FYHS-111: A Journey to St. Petersburg, Russia: A City of Transformations

Georgian College Library Commons

Paraphrasing is helpful to clarify and condense a passage or theory from another scholar, critic, or theorist. However, it is not sufficient to simply change a few words or rearrange a few sentences. In order to properly paraphrase, the information must be restated by the student in his or her own words. A citation must still be included with the paraphrased material, which credits the original author and source of the information. When paraphrasing, do not use quotation marks unless using the original author’s exact words.

Paraphrase to do the following:

• Condense long and complex passages
• Demonstrate an understanding of the material
• Maintain a consistent flow in writing style

The following tips may prove helpful when paraphrasing original material:

• Identify the idea(s) or key points of the passage
• Think about how information can be explained to someone who is unfamiliar with the author’s work
• Put the original text aside (do not look at it)
• Write the author’s idea(s) using your own words and writing style
• Check the original to make sure that the paraphrasing conveys the author’s idea(s) without mirroring the original text too closely

Adapted from Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Citing by Saint Mary's University and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.