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Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill sitting at the crossroads of comprehension, expression, and academic integrity. In academic environment, paraphrasing holds significance due to a number of reasons. It’s an excellent mental workout that pushes the boundaries of your understanding and critical thinking. By rewording, you learn to articulate complex ideas in your own words, an invaluable skill for everyone in all fields. Moreover, paraphrasing plays a key role in maintaining academic integrity, allowing students to incorporate and acknowledge others’ ideas within their work. Continue reading to learn everything about the importance of paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing and Skill Development

When done effectively, paraphrasing has several benefits that simple rewording can’t produce. It is a comprehensive ability that greatly contributes to academic and intellectual development. Let’s look at some of the important advantages:

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Paraphrasing and its impact on academic papers.

Paraphrasing is a part of academic writing. It links current information and fresh discoveries, enabling authors to include authoritative sources into their writings as a careful integration that adds depth and uniqueness. When done well, paraphrasing indicates the author’s understanding of the original material, demonstrating that they not only can grasp complicated topics but also explain them in a new way. This helps to build a stronger, more compelling argument by anchoring theoretical ideas in proven research and avoiding the problems of plagiarism.

Moreover, effective paraphrasing improves the academic paper by introducing diversity in expression and preventing monotony, keeping readers engaged. It allows the writer to maintain a consistent voice throughout the document, creating the paper as a cohesive story rather than a patchwork of disconnected quotations. This coherence is critical for the reader’s understanding and for conveying the author’s perspective on the topic.

Equally important is the ethical aspect of paraphrasing. Properly rephrased and cited, it maintains the integrity of academic work, distinguishing it from plagiarism and unauthorized use of intellectual property. This ethical practice supports the credibility and trustworthiness of the paper itself.

To sum up, paraphrasing significantly impacts academic papers by promoting understanding, originality, and ethical standards. It demonstrates the author’s capacity to participate in and contribute to academic dialogue, making it a valuable skill in the scholarly community.

What distinguishes effective paraphrasing from simple rewording?

Effective paraphrasing involves a deep understanding of the original material, allowing the paraphraser to convey the same ideas in a completely new way that reflects their voice and style. True paraphrasing demonstrates comprehension and the ability to critically engage with the text, thereby adding value to the academic discourse. In contrast, simple rewording often results in a piece that is too close to the source, lacking originality and failing to fully grasp the underlying concepts.

Can paraphrasing tools ensure academic integrity?

While paraphrasing tools can aid in rephrasing text, they do not guarantee academic integrity on their own. These tools may provide a starting point for rewriting content, but they often lack the nuance and understanding required for true paraphrasing. Academic integrity involves correctly interpreting and crediting the source material, a process that requires human judgment and ethical consideration. Thus, while paraphrasing tools can be helpful, they should be used cautiously, with the final work carefully reviewed and adjusted to ensure it meets academic standards.

How does paraphrasing contribute to the development of academic writing style?

Paraphrasing contributes to the development of academic writing style by enhancing clarity, precision, and personal voice. It encourages deeper engagement with source material, leading to better critical thinking and analytical skills. Through paraphrasing, writers expand their vocabulary and learn to express complex ideas in their own manner, making their arguments more cohesive.

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• What is Paraphrasing? An Overview With Examples
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• James Prior
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• Updated February 23, 2024

What is paraphrasing? Or should I say what is the definition of paraphrasing? If you want to restate something using different words whilst retaining the same meaning, this is paraphrasing.

In this article, we cover what paraphrasing is, why it’s important, and when you should do it. Plus, some benefits and examples.

Table of Contents

Paraphrase Definition: What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is when you restate the information from a source using your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It involves expressing the ideas in a different way, often to clarify or simplify the content, without directly quoting the source.

When you paraphrase, you are not only borrowing, clarifying, or expanding on the information but also ensuring that you do all of these actions without plagiarizing the original content. It’s therefore definitely worth learning how to paraphrase if you want to improve your writing skills.

Why is Paraphrasing Important?

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill that allows you to convey information in your unique writing style while still giving credit to someone else’s ideas. It’s important for several reasons, and it serves various functions in both academic and professional writing.

Here are some key reasons why you should paraphrase:

• Paraphrasing allows you to present information from sources in your own words, reducing the risk of plagiarism. Proper in-text citation is still necessary, but paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding and interpretation of the material.
• When you paraphrase, you are required to comprehend the original content fully. You actively engage with the information, helping you better understand complex concepts and ideas. This process of restating the information in your own words showcases your understanding of the subject matter.
• By paraphrasing, you can clarify complex ideas or technical language and convey information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form. This makes it more accessible to your audience and ensures they grasp the key points. This is particularly important when communicating with readers who may not be familiar with specialized terminology.
• Paraphrasing is valuable when synthesizing information from various sources. It enables you to blend ideas cohesively while maintaining a consistent writing style throughout your work.
• Paraphrasing allows you to inject your unique writing style and voice into the content. It helps you present information in a way that is more aligned with your personal expression and perspective.
• In certain situations where you need to meet specific length requirements for assignments or publications, paraphrasing allows you to convey information more concisely while still preserving the essential meaning.
• Paraphrasing helps maintain a smooth flow and cohesiveness in your writing. It allows you to integrate information seamlessly, avoiding abrupt shifts between your own ideas and those from external sources.
• Depending on your audience, you may need to adapt the language and level of technicality of the information you present. Paraphrasing allows you to tailor the content to suit the needs of your specific readership.

