LibGuides: How to Write a Research/Term Paper: Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing Strategy

Read the original text until you grasp its meaning; then set it aside.
Using your memory, write down the main points or concepts. Do not copy the text verbatim.
When reading a passage, try first to understand it as a whole, rather than pausing to write down specific ideas or phrases.
Be selective. Unless your assignment is to do a formal or "literal" paraphrase, you usually don't need to paraphrase an entire passage; instead, choose and summarize the material that helps you make a point in your paper.
Think of what "your own words" would be if you were telling someone who's unfamiliar with your subject (your mother, your brother, a friend) what the original source said.
Remember that you can use direct quotations of phrases from the original within your paraphrase, and that you don't need to change or put quotation marks around shared language or common vocabulary shared by a community of scholars.
Check your notes against the original to ensure you have not accidentally plagiarized.

Original Quote	Poor Paraphrase
"New tracks aside, the challenge is at the bare minimum to bring light and air into this underground purgatory and, beyond that, to create for millions of people a new space worthy of New York, a civic hub in the spirit of the great demolished one, more attuned to the city's aspirations and democratic ideals." -Michael Kimmelan, The New York Times	Besides replacing the railroad tracks, the toughest part is to at least bring air and light to Penn Station. Millions of people in New York are deserving of a new civic hub, constructed in the same essence of the one that was leveled so many years ago. Moving forward with such a development ties in with the city's enthusiasm for beauty and architecture.

Original Quote	Effective Paraphrase
"New tracks aside, the challenge is at the bare minimum to bring light and air into this underground purgatory and, beyond that, to create for millions of people a new space worthy of New York, a civic hub in the spirit of the great demolished one, more attuned to the city's aspirations and democratic ideals." -Michael Kimmelan, The New York Times	One of the biggest issues facing Penn Station's revitalization is developing a brighter, airier space. It is an abysmal "underground purgatory," and with so many New Yorkers and tourists traveling in and out of its doors every day, should be reconstructed to better reflect the endeavors and passions of the city. (Kimmelman)