The ability to paraphrase both primary and secondary sources in academic papers is indispensable for one’s academic career. Proper rewording of other people’s thoughts and opinion facilitates creating smooth papers that feature diversified and well-thought content. If conducted inappropriately, however, paraphrasing may easily fall into the category of intellectual property theft.
When Paraphrasing is Plagiarism?
Writers commit plagiarism every time they reword sources without crediting original authors or fail to reference their sources appropriately. Plagiarism through paraphrasing can happen in two cases.
First, writer may choose to substitute some words from the original with different vocabulary, rearrange words, or rearrange the whole paragraph. In this way, he or she presents stolen information expressing it with his or her own words. And second, writer may try to use exactly the same vocabulary and stylistic constructions and use them with respect to another context. Plagiarism occurs in both cases.
When Paraphrasing is not Plagiarism?
Writers can paraphrase excerpts from other sources as much as they want - provided the actual source is fully acknowledged. Moreover, such a passage should be either quoted in accordance with the original or entirely rewritten. This means that mere change of several words is not enough for making a legitimate paraphrase.
Why Paraphrase in Academic Essays?
As far as academic writing is concerned, the ability to paraphrase is absolutely crucial. High standards of research papers can only be achieved thanks to well-organized composition. This will not happen if writers comment on inserted quotations all through their essays or imbed further necessary explanations in endnotes.
Paraphrasing allows of making statements drawn from sources as well as supported by them. All arguments illustrated in this manner, consequently, sound both accurate as well as fresh and amount to producing a high-quality piece of writing.
How to Paraphrase Sources in Academic Papers?
There are several tips that might be useful for the proper understanding of honest and legitimate paraphrase.
- Situate paraphrases in your essay – decide at which point paraphrasing is necessary and when quotation with ensuing comment will be needed more. The former should usually be located in the body paragraph, in the course or by the end of argumentation. Paraphrasing should be planned in advance.
- Draw a line before paraphrase and your own input – your thoughts and paraphrases should be easily discernible. Readers of your essay should expect a reference at the end of a sentence or paragraph which contains paraphrasing.
- Proofread your paraphrase – it should be skillfully incorporated into the body paragraph; it should sound fresh but should never change the original sense.
Paraphrasing is a powerful tool which can considerably raise the academic level of any essay. It should never distract from the focal point of attention but, on the contrary, reinforce it as well as the whole of argumentation that is being applied to a given topic. For examples on proper paraphrasing source information visit this site.
Further reading: Differences between Paraphrasing and Quoting
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
