1. What is the concept of paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is a crucial skill, particularly when preparing for CEPT and TOEIC tests. Let's examine an example to grasp the concept of a "paraphrased sentence."
The scheduled departure time of the airplane is 4:00. >>> The plane will take off at 4:00.
Both sentences convey the same meaning.
Paraphrasing involves expressing an idea using different vocabulary and sentence structures.
2. Why is paraphrasing knowledge essential?
Understanding paraphrasing is vital for accurately answering questions in the listening and reading sections of exams like CEPT/TOEIC. These sections usually consist of multiple-choice questions, where one of the answer choices is a paraphrased version of the information in the reading passage.
Example: Venus, Inc. is a prominent company in the cosmetics industry.
Question: What products does Venus, Inc. manufacture?
A. Women's clothing
B. Diet food
C. Beauty products
D. Sports equipment
Since the sentence states that Venus, Inc. is a cosmetics company, the logical inference is that their products are cosmetics. Paraphrasing "cosmetics" as "beauty products" leads us to the correct answer, (C) Beauty products.
3. What are specific techniques of paraphrasing?
a) Expressing the same meaning with different expressions:
This paraphrasing technique involves using alternative expressions to convey the same message.
Original: I need to postpone the meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Paraphrase: I want to reschedule the meeting.
In this example, "postpone the meeting" is paraphrased as "reschedule the meeting," indicating a rearrangement of the meeting time.
b) Generalizing a concept:
This technique involves using a different expression to refer to a more general concept.
Original: The registration fee includes a hotel room for two nights.
Paraphrase: Accommodations are included in the registration fee.
Here, "hotel room" is generalized as "accommodations," encompassing the broader concept of lodging.
c) Summarizing a sentence or clause:
This technique involves condensing a sentence or clause into a simpler form.
Original: I ordered men's shirts and sunglasses, but only men's shirts were delivered.
Paraphrase: Sunglasses were not included in the shipment.
In this paraphrase, the original sentence is summarized to deliver a more concise message: sunglasses were missing from the delivery.
d) Drawing inferences:
This technique involves deriving a new fact based on one or more sentences or clauses.
Original: The fact that their team won the game was a surprise to many Bricktown residents.
Paraphrase: The Bricktown residents did not expect their team to win the game.
By inferring from the original sentence, we can conclude that the Bricktown residents were surprised by their team's victory.
Understanding these paraphrasing techniques enhances your language skills and helps you effectively communicate and interpret information in various contexts.
4. How to paraphrase effectively?
a) Change the sentence structure:
Paraphrasing involves restructuring the sentence while maintaining the same meaning. One way to achieve this is by changing the sentence structure. For example:
Original: The dog chased the cat.
Paraphrased: The cat was chased by the dog.
By swapping the subject and object and using a different verb form, the sentence is paraphrased.
b) Replace words with synonyms:
Another technique is to replace certain words with their synonyms. This helps to vary the vocabulary while conveying the same message. For instance:
Original: The movie was entertaining.
Paraphrased: The film was captivating.
Here, "entertaining" is paraphrased as "captivating," providing an alternative word with a similar meaning.
c) Use different expressions:
Paraphrasing can also involve expressing the same idea using different words or phrases. This adds variety to the language while retaining the intended meaning. For example:
Original: She was extremely tired.
Paraphrased: She was utterly exhausted.
By using "extremely" as "utterly," the sentence is paraphrased with a different expression.
5. Importance of paraphrasing in academic writing:
Paraphrasing plays a crucial role in academic writing, particularly when incorporating external sources. It allows you to convey the information from the source while using your own words and maintaining academic integrity. Here's an example:
Original source: According to the study, sleep deprivation can negatively impact cognitive function.
Paraphrased: The research indicates that a lack of sleep can have adverse effects on cognitive abilities.
In academic writing, paraphrasing helps avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the original source while presenting the information in a unique way.
6. Paraphrasing in conversation:
Paraphrasing is not only important in exams and academic writing but also in everyday conversations. It helps demonstrate active listening and understanding. When paraphrasing in conversations, you reflect back the speaker's words in your own words to ensure comprehension. For instance:
Speaker: I'm really stressed out about this project deadline.
Paraphrase: It seems like you're feeling a lot of pressure because of the project's deadline.
By paraphrasing the speaker's statement, you show empathy and understanding, allowing for clearer communication.
Remember, paraphrasing is a valuable skill that can be honed with practice. It helps you convey information effectively, understand others' messages, and excel in exams that require comprehension and inference skills.
