Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is an effective means of condensing another author's ideas to support your own position.  Done correctly, it will strenthen your argument and help prove your point.  If you're not careful, however, you could end up plagiarizing without realizing it.

Here are a few simple steps that will help you write a good paraphrase:

• Always provide the original author's information, either by introducing the passage with an attribution (e.g. According to Robert Gagne . . .) or by identifying them in the footnote, endnote, or parenthetical reference as appropriate.
  
• Describe the author's idea in your own words from memory after reading the passage, rather than typing as you read.  You are less likely to inadvertently copy key words or phrases this way.
  
• Compare your paraphrase to the original text.  Make sure what you've written reflects the author's argument without using any of the same phrases.

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Example

Here is an ORIGINAL1 passage:

Here is an INCORRECT paraphrase of the passage:

Put your education near the end of your resume, unless it is the most significant thing you have to sell. For most people with work experience related to what they are going after, the education (or education and training) section should be placed after the experience section. The date of any degree is usually sufficient, rather than the dates you attended an institution, unless you did not complete the degree; in this case, include attendance dates. And usually just the year of graduation is sufficient, rather than the month and year.

Unless it is the most significant part of your resume, put your education near the end. For most people with work experience related to the job they are seeking, the Education section should be placed after the Experience section. The date of your degree is usually sufficient, unless you did not complete the degree. In this case, include attendance dates. Also, the year of graduation is usually sufficient, rather than the month and year.

What makes this paraphrase plagiarism?

• Only a few words and phrases have been changed.
• All of the ideas are taken from the original text, but no citation is given.

Here is the ORIGINAL passage again:

Here is a CORRECT paraphrase of the passage:

Put your education near the end of your resume, unless it is the most significant thing you have to sell.  For most people with work experience related to what they are going after, the education (or education and training) section should be placed after the experience section.  The date of any degree is usually sufficient, rather than the dates you attended an institution, unless you did not complete the degree; in this case, include attendance dates.  And usually just the year of graduation is sufficient, rather than the month and year.

Gardella (2000) recommends describing your work experience before listing the details of your education.  He also suggests listing the year your degree was conferred rather than the specific dates you attended school.  The exception to this rule of thumb would be if you left school prior to completing your degree, in which case it would be appropriate to provide your dates of attendance.

Why is this paraphrase acceptable?

• The ideas are presented in the writer's own words.
• The original source of the ideas is correctly cited.

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