I’m Paraphrasing Here
The Purpose of Paraphrasing
Academic writing presents different methods for referencing the work of others. Summaries present a truncated version of a text in its entirety, while direct quotes focus on a specific sentence or two. Paraphrasing is a compromise between the two: when you paraphrase a source, you’re focusing on a specific idea within a text that usually spans several paragraphs to many pages.
Strategies for Paraphrasing
Like summarizing or directly quoting a source, paraphrase requires you as the writer to introduce the source by name of the article (and even the name of the article, book, or other content you’re citing). This serves as a visual signal to your readers that you’re about to shift from your own ideas to the ideas of a source.
Because paraphrasing can be seen as a middle ground between a summary and a direct quote, you’ll need to identify the paragraphs or sections you want to reference in your work. Then, you’ll put those paragraphs or sections into your own words. Paraphrasing requires the same ethical considerations and applications as a summary:
Be honest
Be fair
Be objective
Once you’ve included the source material in your own words, you’ll then want to include the necessary parenthetical citation that aligns with the style you’ve selected.
But you’re not done yet! Never assume the reader will just know how the source you’ve paraphrased is relevant to your own ideas. Clearly state how the source fits into your overall writing.
Example
Ethically collecting data on an individual, especially with digital tools, is often associated with social media sites like Facebook and TikTok, but the conversation is much more dynamic, expanding into areas more personal and private than a social media account. In her book Afterlives of Data (2022), Mary F. E. Ebeling critiques the flexible language of HIPPA and other laws governing the use of a patient’s medical data. She notes that, with its current language, patients have too little control about how their medical records are used and shared outside of their doctor’s office. Ebeling’s ideas further support the need for more defined laws and policies related to user data collection and usage.
More on Paraphrasing
- Paraphrasing: Write It In Your Own Words from the Purdue University OWL
- Paraphrases from APA Style