Do Your Own - Paraphrase - Assignment Key Words - Writing Projects

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Get your assignment in front of you, then follow the instructions below. Type your response to each step in the box below it. When you have filled in all the boxes, click on the button at the bottom of the page and you will be well on your way to a completed project.

Step 1: Look carefully at the original text you have read. Isolate those sentences that state the idea you want to paraphrase. Write those sentences in the box below: Step 2: One of the best ways to paraphrase without using the language or sentence structure from the original is to first understand the idea, then walk away from the original source—turn the article over or close your book. You want to capture the meaning using your own words.

Without looking back at the original, write your paraphrase in the box below: Step 3: Even though you aren't using quotations, you still need to make it clear that this isn't your idea but someone else's. Otherwise you are plagiarizing—stealing somebody else's ideas and pretending they are your own. You need to provide information about who you are paraphrasing:

Who came up with this idea? (Name of author or speaker)
Where was the idea written or spoken? (Title of book, article, television program, lecture.)
If you found this in a book or article, which page was it on? (page number)

In the box below, answer the above questions as succinctly as possible. If you have been asked to use a certain documentation style, put your answers into that format. We also have some tips on citing sources.)

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