking. So stick with it, and before long you’ll have this important skill mastered.
This blog post was written by Dr Gordon Spark (Academic Skills Centre).