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2.4: Paraphrasing Step 1 - Try to Explain

  • Page ID
    304747
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    After you’ve carefully read and annotated a passage, the first step in paraphrasing is simply to explain what the passage is about: What is the author trying to say? We’ll practice this paraphrasing strategy with some proverbs, or well-known expressions. (Note that because these expressions are common knowledge, we do not need to cite the author.)
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    Example: "Every cloud has a silver lining."

    Close your eyes and think about what this proverb means. How would you explain it to someone?

    There are lots of different ways you could explain this proverb. Here are some example paraphrases:

    • Even bad events have something good in them.
    • Always look on the bright side.
    • If it rains, that means that flowers will grow!
    • When something negative happens, there’s usually something positive in it.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

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    Answer

    Add texts here. Do not delete this text first.

    PRACTICE 1: Paraphrasing Proverbs

    Try this first step with the following proverbs. Explain what each means.

    1. Proverb: Beauty is only skin-deep.

    My paraphrase:
    2. Proverb: Never send a boy to do a man’s job.

    My paraphrase:
    3. Proverb: Practice makes perfect.

    My paraphrase:

    When you select a quotation to paraphrase, always start with this first step. Without looking at the passage, think about how you would explain it to another person. Write that down without looking at the passage. Then, move on to Step 2 to improve your paraphrase.

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    This page titled 2.4: Paraphrasing Step 1 - Try to Explain is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Trischa Duke, Becky Bonarek, and Steph Mielcarek.