Incorporating paraphrasing into your writing not only showcases your understanding of the material but also enhances the overall quality and originality of your work.

When Should You Paraphrase?

Knowing when to paraphrase is an important skill, especially in academic writing and professional communication. Here are some situations in which you should consider paraphrasing:

• To Avoid Plagiarism:  Whenever you want to incorporate information from source material into your own work, but don’t want to use a direct quotation, paraphrasing is necessary to present the ideas in your own words while still acknowledging the original source.
• To Express Understanding:  Paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of a topic by rephrasing the information in a way that shows you have processed and comprehended the material.
• To Simplify Complex Information:  If you encounter complex or technical language that may be difficult for your audience to understand, paraphrasing can help you clarify and simplify the information to make it more accessible and digestible.
• To Integrate Multiple Sources:  When synthesizing information from multiple sources, paraphrasing allows you to blend the ideas cohesively while maintaining your own voice and perspective.
• To Maintain Consistency in Writing Style:  In academic writing or professional writing, paraphrasing can help you maintain a consistent writing style throughout your work. This helps to ensure that all sections flow smoothly and are coherent.
• To Meet Specific Requirements:  Some assignments or publications may have specific requirements. This could relate to the number of words or concern the use of direct quotations. In such cases, paraphrasing allows you to meet these requirements while still incorporating relevant information from your sources.

What Are the Benefits of Paraphrasing?

Rewriting information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form is called paraphrasing, so one of the benefits of paraphrasing is already clear! However, it can also be a useful exercise for other reasons, which are outlined below:

Avoiding Plagiarism

One of the main benefits of paraphrasing is mastering the ability to present information from external sources in a way that is entirely your own. By restructuring the content and expressing it using your words, you create a distinct piece of writing that reflects your comprehension and interpretation of the original material. This not only showcases your academic or professional integrity but also safeguards against unintentional plagiarism.

Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill in academic and professional settings, where originality and proper attribution are highly valued. This is especially true when it comes to writing research papers, where you’ll often need to reference someone else’s ideas with appropriate citations.

When you paraphrase effectively, you communicate to your audience that you respect the intellectual property of others while contributing your unique insights. This ethical approach to information usage enhances your credibility as a writer or researcher and reinforces the integrity of your work.

Enhancing Understanding

When you engage in paraphrasing, you actively participate in the material you are working with. You are forced to consider the ideas presented in the source material. You need to discern the essential concepts, identify key phrases, and decide how best to convey the message in a way that resonates with you.

This active engagement not only aids in understanding the content but also encourages critical thinking as you evaluate and interpret the information from your own standpoint.

By expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, you deepen your understanding of the content. This process requires you to dissect the original text, grasp its nuances, and then reconstruct it using your language and perspective. In this way, you go beyond mere memorization and truly internalize the information, fostering a more profound comprehension of the subject matter.

Tailoring Information for Your Audience

Paraphrasing empowers you to adapt the language and complexity of the information to suit the needs and understanding of your audience. As you rephrase the content, you have the flexibility to adjust the level of technicality, simplify complex terminology, or tailor the tone to make the information more accessible to your specific readership.

Consider your audience’s background, knowledge level, and interests. Paraphrasing allows you to bridge the gap between the original content and the understanding of your intended audience.

Whether you are communicating with experts in a particular field or a general audience, the ability to paraphrase ensures that the information is conveyed in a way that resonates with and is comprehensible to your readers. This skill not only facilitates effective communication but also demonstrates your awareness of the diverse needs of your audience.

Improves Writing Skills

Paraphrasing helps in the development and refinement of your writing skills. When you actively engage in the process of rephrasing someone else’s ideas, you hone your ability to express concepts in a clear, concise, and coherent manner.

This practice refines your language proficiency, encouraging you to explore different types of sentence structure, experiment with vocabulary, and ultimately develop a more sophisticated and nuanced writing style.

As you paraphrase, you gain a heightened awareness of grammar, syntax, and word choice. This translates into improved writing, helping you construct well-articulated sentences and paragraphs. Moreover, paraphrasing allows you to experiment with different writing tones and adapt your style to suit the context or purpose of your writing, fostering versatility and adaptability in your expression.

Saves Time and Energy

Paraphrasing can significantly reduce the time and energy spent on the writing process. Rather than grappling with the challenge of integrating lengthy direct quotations or struggling to find the perfect synonym, paraphrasing allows you to distill and convey information in a more streamlined way.

This becomes particularly advantageous when faced with strict deadlines. By mastering paraphrasing, you empower yourself to produce well-crafted, original content in a shorter timeframe, allowing you to meet deadlines without compromising the quality of your work.

