Paraphrasing Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.5.8

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When we have a serious task in front of us it is often helpful to reflect on work that has already been performed by others. Why reinvent the wheel or fire? We will often summarize a body of work to put the thoughts of an author in our own words. This means that we took the main points the author put forward and just redirected them. Paraphrasing is when you pinpoint an exact section of an author's words and make sense of them by putting them in your own words. You will want to paraphrase when you feel the need to clarify a short text based reading passage. It is also helpful when you are writing research pieces where you want to avoid using quotations too much. These worksheets will ask you to both summarize and paraphrase the work of other authors.

Paraphrasing Worksheets:

In Summary - You will need a 4-5 page reading passage to go along with this organizer. Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea. Use your own words as much as possible.

Paraphrasing - You'll need more text for this one. Read the text twice, to make sure you understand it. Now set the text aside. In the thought bubble write down what you remember, in your own words, answering the questions who, what, where, when, why and how. Then use your notes to paraphrase the text on the lines.

Summarizing from your Sources - All parts of research are broken down here. When you take notes while doing research, write down only the important information and ideas. Use your own words. Be sure to make a note of each source.

Summarizing - Can you get it all in one sentence? What is the most important detail in the mix?

Summary | Paraphrase - This does flow nice. Many teachers use this as a template for their classes. It helps you get a handle on both skills in one nice worksheet.

Fishing For Information - Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea.

Keep it Short! - Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea. Use your own words as much as possible.

Paraphrasing - When you paraphrase, you write the ideas from the text in your own words.

Writing a Summary - Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea.

Out for Pizza - Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea.

In Your Own Words... - When you paraphrase, you write the ideas from the text in your own words.

Paraphrasing - When you paraphrase, you write the ideas from the text in your own words.

Short and Sweet - Write the text's main idea in one sentence. Then write only the important details that explain the main idea.

Sharing Great Ideas - Read the text twice, to make sure you understand it. Now set the text aside.

Trick or Treat - In your own words, answer the questions who, what, where, when, why and how. Then use your notes to paraphrase the text on the lines.

The Mechanics - You will be given a reading passage about gardening that you will put your skills to work for.

Plotting - Complete all of the sentences by choosing the proper wording.

Paraphrase vs. Summarize - We compare and contrast the two closely related concepts.

Introduction - This is perfect for class discussions where you introduce the topic. It can also be used as a review worksheet.

True or False - We cover some serious detail on this technique in here.

Practice Passage - You will be given an detailed example to work off of and then asked to use this technique with a reading passage.

Citing Sheet - This is a great note sheet to have handy.

Article Practice - Find an article in a print periodical that you want to read. Read the article. Then choose a passage from the article that you find particular interesting and paraphrase it.

Inaugural Address - You read John F. Kennedy's 1961 address and reference it in your own work.

Three Things - As you conduct your research, fill out the questionnaire for each of your sources.

Fiction - We look at how to apply this skill to fictional works.

Passage Breakdown - This worksheet walks you through the steps you need to take to apply this skill to an assigned reading passage.

Sentences - You will paraphrase a series of sentences.

Explain the Concept - Why is it an important technique to learn?

Exercises - Flex your muscles and get some real quality work in on this worksheet.

What is Paraphrasing?

One of the most common tasks assigned to students in their initial stages of learning is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is the practice of rewriting a text in your own words without adding anything to it or removing anything from the original text. While this may be aimed at strengthening the written skills of students from an early age, learning paraphrasing becomes inevitable after one reaches a stage where they have to cite and add someone else's works in their own research to substantiate their work with suitable evidences.


The Process of Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is an important academic skill a student must acquire. In order to paraphrase any text, one has to thoroughly and carefully read it twice or even more times. The purpose of such a detailed reading is to understand the text to its very core, ensuring that no chunk of information in the actual text is left unnoticed. Once careful reading is done, the person has to rewrite the whole idea in his or her own words. This rewriting does not merely mean using synonyms for words in the original text, but also includes changing sentence structure, making ideas more clear and easier to understand, and can also be a total different sequence of sub-ideas put down to ultimately convey the exact sense as has been conveyed by the original text.


What Makes a Paraphrased Text Excellent?

There are a few points to be kept in mind while paraphrasing anything to make sure that the text has been excellently paraphrased. A good paraphrased text only includes ideas that were there in the actual text and there is no addition or subtraction of ideas by the one who is paraphrasing. It is simple and cited without any personal ideas being narrated by the second author.


How To Paraphrase Properly


If your work or degree revolves around submitting written content, you probably already understand the importance of proper paraphrasing. In today's world, one can find ample information online on every possible topic. Although this can help gather data for your work, it makes writing an original piece of content extremely challenging.


Submitting poorly paraphrased work can lead to your work being categorized as plagiarized. Plagiarism is a serious offense in many countries worldwide and can cancel your admission and degree and even affect your job.


Paraphrasing or rephrasing is the use of different words, expressions, phrases, and texts to restate a passage or concept while keeping the gist of the content the same.


Paraphrasing is often used by students, writers, and professional content creators to avoid plagiarism and produce an original written piece of work. Not only does paraphrasing help avoid the consequences of submitting plagiarized work, but it also helps an individual gain recognition as a writer with good work ethic who respects intellectual property.


Step 1: Spend Time Reading the Passage Carefully


There is nothing wrong with using a book or internet sources to write your content, as a one person can't know everything. However, you must respect the original writer's intellectual property and refrain from copying their work as your own.


Instead, to paraphrase the information, spend time reading the passage carefully. Read the content three to four times before you start penning down the information. Doing so will help you understand the main concept or the gist of the information.


Step 2: Pen Down the Key Ideas


Once you have read the content thoroughly and have gained insight into the author's words, the next step is to pen down the key ideas or concepts on a rough piece of paper. Although many writers tend to skip this step, doing this will greatly help you structure your work with greater coherence.


Step 3: Get to Writing


Keep the paper containing the key ideas before you and get to writing. For this step, refrain from looking at the author's original work and stick to the key ideas you have penned down. Doing so will make help you write as originally as possible.


Step 4: Compare Your Work with The Original Text


Once you are done writing, compare what you have written with the original text. This step is not to copy the author's tone or expression; instead, it is to make any necessary factual or conceptual adjustments.


Step 5: Provide Accurate Citations


To write as ethically as possible, never forget to give credit to the source that helped you produce your content. Remember to provide proper citations for all the papers, journals, online sources, etc., that you used to complete your task.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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