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Communication Skills
Communication Skills
What is the purpose of paraphrasing and what are its techniques?
Paraphrasing is a
technique that involves changing a text matter, so that it is quite dissimilar
to the main source. But we should be careful to retain all the meaning
of the passage. This skill is useful white expanding the taken notes or vice
versa. Effective paraphrasing avoids the risk of plagiarism. You should
remember some important points in the process of paraphrasing. They are —
‘1. Although paraphrasing techniques are used in summary writing, it does
not aim to shorten the length of a text, merely to restate the text.
E.g.: Evidence of a lost civilization has been found off the coast of China.
This could be paraphrased as —
Remains of an ancient society have been discovered in the sea near China.
2. A good paraphrase is significantly different from the wording of the original, without altering the meaning at all, Read the text below and then decide which is the best paraphrase.
‘1. Although paraphrasing techniques are used in summary writing, it does
not aim to shorten the length of a text, merely to restate the text.
E.g.: Evidence of a lost civilization has been found off the coast of China.
This could be paraphrased as —
Remains of an ancient society have been discovered in the sea near China.
2. A good paraphrase is significantly different from the wording of the original, without altering the meaning at all, Read the text below and then decide which is the best paraphrase.
Text: Ancient Egypt collapsed in about 2180 BC.
Studies conducted of the mud from the River Nile showed that at this time the
mountainous regions which feed the Nile
suffered from a prolonged drought. This would have had a devastating effect on
the ability of Egyptian society to feed itself,
a) The sudden ending of
Egyptian civilization over 4000 years ago was probably caused by changes in the
weather in the region to the south. Without the regular river flooding there
would not have been enough food.
b) Research into deposits
of the Egyptian Nile indicate that a long dry period in the mountains at the
river’s source may have led to a lack of water for irrigation around 2180 BC,
which was when the collapse of Egyptian society began.
3. Techniques:
i) Changing vocabulary — studies> research
society> civilization
mud >deposits
ii) Changing word class — Egypt (n) > Egyptian (adj.)
mountainous regions (adj.+ noun) > in the mountains (n)
iii) Changing word order — Ancient Egypt collapsed> the collapse of Egyptian society began.
i) Changing vocabulary — studies> research
society> civilization
mud >deposits
ii) Changing word class — Egypt (n) > Egyptian (adj.)
mountainous regions (adj.+ noun) > in the mountains (n)
iii) Changing word order — Ancient Egypt collapsed> the collapse of Egyptian society began.