Paraphrase your way to the top
Webinar Presentation
How to use this recording
• Watch
• Pause to do activities
• Slides: http://tinyurl.com/slideswebinar
Goals for this session
• Understand what paraphrasing is
• Understand why we need to paraphrase in our assignments
• Learn how to use overall and detail paraphrasing techniques
What is paraphrasing?
1.
Same information
2.
Your own way of expressing it
What are the benefits of paraphrasing?
1.
Understanding
2.
Show understanding
3.
Correct academic style
What about referencing?
Reference both quotes and paraphrased information
Find out how to reference at: learningsupport.acap.edu.au
Paraphrasing self check
My current skills in paraphrasing in writing are:
A) Zero
B) Limited
C) OK
D) Good
Example of paraphrasing
Original information*
For most people, it is not easy to make an appointment and then go to see a
counsellor. Although attitudes are starting to change, many people still hold the view
that it is a sign of weakness if people need outside help in order to be able to cope
with their problems.
* Source: Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest,
Australia: Pearson Education.
Example of paraphrasing
Original information*
For most people, it is not easy to make an appointment and then go to see a
counsellor. Although attitudes are starting to change, many people still hold the view
that it is a sign of weakness if people need outside help in order to be able to cope
with their problems.
Paraphrase
Arranging an appointment with a counsellor is difficult for many people. While views
are changing, the idea that needing help to solve problems is a sign of weakness is still
common in society.
* Source: Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest,
Australia: Pearson Education.
Example of paraphrasing
Original information*
For most people, it is not easy to make an appointment and then go to see a
counsellor. Although attitudes are starting to change, many people still hold the view
that it is a sign of weakness if people need outside help in order to be able to cope
with their problems.
Paraphrase
Arranging an appointment with a counsellor is difficult for many people. While views
are changing, the idea that needing help to solve problems indicates weakness is still
common in society.
*Source: Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia:
Pearson Education.
How do we paraphrase?
An overall approach
1. read the text
2. make notes
3. explain in your own words
4. compare your version with the original
How do we paraphrase?
Tip for the ‘explain in your own words’ stage
1. speak
2. record
3. write
Detail approach: Paraphrasing sentences
1. Change the order of information in a sentence
2. Replace words with
Synonyms
Phrases
Antonyms (and make negative)
3. Leave out words that are unnecessary to the meaning
Technique 1: Change the order of information
Dispositional optimism is a global expectation that more good things than bad will
happen in the future.*
The expectation that, overall, more good things than bad will happen in the future is
called dispositional optimism.
*Source: Carr, A. (2011). Positive Psychology. The science of happiness and human strengths (2nd ed.). Hove, UK: Routledge.
(p. 89)
Technique 2: Replace words with synonyms
Example:
The expectation that more good things than bad will happen in the future is called
dispositional optimism.
Anticipating that a greater number of positive things than negative will occur in the
future is known as dispositional optimism.
Technique 2: Replace words with phrases
Example:
Up until the end of the 1970’s optimism was considered to be a psychological deficit.*
Up until the end of the 1970’s optimism was considered to be a deficient way of
thinking.
Example of a full paraphrase from the original
Optimism was seen to be a deficient way of thinking up to the final years of the 1970’s.
*Source: Carr, A. (2011). Positive Psychology. The science of happiness and human strengths (2nd ed.). Hove, UK: Routledge. (p. 83)
Technique 2: Replace words with antonyms (and make negative)
Example:
Counselling relationships can sometimes be successful even when they are short.
Counselling relationships do not have to be long to be successful.
Technique 3: Leave out unnecessary words
Example:
Dispositional optimism is a global expectation that more good things than bad will
happen in the future.*
The expectation that more good things than bad will happen in the future is called
dispositional optimism.
Tools
• Microsoft Word thesaurus tool
• Paper or online thesauruses, e.g. thesaurus.com
Practice 1
Text to paraphrase:
It is not helpful for clients to perceive counsellors as superior experts who have the
answers to other people’s problems.
(Source: Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p.
9)
Practice 1
Text to paraphrase:
It is not helpful for clients to perceive counsellors as superior experts who have the
answers to other people’s problems.
Possible paraphrase:
Thinking of counsellors as authorities who are able to solve other people’s issues is
not useful for clients.
(Source: Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p. 9)
Practice 2
Text to paraphrase:
There are several dangers inherent in giving advice. Firstly, human being are remarkably
resistant to advice. Secondly, advice may be counterproductive even if the client follows
the advice.
(Source : Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p. 7)
Practice 2
Text to paraphrase:
There are several dangers inherent in giving advice. Firstly, human being are remarkably
resistant to advice. Secondly, advice may be counterproductive even if the client follows the
advice.
Possible paraphrase:
People often don’t take advice when it is given to them, and even if they do, it can have
negative consequences. Therefore, offering advice is risky.
(Source : Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p. 7)
Practice 3
Text to paraphrase:
If we are to be effective counsellors, we need to have a clear idea of our goals. A useful
short-term goal is to help clients to feel better, or at least to feel more comfortable. In
the long term, it is sensible to help clients to discover for themselves how to become
more self sufficient, and how to deal with ongoing and future life situations in a
constructive way without requiring continual help.
(Source for practice 3: Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p. 9)
Practice 3
Text to paraphrase:
If we are to be effective counsellors, we need to have a clear idea of our goals. A useful short-term goal is
to help clients to feel better, or at least to feel more comfortable. In the long term, it is sensible to help
clients to discover for themselves how to become more self sufficient, and how to deal with ongoing and
future life situations in a constructive way without requiring continual help.
Possible paraphrase:
It is important to have definite goals if we want to be useful as counsellors. In the short term, helping
clients achieve an improved emotional state is a beneficial goal. Aiding clients to find their own strategies
for dealing with the situations in their lives is a useful goal for the longer term. This goal focuses on
making clients independent.
(Source for practice 3: Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education. (p. 9)
More resources
Microsoft Word Thesaurus Tool How to video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96qyl4FwBCU )
Online thesaurus tools, e.g.
http://thesaurus.com
RMIT Study and Learning Centre:
http://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/paraphrasing
Slides for this webinar:
http://tinyurl.com/slideswebinar
Help with study
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