Examples of Paraphrasing

Here are some examples of paraphrasing:

• Original:  “The advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other.”
• Paraphrased:  “Technological progress has transformed how we interact and communicate with one another.”
• Original:  “Deforestation poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and biodiversity.”
• Paraphrased:  “The impact of deforestation represents a substantial danger to ecosystems and the diversity of life on a global scale.”
• Original:  “Effective time management is essential for achieving productivity in both professional and personal spheres.”
• Paraphrased:  “Efficient management of time is crucial for attaining productivity in both professional and personal aspects of life.”
• Original:  “The restaurant offers a diverse selection of culinary choices, ranging from traditional dishes to modern fusion cuisine.”
• Paraphrased:  “The restaurant provides a variety of food options, including both traditional and modern fusion dishes.”
• Original:  “The novel explores the complexities of human relationships in a rapidly changing society.”
• Paraphrased:  “The book delves into the challenges of human connections in a fast-changing world.”
• Original:  “Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining optimal physical health and preventing various health issues.”
• Paraphrased:  “Exercising regularly is important for keeping your body healthy and avoiding health problems.”

In these examples, you can observe the use of different wording, sentence structure, and synonyms while preserving the core meaning of the original sentences. This is the essence of paraphrasing.

What Are the Differences Between Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing?

So, we’ve established that successful paraphrasing is a way of rewriting someone else’s words whilst retaining their meaning and still giving credit to the original author’s ideas. But how is this different from quoting and summarizing?

While paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing are all ways of incorporating information from source material into your own writing, there are key differences between them:

Paraphrasing

• Definition:  Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else’s ideas or information in your own words while retaining the original meaning.
• Usage:  You use paraphrasing when you want to present the information in a way that suits your writing style or when you need to clarify complex ideas.
• Example:  Original: “The study found a significant correlation between sleep deprivation and decreased cognitive performance.” Paraphrased: “The research indicated a notable link between lack of sleep and a decline in cognitive function.”
• Definition:  Quoting involves directly using the exact words from a source and enclosing them in quotation marks.
• Usage:  You use quoting when the original wording is essential, either because of its precision or uniqueness, or when you want to highlight a specific phrase or concept.
• Example:  Original: “The author argues, ‘In the absence of clear guidelines, individual judgment becomes paramount in decision-making.'”

The use of quotation marks is vital when quoting.

Summarizing

• Definition:  Summarizing involves condensing the main ideas of a source or original passage in your own words, focusing on the most crucial points.
• Usage:  You use summarizing when you need to provide a concise overview of a longer piece of text or when you want to capture the key points without including all the details.
• Example:  Original: A lengthy article discussing various factors influencing climate change. Summary: “The article outlines key factors contributing to climate change, including human activities and natural processes.”

In summary, paraphrasing is about expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, quoting involves directly using the original words, and summarizing is about condensing the main points of a source.

Each technique serves different purposes in writing and should be used based on your specific goals and the nature of the information you are incorporating. If you want to level up your writing skills you need to be able to do all three of these.

Conclusion (In Our Own Words)

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill with numerous benefits. It helps you understand complex ideas, refine your writing style, and demonstrate ethical information use. It also allows you to tailor information for different audiences and can save time in academic and professional writing.

So, if you want to incorporate information from external sources into your writing in a way that is clear, concise, and respectful of the original author’s work, it’s worth mastering the art of paraphrasing.

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• Literary Terms
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• When & How to Use Paraphrase

I. What is a Paraphrase?

A paraphrase (pronounced par – uh -freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph  or text,  in order to borrow, clarify, or expand on information without plagiarizing. Paraphrasing is an important tool to use when writing research papers, essays , and pieces of journalism.

II. Examples of Paraphrasing

For examples of paraphrasing, consider these possible re-wordings of the same statement:

She angered me with her inappropriate comments, rumor-spreading, and disrespectfulness at the formal dinner table.

She made me angry when she was rude at dinner.

This paraphrase is an example of a rewording which shortens and simplifies while maintaining the same meaning.

Her impoliteness, gossiping, and general lack of respect at dinner infuriated me.

This rephrasing maintains the same meaning but is rearranged in a creative way.

I was mad when she started spreading rumors, making inappropriate comments, and disrespecting other guests at our dinner.

Another paraphrase, this rewording properly and interestingly rearranges the information provided in the original sentence.

III. Types of Paraphrasing

A. change of parts of speech.

Parts of speech ranging from verbs and nouns to adjectives and adverbs are replaced with new parts of speech in this type of paraphrasing. Here is an example:

Original Sentence:

The boy quickly ran across the finish line, seizing yet another victory.

Paraphrase:

The quick boy seized yet another victory when he ran across the finish line.

In this example, many parts of speech are changed: the adverb quickly becomes the adjective quick, and the verb phrase with the gerund seizing becomes the verb seized.

B.  Change of Structure

This type of paraphrasing involves changing the sentence’s structure, sometimes creating a passive voice from an active voice and vice versa. The change in structure can be used to reflect the writer’s interpretation of the original quote. Here is an example of change of structure paraphrasing:

Puppies were adopted by numerous kind souls at the puppy drive.

Many kind souls adopted puppies during the puppy drive.

In this example, the object of the sentence (kind souls) becomes the subject with an active voice (adopted) rather than a passive voice (were adopted).

C. Reduction of Clauses

Reduction of clauses paraphrases reduce the number of clauses in a sentence, which can be interruptive or confusing, by incorporating the phrases into the sentence. Here is an example of reduction of clauses paraphrasing:

While I understand where you’re coming from, and truly respect your opinion, I wish you would express yourself more clearly, like Clara does.

