Advice and exercises to help you to learn how to paraphrase.

1. (or How Do I Stop Myself
From Plagiarising?)

3. 1. So what is
paraphrasing?

4. 1. So what is
paraphrasing?
2. Why should we
rewrite something
when we have someone
else's perfectly good
piece of writing?

5. 1. So what is 3. Is paraphrasing just
paraphrasing? changing a couple of
words?
2. Why should we
rewrite something
when we have someone
else's perfectly good
piece of writing?

6. 1. So what is 3. Is paraphrasing just
paraphrasing? changing a couple of
words?
2. Why should we
rewrite something 4. How do I paraphrase
when we have someone and is it difficult to
else's perfectly good learn?
piece of writing?

7. 1. So what is
paraphrasing?

8. Paraphrasing is the art of taking
1. So what is information or an idea or ideas
paraphrasing? that other people have written
about and expressing it or them
in your own words.

9. Paraphrasing is the art of taking
1. So what is information or an idea or ideas
paraphrasing? that other people have written
about and expressing it or them
in your own words.
Being able to express something
clearly and concisely yourself,
using your own words, is not only
a clear example of your ability to
write, but also gives you as a
writer a great deal of satisfaction.

10. 2. Why should we
rewrite something
when we have
someone else's
perfectly good
piece of writing?

11. 2. Why should we A completely fair question, but
rewrite something you are university students and
when we have the whole point of being at an
someone else's institution of higher learning is to
perfectly good be educated and surely to be able
piece of writing? to demonstrate to
employers, your peers, parents
and to yourselves, that you are an
educated, capable person.

12. 2. Why should we A completely fair question, but
rewrite something you are university students and
when we have the whole point of being at an
someone else's institution of higher learning is to
perfectly good be educated and surely to be able
piece of writing? to demonstrate to
employers, your peers, parents
and to yourselves, that you are an
educated, capable person.
Simply copying the ideas of
others demonstrates that you will
be good at taking orders, good at
replicating what has happened
before… and would be a most
successful worker at KFC.

13. 2. Why should we However, to get employment in a
rewrite something position that leads somewhere,
when we have that gets respect and that
someone else's provides personal satisfaction
perfectly good (one of the job requirements that
piece of writing? is most overlooked but also most
important) you really need to be
innovative and able to express
yourself in interesting and
original ways.
So, you need to paraphrase so you
will get both short and long term
benefits from learning how to do
something by and for yourself.

14. 3. Is paraphrasing
just changing a
couple of words?

15. 3. Is paraphrasing Paraphrasing is much, much
just changing a more than changing a few key
couple of words? words.

16. 3. Is paraphrasing Paraphrasing is much, much
just changing a more than changing a few key
couple of words? words.
Paraphrasing is about you taking
ideas and writing about them
yourself.

17. 3. Is paraphrasing Paraphrasing is much, much
just changing a more than changing a few key
couple of words? words.
Paraphrasing is about you taking
ideas and writing about them
yourself.
It involves reading and
understanding a text or texts, or
listening to other people and
being able convey the ideas or
information that they have put
forward using your own words.

18. 4. How do I
paraphrase and is it
difficult to learn?

19. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.

20. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:

21. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:
•read and understand

22. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:
•read and understand
•have a wide knowledge of
synonyms and word choice

23. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:
•read and understand
•have a wide knowledge of
synonyms and word choice
•be comfortable with the use of
different word forms

24. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:
•read and understand
•have a wide knowledge of
synonyms and word choice
•be comfortable with the use of
different word forms
•be able to re-order and re-
structure sentences

25. Paraphrasing isn't the easiest skill
4. How do I in academic writing, but it is
paraphrase and is it essential and it becomes much
difficult to learn? easier with practice.
To paraphrase you need to:
•read and understand
•have a wide knowledge of
synonyms and word choice
•be comfortable with the use of
different word forms
•be able to re-order and re-
structure sentences
•be concise

26. The following exercises are in themselves not
paraphrasing, but taken as a whole or using all 3
together is the beginnings of being able to
paraphrase.

27. The following exercises are in themselves not
paraphrasing, but taken as a whole or using all 3
together is the beginnings of being able to
paraphrase.
Some words cannot be changed when you are
paraphrasing. "The internet," for example, cannot
be changed to "computer controlled pc to pc
communication and information interface" nor can
"Nottingham University" be changed to "the
institution of higher learning located in Nottingham"

28. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to
replace one or
two words with
synonyms.

29. VOCABULARY
In these 1. Many well known multinational
sentences, you companies are located in New
are aiming to York.
replace one or
two words with 2. International cooperation is
synonyms. needed to put a stop to world
poverty.
3. Computer games take up too
much time of many students.

30. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 1. Many well known
are aiming to multinational companies are
replace one or located in New York.
two words with
synonyms.

31. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 1. Many well known
are aiming to multinational companies are
replace one or located in New York.
two words with
synonyms.
Many famous multinational
companies are situated in
New York.

32. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 2. International cooperation is
are aiming to needed to put a stop to world
replace one or poverty.
two words with
synonyms.

33. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 2. International cooperation is
are aiming to needed to put a stop to world
replace one or poverty.
two words with
synonyms.
International cooperation is
necessary to put a stop to
global poverty.

34. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 3. Computer games take up too
are aiming to much time of many
replace one or students.
two words with
synonyms.

35. VOCABULARY
In these
sentences, you 3. Computer games take up too
are aiming to much time of many
replace one or students.
two words with
synonyms.
Computer games waste too
much time of many pupils.

36. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to
change the word
form of one or
two of the words
in the sentence
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

37. WORD FORM
1. It is not easy to manage a
In these football team.
sentences, you 2. You are required to complete
are aiming to your coursework essay before
change the word the end of the semester.
form of one or 3. There are many dangers when
two of the words travelling in Central America.
in the sentence
and then rewrite 4. Being poor often results in a
the sentence. You greater chance of
do not need to malnutrition and disease.
use synonyms of
those words.

38. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 1. It is not easy to manage a
change the word football team.
form of one or
two of the words
in the sentence
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

39. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 1. It is not easy to manage a
change the word football team.
form of one or
two of the words The management of a
in the sentence football team is not easy.
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

40. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 2. You are required to complete
change the word your coursework essay before
form of one or the end of the semester.
two of the words
in the sentence
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

41. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 2. You are required to complete
change the word your coursework essay before
form of one or the end of the semester.
two of the words
in the sentence The completion of your
and then rewrite coursework essay is
the sentence. You required before the end of
do not need to the semester.
use synonyms of
those words.

42. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 3. There are many dangers when
change the word travelling in Central America.
form of one or
two of the words
in the sentence
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

43. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 3. There are many dangers when
change the word travelling in Central America.
form of one or
two of the words It is dangerous when
in the sentence travelling in Central
and then rewrite America.
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

44. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 4. Being poor often results in a
change the word greater chance of
form of one or malnutrition and disease.
two of the words
in the sentence
and then rewrite
the sentence. You
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

45. WORD FORM
In these
sentences, you
are aiming to 4. Being poor often results in a
change the word greater chance of
form of one or malnutrition and disease.
two of the words
in the sentence A greater chance of
and then rewrite malnutrition and disease
the sentence. You often results from poverty.
do not need to
use synonyms of
those words.

46. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence
structure, but
don't change the
meaning.

47. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
1. Toyotas are made in Japan.
In these
sentences change
2. It is illegal to sell heroin in
the sentence
Australia.
structure, but
don't change the
meaning. 3. A lot of people don't know
the effect of antibiotics.
4. People would buy fewer
goods if they were shown
less advertising.

48. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 1. Toyotas are made in Japan.
structure, but
don't change the
meaning.

49. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 1. Toyotas are made in Japan.
structure, but
don't change the They make Toyotas in Japan.
meaning.

50. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 2. It is illegal to sell heroin in
structure, but Australia.
don't change the
meaning.

51. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 2. It is illegal to sell heroin in
structure, but Australia.
don't change the
meaning. Selling heroin in Australia is
illegal.

52. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 3. A lot of people don't know
structure, but the effect of antibiotics.
don't change the
meaning.

53. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 3. A lot of people don't know
structure, but the effect of antibiotics.
don't change the
meaning. The effects of antibiotics are
not known by a lot of
people.

54. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 4. People would buy fewer
structure, but goods if they were shown
don't change the less advertising.
meaning.

55. SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
In these
sentences change
the sentence 4. People would buy fewer
structure, but goods if they were shown
don't change the less advertising.
meaning.
If people were shown less
advertising they would buy
fewer goods.

56. WORD LEVEL
In these exercises you have to rewrite the
sentences.
Often quite a few words can be replaced with just
1 or 2 words that accurately express the main
idea(s) of the sentence.
(This is one of the key parts of paraphrasing –
rewriting and using as few words as possible.

57. 1. Some employees have to work long hours in
hot, overcrowded conditions for low pay.
2. Computers can process information quicker and
with less mistakes than people.
3. The process of large numbers of people moving
from the countryside into cities means that the
amount of
housing, roading, schools, hospitals, electricity,
water and sewerage, for example, has to improve.
4. People attend higher learning institutions so
that they gain lots of knowledge about a wide
range of subjects and to get diplomas and
bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees.

58. 1. Some employees have to work long hours in
hot, overcrowded conditions for low pay.

59. 1. Some employees have to work long hours in
hot, overcrowded conditions for low pay.
Some workers are exploited.

60. 2. Computers can process information
quicker and with less mistakes than people.

61. 2. Computers can process information
quicker and with less mistakes than people.
Computers are more efficient than people.

62. 3. The process of large numbers of people
moving from the countryside into cities
means that the amount of
housing, roading, schools, hospitals, electri
city, water and sewerage, for example, has
to improve.

63. 3. The process of large numbers of people
moving from the countryside into cities
means that the amount of housing,
roading, schools, hospitals, electricity,
water and sewerage, for example, has to
improve.
Increased urbanisation requires improved
infrastructure.

64. 4. People attend higher learning institutions
so that they gain lots of knowledge about a
wide range of subjects and to get diplomas
and bachelors, masters and doctorate
degrees.

65. 4. People attend higher learning institutions
so that they gain lots of knowledge about a
wide range of subjects and to get diplomas
and bachelors, masters and doctorate
degrees.
People go to tertiary institutions to get
educated and gain qualifications.

66. Now try to rewrite these 3 sentences using your own
words – try to use all the paraphrasing techniques you
have been practicing.
1. Globally, businesses, national and local
governments, and property owners have begun to
retrofit millions of older buildings in a bid to cut
down on energy use and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
2. Firefighters have spent Friday afternoon and
evening trying to contain the front of a fire that is
threatening communities in Western Australia's
south-west.
3. A fifth of universities in England have made last-
minute cuts to the tuition fees they will charge
students next year, triggering potential chaos for

67. Once you have completed these exercises you are on the way to be being
able to paraphrase, although you still need to keep practicing.
There are many ways to practice paraphrasing. You could:
• take sentences, paragraphs or short sections from a textbook and
rewrite them in your own words
• look back at some of your own essays or those of your classmates and
rewrite sections of them
• take short extracts from novels, magazines, websites or any other
written material and paraphrase them
Paraphrasing is not an easy skill, but with practice you will become good
at it, and your essay, dissertation and thesis writing will be much better
as a result.