Extra handout for paraphrasing
What is paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means restating the ideas of a text in your own words. The number of words used in a
paraphrased version can be about the same as in the original passage. It is important to read,
understand and paraphrase the text carefully so that you don’t change the author’s meanings in the
original text.
Suggested Paraphrasing Methods
1. Use synonyms for the keywords in a sentence.
When you look up the words in a dictionary, you have to choose the word that is in the same part of
speech of the original word.
The original version:
Rain forests are often located near the equator.
The paraphrased version:
Rain forests are frequently situated close to the equator.
2. Rearrange ideas in a different order as long as they still make sense.
You may change the position and organization of the phrases or clauses in the sentence.
The original version:
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand.
The paraphrased version:
The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok.
3. Change from the active voice to the passive voice and vice versa.
There are two special forms for verbs called “voice”. In the active voice, the object receives the
action of the verb. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb.
The original version:
Architects can use a domed roof to conserve floor space.
The paraphrased version:
A domed roof can be used by architects to conserve floor space.
4. Change the form of the keywords in a sentence.

You may change a main verb into a noun.
The original version:
One result of playing word, puzzle and trivia games is that they
can improve children’s speech.
The paraphrased version:
The improvement of children’s speech is one result of playing
word, puzzle and trivia games.

You may change a noun into a verb.
The original version:
Parents should put restrictions on their children’s use of mobile
phones.
The paraphrased version:
Parents should restrict their children’s use of mobile phones.
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Paraphrasing Exercise
Use synonyms for the keywords
1. There has been a significant growth in the use of the Internet since 2000.
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2. Regular exercises can prevent us from serious illnesses.
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3. We hope to reach our goal of finding 90 percent of all objects.
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Rearrange ideas
4. Money is one of the big stressors for many students today.
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5. Dinosaurs were the largest and most powerful animals of the history of animal life.
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6. The title of this book is Academic Connection 1.
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Change from the active voice to the passive voice and vice versa.
7. Computers require a set of instructions to perform a specific task.
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8. Many scientists accepted Jack Sepkoski and David Raup’s academic paper.
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9. Volcanoes caused the iridium layer.
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10. People can form first impression very quickly from little information.
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Change the parts of speech of the underlined words. Make other changes to make the sentences
grammatically correct.
11. The researchers are anxious about the extinction of the humans.
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12. It is predicted that unemployment will increase to 700,000.
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13. Teachers and administers should put restrictions on the students’ use of computers.
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14. One result of watching English news is that they can improve students’ English speaking skills.
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