I understand where you’re coming from and respect your opinion, but I wish you would be more like Clara and express yourself more clearly.

D. Synonym Replacement

Synonym replacement paraphrasing is one of the simplest forms of paraphrasing: replacing words with similar words, or synonyms. Here is an example:

The older citizens were honored with a parade for those once in the military.

Senior citizens were honored with a march for veterans.

In this example, many synonyms are used: older citizens are senior citizens, a parade becomes a march, and those once in the military refers to veterans.

IV. The Importance of Using Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is a way of referencing a source without directly quoting it or of further explaining a selected quote. Correct paraphrasing is important in that poor paraphrasing can result in accusations of plagiarism, or copying from a source without correctly citing it. Paraphrasing allows writers to examine the meaning of others’ work, creatively rephrase their statements, and craft information to suit an essay or composition’s goal or focus.

V. Paraphrase in Literature

Paraphrasing can be found in a variety of journalistic sources from newspapers to film documentaries to literary journals. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in literature:

Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God, and I think it’s true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too.

In John Berendt’s nonfiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , a character references what someone has once written by paraphrasing their message.

I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here… rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness… give me truth.

In this example from the nonfiction novel Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer paraphrases Thoreau’s larger message of transcendence.

So far, Laurance’s critiques of new road-building schemes have been well received, but he expects that to change.

In Michelle Nijhuis’ article “What Roads Have Wrought,” William Laurance is paraphrased rather than quoted to express his general viewpoint.

VI. Paraphrase in Pop Culture

Paraphrasing is often found in pop culture when attempting to translate the language of older plays, poems, and stories, such as Shakespeare’s works. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in pop culture:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999):

Just a minor encounter with the shrew… the mewling, rampalian wretch herself.

In the modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew , many characters ’ lines paraphrase Shakespeare’s originals. Here is Shakespeare’s version:

A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

A Different World: Romeo, Oh Romeo

First, the student reads Shakespeare’s original words:

Oh gentle Romeo. If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if thou thinkest I’m too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo.

Then, she paraphrases to translate its meaning for modern ears:

It’s all about translation. Oh, sweet thang Romeo. If you think I’m all that, then step to me correctly. But if you think I’m a skeeze, I’ll be dissin’ and dismissin’, then you’ll be workin’ overtime getting’ me back.

VII. Related Terms

Like paraphrases, summaries are rewordings of original statements. Whereas paraphrases are precise and specific, summaries are brief and selective. Summaries report main points in a shortened version of the original, whereas paraphrases simply restate the original statement in a new way. Here is an example of summary versus paraphrase:

Original Statement:

At the party we had delicious red punch, a bunch of different appetizers, and a cookout. Since it was at the park, we played volleyball, went swimming, and sunbathed for fun.

At the party we enjoyed food and drink and various outdoor activities.

Here, the summary purposefully shortens the original statement while covering its major points.

At the party we drank some punch, ate a handful of appetizers, and had a cookout. The park allowed us to enjoy a number of enjoyable activities from volleyball to swimming to sunbathing.

As this example shows, the paraphrase rephrases the original statement and keeps more of its original content than the summary.

Translation

Although paraphrase sometimes translates difficult phrasing into more understandable phrasing, it is not literally considered translation. For something to be a translation, it must change writing in one language to another language. Here is an example of translation versus paraphrasing:

Original Phrase:

That’s life.

Translation into French:

C’est la vie.

That’s just how life goes sometimes.

Although we loosely may refer to paraphrase as translating ideas, technically it is not a tool of translation.

VIII. In Closing

Paraphrasing is an important tool for nonfiction writers, journalists, and essayists alike. It is a common proponent of news and reporting. Correct paraphrasing protects writers from plagiarism and allows them to creatively rephrase original works, incorporating them into their own compositions.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
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Paraphrasing: 3 Things You Need to Know (What, How and Why?)

Paraphrasing is an essential writing tool for conveying meaning of core concepts and ideas while avoiding plagiarism. In this article, we’ll cover exactly what paraphrasing is and isn’t, the five step approach for effective paraphrasing and finally, the importance of paraphrasing beyond issues of plagiarism.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is rewording another’s written or spoken words into your own words. This is done by presenting the meaning of the original statement with new words and an altered structure. For example, the above point could be paraphrased to: “Paraphrasing means to share another’s ideas in your own words, keeping the original meaning intact by simply changing the words used or structure involved”. The original point remains, but the wording and sentence structure has changed. 

The focus is to convey the meaning of the original idea using your own words. This writing technique is usually used for a short individual passage or idea, and is not to be confused with summarising. A paraphrase will often be similar in length to the original statement, and will focus on the core points of that idea. In contrast, summaries usually involve synthesising a wide range of information to share the core theme, or results of a piece of work. 

