In class, you are often asked to read an article, and paraphrase it, that is, put the main ideas into your own words. This is a skill that will be needed throughout school and probably in your future career. If you learn how to paraphrase well, you will avoid the appearance of plagiarism.

How do you find and paraphrase the main ideas of each paragraph (or significant section of text)*?

1. Read the paragraph. Look up the meaning of words you don't know.

2. Identify the topic.

3. Then point out two or three words that reflect the topic.

4. Use these words as a prompt to figure out the main idea of the paragraph.

5. Select two details that explain the main idea and are important to remember. (Omit unimportant or redundant information.)

6. Put the main idea and supporting details into your own words.

7. Summarize after each major section of text.

1. Read the following paragraph from The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller:

"Debarred from the great highways of knowledge, I was compelled to make the journey across country by unfrequented roads; that was all. In the wonderland of Mind I should be as free as another. In a word, literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the sense shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness."

Words to look up: debarred; unfrequented; utopia; disenfranchised; discourse

Debarred: To be shut out or excluded

Unfrequented: out of the way or isolated

Utopia: any ideal place or state; state of perfection

Disenfranchised: deprived of a right or privilege

Discourse: communication of thought in words, either in speech or writing

2. What is the topic?

Helen Keller is writing about the freedom she experiences through reading.

3. Point out two or three words that reflect or suggest the topic.

Debarred from knowledge

In mind; free

Literature; Utopia

No barrier with book friends

4. Use these words as a prompt to figure out the main idea of the paragraph.

Q. Why did the author feel she was debarred from the main highways of knowledge?

A. Helen Keller was blind and deaf, so could not learn like others who could use their eyes and ears.

Q. Why did she feel she was free in "Mind"?

A. Being blind and deaf did not prevent Helen Keller from actively using her mind.

Q. What does it mean to refer to literature as her Utopia?

A. She could grasp ideas and stories through Brailled books using her sense of touch; therefore, she was able to think with authors, to understand and live through the books she was able to read.

Q. What did she mean when she said she felt no barrier with her book friends?

A. Thoughts, ideas and even feelings could be communicated through the print medium that were harder to grasp when in face-to-face discussions with people.

5. Select two details that explain the main idea and are important to remember. (Omit unimportant or redundant information.)

In the wonderland of Mind I should be as free as another. In a word, literature is my Utopia.

No barrier of the sense shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends.

6. Put the main idea and supporting details into your own words.

Helen Keller felt free when she could read because the barriers of blindness and deafness could not prevent her from enjoying ideas expressed through literature.

Note: If you are dyslexic and feel embarrassed to read aloud, you might explain this to your instructor and fellow students in your group, and ask another student to read aloud, while you do the paraphrasing. This way your decoding problems might be covered, and you will show that you are doing the work of paraphrasing.

As you read your assignments, you can write out your paraphrases. In the end, write a short summary of the passage based upon your paraphrases for your future use. This could help you study for a quiz or exam, or set you up for writing an essay or report.

If you are working online, it might work well to have two windows open: the class lecture or reading assignment, and a Word document. This way you can utilize the thesaurus under "Tools" on your menu, which is really helpful with vocabulary, plus spelling.

Other Sources: University of Kansas Strategies Intervention Model Curriculum, Paraphrasing (1984), Baumann (1984), Tayler (1985), Palincsar (1987), in Lauren Resnick's Knowing, Learning, and Instruction: Essays in Honor of Robert Glaser (1989).

Send your questions and/or answers in so they can become part of this series. All you have to do is click on my name to send an email: Gerry Lewin. Thanks!