Paraphrasing Strategies

Research Help (Big 6) » Paraphrasing Step By Step

Paraphrasing Step By Step

Instructions

Follow each of the 3 steps below to learn one way to create a paraphrase.

Each step makes one kind of change.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Original quote you want to paraphrase: (works cited)

"Genetic engineering is based on the premise that we can take a gene from species A, where it does some desirable thing, and move it into species B, where it will continue to do that same desirable thing." (Ehrenfeld 1).

Step 1: Find different words for those you don't understand

Here is the original quote, showing how you would replace [words you don't know] with words you understand. Look in a thesaurus for synonyms to use.

Genetic engineering is based on the idea [premise] that we can take a piece of DNA telling what you will look like [gene] from species A, where it does some desirable thing, and move it into species B, where it will continue to do that same desirable thing (Ehrenfeld 1).

Working paraphrase, showing step 1 changes described above:

Genetic engineering is based on the idea that we can take a piece of DNA telling what you will look like from species A, where it does some desirable thing, and move it into species B, where it will continue to do that same desirable thing (Ehrenfeld 1).

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Step 2: Add explanations that make the sentences sound more like you would talk

Working paraphrase, showing how you would replace [words that don't sound like you] with words that sound like you would talk.

Genetic engineering is based on the idea that we can take a piece of DNA telling what you will look like from one living thing species A, where it has a characteristic you want does some desirable thing, and move it into another living thing species B, where it will cause the characteristic you want continue to do that same desirable thing (Ehrenfeld 1).

Revised working paraphrase, showing step 2 changes described above:

Genetic engineering is based on the idea that we can take a piece of DNA telling what you will look like from one living thing , where it has a characteristic you want, and move it into another living thing, where it will cause the characteristic you want (Ehrenfeld 1).

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Step 3: Change the order of the sentence phrases

Working paraphrase, showing how you would replace [the original sentence order] with a changed sentence order.

Genetic engineering involves causing a changed characteristic in a living thing by replacing a piece of its DNA with a piece of DNA taken from another living thing. Genetic engineering is based on the idea that we can take a piece of DNA telling what you will look like from one living thing , where it has a characteristic you want, and move it into another living thing, where it will cause the characteristic you want [Note: this is moved earlier in the sentence] (Ehrenfeld 1).

Finished paraphrase, with final Step 3 changes added:

Genetic engineering involves causing a changed characteristic in a living thing by replacing a piece of its DNA with a piece of DNA taken from another living thing (Ehrenfeld 1).

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Works Cited

Ehrenfeld, David. "Agricultural Biotechnology Presents Health Risks." In Food Safety. ed. by Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Group. District 214 Libraries, Arlington Heights, IL. 11 Oct. 2005 <http://www.galenet.com/>.

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