How to Paraphrase

There’s a five step approach to paraphrasing effectively. First, read the material carefully to extract meaning. It’s important to develop an understanding of the points being made in order to effectively convey this meaning to another. Second, note down the key concepts. What have you understood from the passage? What key points would you like someone else to understand? Third, attempt to paraphrase this information without looking at the original. You can do this using a range of methods:

• Use synonyms to keep some of the original content, without directly using the same words. “Teachers” could be replaced by “Educators”, or “Students” could become “Undergraduates”. This depends on the content, and it’s important to make sure you still convey the core points well. 
• Rearrange the content by switching the order of certain phrases or sentences. This might involve switching from an active to a passive voice. Although it's best to use the active voice, this is an ideal way to begin paraphrasing content, giving you a starting point to work on. You can continue editing the first paraphrase to ensure it’s written in a clear and concise way. 
• Utilise digital tools to get you started. In genei’s notepad, you can paraphrase your notes with the click of a button, giving you new words to work with. This is ideal because you can easily work with the notes made from your readings, and minimise your workflow to one space. 

Fourth, compare your paraphrased version to the original. Check if words, sentences or phrases are too similar and make edits. You can also ensure your paraphrase is effective by noting down the core ideas in your paraphrase. Do these match those originally noted from the source? Finally, be sure to cite the source! You must still acknowledge that you have paraphrased someone else’s ideas. 

The Importance of Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is an important academic skill for avoiding plagiarism . However, this isn’t the only reason paraphrasing can be important. The process of paraphrasing involves actively engaging with the material you want to rework. This can improve your own knowledge of the idea you’re working with, which can be more effective for long term understanding in comparison to simply memorising facts. Likewise, the ability to paraphrase well, is evidence that you understand the content and core ideas involved.

Beyond academia, paraphrasing still proves to be essential. This technique can act as a bridge and communication tool for sharing valuable information with a non-specialist audience. Original sources of information can be hard to digest if you’re not familiar with the subject area, however, sometimes this information still needs to be communicated. Paraphrasing allows you to tailor ideas to a particular audience, making it accessible, while still retaining the core message. For example, being able to convey important business information to a client, would require certain professional documents and plans to be paraphrased for clearer communication. 

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Using Evidence: Paraphrase

Paraphrasing sources video playlist.

Basics of Paraphrasing

A successful paraphrase is your own explanation or interpretation of another person's ideas. Paraphrasing in academic writing is an effective way to restate, condense, or clarify another author's ideas while also providing credibility to your own argument or analysis. Successful paraphrasing is essential for strong academic writing, and unsuccessful paraphrasing can result in unintentional plagiarism. Look through the paraphrasing strategies below to better understand what counts as an effective paraphrase.

In order for a reader to understand the impact of a direct quotation or paraphrased source material, you should work to integrate your evidence into your paragraph's overall discussion. A strong way to integrate source material is to use  transitions . As you integrate sources, you will also often begin  analyzing the evidence

Citing Paraphrases

• Paraphrased material must be cited. Even though paraphrasing means that you are restating information in your own words, you must give credit to the original source of the information.
• Citations for paraphrased material should always include both the author and the year. In-text citation can be placed within the sentence or at the end:

Example: According to Johnson (2012), mirror neurons may be connected with empathy and imitation.

Example: Mirror neurons may be connected with empathy and imitation in human beings (Johnson, 2012).

Note: Be sure to consider the frequency of your source citation when you are paraphrasing.

Integrating Paraphrases Into Your Paragraphs

Paragraph with paraphrased material not integrated.

The causes of childhood obesity are various. Greg (2005) found that children need physical activity to stay healthy. One study found that the amount of time spent in front of the television or computer had a direct correlation to an individual's BMI (Stephens, 2003). Parsons (2003) debated whether nature or nurture affects childhood obesity more. Scientists have linked genetics to obesity (Parsons, 2003). Parents often reinforce bad lifestyle habits (Parsons, 2003).

Here there is a list of paraphrased sentences, but again they seem to be missing any links or connections to show how the different ideas are related. Rather than simply using a list of paraphrased sentences from these sources, the author of the next example integrates each piece of information from the sources by using extra explanation or transitions.

Paragraph With Paraphrased Material, Revised (Revisions in Bold)

The causes of childhood obesity are various. Greg (2005) found that children need physical activity to stay healthy. However, children's inactive lifestyles and the time they spend in front of a screen seem to consume the time they could otherwise spend playing outdoors or involved in physical activities. In fact, this lack of physical activity has a direct effect on body mass index (BMI). One study found that the amount of time spent in front of the television or computer had a direct correlation to an individual's BMI (Stephens, 2003). Although screen time is correlated with high BMI, Parsons (2003) still debated whether nature or nurture affects childhood obesity more. Though Parsons admitted that scientists have linked genetics to obesity, he also explained that parents often reinforce bad lifestyle habits.

Adding transitions allows the author to make connections while still presenting the paraphrased source material.

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The Importance of Paraphrasing: Enhancing Clarity and Originality

In the realm of writing, paraphrasing plays a vital role in conveying information effectively while maintaining clarity and originality. Whether you’re a student working on an academic paper or a professional crafting a report, paraphrasing allows you to express ideas in your own words while staying true to the essence of the original source. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of paraphrasing, highlighting how it enhances clarity and originality in your writing. Throughout the discussion, we will provide real examples to illustrate the significance of this skill.

• Clarity: Making Complex Concepts Accessible

Paraphrasing serves as a powerful tool to enhance clarity in writing. It allows you to rephrase complex concepts, making them more accessible to your audience. By rewording information in a manner that aligns with your readers’ comprehension level, you ensure that they can grasp and engage with the content more effectively.

