What is "paraphrase"?
Unlike a summary that contains only the main idea(s) and supporting primary detail of a passage, a paraphrase literally reframes and recomposes every idea of someone else's composition into your own voice. It begins at the opening of a passage and then proceeds idea by idea to the end of the passage, leaving out none of the concepts.

Length of Paraphrases
Because the paraphrase includes every idea in a passage, it is often close to the same length as the original passage. To the extent that ideas may be reframed in shorter phrases in the translation of the author's original statements, the paraphrase can end up shorter than the passage.

Paraphrasing in Two Stages
In Writing from Sources, author Brenda Spatt suggests paraphrasing in two stages: first, a literal paraphrase, and second, a free paraphrase.

The Literal Paraphrase
The "literal paraphrase" focuses on specific words or short phrases in the original text that may be vague, ambiguous, or awkward due to their stilted style no longer in use. Contemporary synonyms are used in place of such clumsy words and phrases.

The Free Paraphrase
The "free paraphrase" begins where the literal paraphrase leaves off, "translating" now each complete idea into your own style or voice.

Drafting the Paraphrase
Even working in the two stages explained above, paraphrasing is not easy. You will find it necessary to compose several drafts--maybe even five or six revisions for even short passages--before you wil be satisfied that you have completely reframed all ideas into a consistant voice or style.

Paraphrase and the Research Paper
Paraphrase is the pattern most frequently used in introducing ideas from secondary sources like scholarly articles, books, magazines, and online resources.

Documentation of Paraphrases
Just as you would a quotation or even a casual reference to a source, paraphrases must be both cited and documented according to the style sheet you are following (usually either MLA or APA).

Go to Exercise 11

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