Example: Let’s consider a paragraph from a scientific journal article discussing climate change:

Original paragraph: “The intricate interplay between anthropogenic activities and greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in a discernible imbalance in Earth’s energy budget, leading to unprecedented alterations in climatic patterns across the globe.”

While this paragraph contains important information, its complex language might be challenging for a broader audience to understand. Paraphrasing can help make the content more accessible without losing its essence.

Paraphrased paragraph: “Human activities and the release of greenhouse gases have disrupted Earth’s energy balance, causing significant changes in weather patterns worldwide.”

The paraphrased paragraph maintains the core message of the original text but presents it in a simpler and more comprehensible way.

• Originality: Expressing Ideas in Your Own Voice

Paraphrasing allows you to express ideas in your own voice, promoting originality in your writing. Rather than relying on direct quotations or copying content verbatim, paraphrasing enables you to integrate external sources seamlessly while infusing your unique perspective. This helps establish your credibility as a writer and demonstrates your understanding of the subject matter.

Example: Consider a statement from a book about leadership:

Original quote: “Effective leaders possess the ability to inspire and motivate their team members, instilling a shared vision and fostering a positive work environment.”

To incorporate this idea into your writing while maintaining originality, you can paraphrase it:

Paraphrased sentence: “Skilled leaders have the power to inspire and motivate their team, cultivating a sense of shared purpose and nurturing a productive and harmonious workplace.”

The paraphrased sentence retains the core message of the original quote but expresses it in your own words and style.

• Avoiding Plagiarism: Respecting Intellectual Property

Plagiarism is a serious offense in academia and professional writing. Paraphrasing plays a crucial role in avoiding plagiarism by ensuring that you present ideas from external sources in your own words while still crediting the original author. By paraphrasing effectively, you demonstrate integrity and respect for intellectual property rights.

Example: Suppose you are writing an essay on the history of democracy and come across a paragraph in a reputable source:

Original passage: “The establishment of democratic principles laid the foundation for modern governance, emphasizing the significance of individual liberties, political participation, and the rule of law.”

To incorporate this information into your essay without plagiarizing, you can paraphrase it:

Paraphrased sentence: “The inception of democratic values formed the basis for contemporary governance, highlighting the importance of personal freedoms, active political engagement, and adherence to legal frameworks.”

By paraphrasing and attributing the original idea to the source, you maintain academic integrity while incorporating valuable information into your own work.

• Crafting Engaging and Unique Content

Paraphrasing contributes to the creation of engaging and unique content. By avoiding excessive reliance on direct quotations and injecting your own voice and style into the writing, you can captivate your readers and provide a fresh perspective. Paraphrasing also enables you to integrate multiple sources seamlessly, synthesizing diverse viewpoints and strengthening the overall quality of your work.

Example: Consider a paragraph from a news article about renewable energy:

Original paragraph: “The adoption of renewable energy sources has witnessed significant growth in recent years. Solar power, wind energy, and hydroelectricity have emerged as viable alternatives to fossil fuels, offering sustainable and environmentally friendly options for power generation.”

To create engaging and unique content, you can paraphrase this paragraph while incorporating your own insights:

Paraphrased paragraph: “In the past decade, renewable energy has experienced remarkable expansion, with solar power, wind energy, and hydroelectricity emerging as compelling substitutes for traditional fossil fuels. These environmentally sustainable options have revolutionized power generation, paving the way for a greener future.”

The paraphrased paragraph integrates the main ideas from the original source while incorporating your unique perspective, making the content more engaging and original.

Conclusion :

Paraphrasing is an essential skill for any writer, enabling you to enhance clarity and originality in your writing. By paraphrasing effectively, you make complex concepts more accessible to your readers, express ideas in your own voice, avoid plagiarism, and craft engaging and unique content. Practice and refine your paraphrasing skills to become a proficient writer who can effectively integrate external sources while maintaining your own style and perspective. Remember, paraphrasing is not about simply replacing words; it’s about capturing the essence of the original content and expressing it in a way that resonates with your audience.

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To help the flow of your writing, it is beneficial to not always quote but instead put the information in your own words. You can paraphrase or summarize the author’s words to better match your tone and desired length. Even if you write the ideas in your own words, it is important to cite them with in-text citations or footnotes (depending on your discipline’s citation style ). 

Definitions

• Paraphrasing allows you to use your own words to restate an author's ideas.
• Summarizing allows you to create a succinct, concise statement of an author’s main points without copying and pasting a lot of text from the original source.

What’s the difference: Paraphrasing v. Summarizing

Explore the rest of the page to see how the same material could be quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Depending on the length, tone, and argument of your work, you might choose one over the other. 

• Bad Paraphrase
• Good Paraphrase
• Reread: Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
• Write on your own: Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
• Connect: Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material.
• Check: Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
• Quote: Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
• Cite: Record the source (including the page) on your note card or notes document so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Explore the tabs to see the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable paraphrase based on the original text in each example.

Original Text

“Business communication is increasingly taking place internationally – in all countries, among all peoples, and across all cultures. An awareness of other cultures – of their languages, customs, experiences and perceptions – as well as an awareness of the way in which other people conduct their business, are now essential ingredients of business communication” (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

More and more business communication is taking place internationally—across all countries, peoples, and cultures.  Awareness of other cultures and the way in which people do business are essential parts of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59)

Compare the Original and Paraphrase

Too much of the original is quoted directly, with only a few words changed or omitted. The highlighted words are too similar to the original quote: 

More and more business communication is taking place internationally —across all countries, peoples, and cultures .  Awareness of other cultures and the way in which people do business are essential parts of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59)

Original Text 

“Business communication is increasingly taking place internationally – in all countries, among all peoples, and across all cultures. An awareness of other cultures – of their languages, customs, experiences and perceptions – as well as an awareness of the way in which other people conduct their business, are now essential ingredients of business communication” (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59).

The importance of understanding the traditions, language, perceptions, and the manner in which people of other cultures conduct their business should not be underestimated, and it is a crucial component of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p. 59).

The original’s ideas are summarized and expressed in the writer’s own words with minimal overlap with the original text's language:

The importance of understanding the traditions, language, perceptions, and the manner in which people of other cultures conduct their business should not be underestimated, and it is a crucial component of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p. 59).

• Bad Summary
• Good Summary
• Find the main idea: Ask yourself, “What is the main idea that the author is communicating?”
• Avoid copying: Set the original aside, and write one or two sentences with the main point of the original on a note card or in a notes document.
• Connect: Jot down a few words below your summary to remind you later how you envision using this material.

Business communication is worldwide, and it is essential to build awareness of other cultures and the way in which other people conduct their business. (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

Compare the Original and Summary

Too much of the original is quoted directly, with only a few words changed or omitted. The highlighted words are too similar to the original text:

Business communication is worldwide, and it is essential to build awareness of other cultures and the way in which other people conduct their business . (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

In a world that is increasingly connected, effective business communication requires us to learn about other cultures, languages, and business norms (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

The original’s ideas are summarized and expressed in the writer’s own words with minimal overlap:

In a world that is increasingly connected, effective business communication requires us to learn about other cultures , languages , and business norms (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

No matter what the source or style, you need to cite it both in-text and at the end of the paper with a full citation! Write down or record all the needed pieces of information when researching to ensure you avoid plagiarism. 

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Paraphrasing

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This resource introduces paraphrasing as a critical academic practice and provides examples to help you recognise what makes a good and bad paraphrase.

What is a paraphrase?

To paraphrase is to ‘reword’ text , so that the content information stays the same while other aspects of the communication are changed. From a learning perspective, paraphrasing is really the nuts and bolts of information 'processing', done as part of taking notes or drafting new text. It is the opposite of mindlessly copying information. It's core to the business of developing a personal understanding of something, as well as avoiding plagiarism. Plagiarism is not only about failing to acknowledge a source of information; it's also about failing to make sense of information in relation to a new purpose and context.

Being able to paraphrase well is a challenging and creative part of academic writing. Doing it well demonstrates:

• you have a sound understanding of the original source
• you have credibility as an independent intellect
• you are proficient and flexible in your use of English.

In contrast to a summary, which would be far shorter than the original text, a paraphrase might be the same length, or longer. What defines a good paraphrase is not the length, but the degree to which the original text has been reworded and referenced effectively and appropriately to accurately convey the original meaning and source in the context of the paraphraser’s argument.

Why is paraphrasing difficult?

Paraphrasing is often much more difficult than summarising, as paraphrasing requires you to reword the original text while still retaining the meaning and relating the information in the context of your writing.

If you don't paraphrase well, you might risk altering the meaning of the original text. For example:

Original text (from Jagtenberg & D’Alton’s Four Dimensional Social Space )

The education system has performed, on an even wider scale, a major task of social control, training the growing workforce in the discipline and work style necessary in a capitalist economy, and systematically conveying ‘acceptable’ — i.e. safe — social attitudes to the rising generations.

Bad paraphrasing attempt – misrepresenting the original meaning

According to Jagtenberg and D'Alton (1988), the education system is the major form of control in a capitalist economy.

Note that in this paraphrase the use of ‘the major form of control’ overstates and therefore misrepresents the argument in the original text.

Also, if your paraphrase is too close to the original, it is considered plagiarised. For example:

Bad paraphrasing attempt – close paraphrase

According to Jagtenberg and D'Alton (1988), the education system has performed social control in a capitalist society: training the growing workforce and work style, and teaching 'acceptable' social attitudes for the young generations.

Note that this paraphrase closely follows the structure of the original text and includes many of its phrases, and thus, can be considered plagiarism.

How do I paraphrase?

While there are a number of techniques you can use to put something into your own words, such as changing the sentence structure and noun phrases and using appropriate synonyms, the most important thing you need to focus on are the key ideas that you wish to convey to support your argument.

You can paraphrase a text in many different ways, depending on which idea or concept from the original text you want to use to support your argument. In the examples below, the underlined part is the main idea of each paraphrase.

Original (from Spiro's Tax Policy and the Underground Economy )

One of the considerations that is all too often ignored in discussions of tax policy is the way it affects the underground economy. Theoretical tax models almost always assume that everybody follows the rules. In reality, the behavioural response to tax changes has a wider range of variation than the choice between labour and leisure. Many otherwise honest citizens are prepared to break the law in order to evade taxes. Once the underground economy is taken into account – in effect, the proposition that individuals may decide to “opt out” of the tax system – there is a whole new layer of complexity to tax policy. Taxes that may seem to be optimal without the underground economy may no longer be optimal once it is taken into consideration.

Example Paraphrase

• The underground economy is heavily influenced by tax policy. This is, however, often neglected by theoretical tax models, who usually assume that everyone follows the rule. In fact, as responses to tax changes vary, many honest citizens are prepared to commit tax crime (Spiro, 2013).
• According to Spiro (2013), even honest citizens are likely to break the law to evade taxes when faced with changes in tax policy, as responses to tax changes vary between individuals. Despite this, many theoretical tax models often neglect the importance of the effect of tax policy change over the economy.
• Spiro, in Tax Policy and the Underground Economy (2013), argues that theoretical tax models are wrong to overlook the effect that tax policy has on the underground economy because they unrealistically assume that every taxpayer follows the rules. In fact, different people respond differently to tax changes, and many may even commit tax crime when faced with such a problem.

Note in these examples, the key message to be conveyed from the original text is captured in the opening sentence or phrase.

Further resources

• Note taking
• Concept mapping
• Literature review
• Essay writing
• Jagtenberg, T & D’Alton, P 1988, Four Dimensional Social Space , Harper & Row, Sydney.
• Spiro, P 2013, ‘Tax Policy and the Underground Economy’, in C Bajada & F Schneider (eds.), The Shadow Economy: An International Survey , 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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8 Key Points: Discuss the Importance of Paraphrasing

Table of Contents

It is necessary to discuss the importance of paraphrasing because it is a skill that students need to write clear and precise writings.

When people write, they often use information from published sources to learn something new. This is an essential part of research. Paraphrasing is a useful tool to find new and unique ways to get a message across .

Plagiarizing a text that already exists while claiming to add new information is one of the worst things anyone can do. That’s why it’s important to learn how to make your content or text that isn’t copied. 

This article will answer the question “What is paraphrasing?” and tell you why it’s important. Let’s jump in!

Can We Discuss the Importance of Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is the process of taking what the original author has written or said and putting it in your own words . Paraphrasing helps you write in your style and focus on the most crucial text elements.

If you use someone else’s idea in an essay, you must credit the person who came up with it.

To discuss the importance of paraphrasing is to show that creativity and originality are not all that make good writing.

Eight Important Reasons to Paraphrase

Without further ado, here are some of the top notch reasons why we paraphrase:

1. Enhances Memory Performance

People tend to forget a lot of things. Our brains can only hold so many memories before they start to discard old information to make room for new ones.

We write to make sure we don’t forget. Notes are taken in class to help us remember all the essential things we have learned. No matter how well we listen and understand, we are bound to forget some things.

The exciting thing is that we don’t write down what we hear word for word. Instead, we take notes by using our own words and phrases.

Our subconscious mind knows that altering phrases gets our brains active, therefore writing them in our way helps us remember them.

And that’s the divine power of paraphrasing. It helps us remember things that we might forget otherwise.

2. Organizes the Mind

A person needs to be able to figure out what he’s thinking to put it into words. But the words that come to mind aren’t always the best ones. It’s essential to change how we say things to make ourselves and what we mean more explicit.

Paraphrasing helps us write our thoughts more clearly. We organize our minds first to communicate our ideas and researched works in writing.

3. to Drive Home the Point

Students get involved in a lot of debates. Debating is a game of wordplay. If you use the right words correctly, it’s easier for you to win.

So, you need to know how to back up your argument with the right words. Precise, well-chosen terms give our line of argument more strength.

4. Acts As a Confidence Booster

We feel like we’ve done something good when we say things more clearly. This is true both when we speak and when we write. Making the notes in our way also makes us feel like we have more freedom to say what we want.

Writing well gives you a way to put your thoughts to rest and helps logical reasoning. You can use the rewording method to work on your writing and improve it.

5. Enhances Good Communication

Writing helps people talk to each other better. When you write, you can choose your words more carefully than you would if you just said them without thinking. If you keep using the restatement technique, you will notice a clear difference in how you talk.

A well-written CV, email, etc., can go a long way toward making sure your point gets across.

6. Decreases the Need for Quotes

Quotes are an excellent way to get specific information across, but too many of them can make text boring and repetitive.

Quotes may also indicate that one doesn’t understand the original document well enough. By paraphrasing a text, a writer cuts down on the number of quotes in their work, making it easier to read.

7. Puts an Argument in Its Proper Place

You can set the stage for your ideas when you paraphrase. When you rework another author’s words, you can guide the reader and frame your argument. So, a reader can see how an idea or concept has changed from one author or setting to another.

8. Shortens a Long Read

Paraphrasing is a great way to cut out fluff in a piece of writing into a few lines or pages. When paraphrasing, we go straight to the primary idea and aim and do not utilize extraneous language.

Paraphrasing is a means to summarize or re-create what has already been said and written. When done well, paraphrasing adds value to the original text and encourages deeper thought .

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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What are the five reasons for paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is a technique commonly used by writers to express the ideas of another author using their own words. In simple terms, it involves rephrasing and restating existing concepts from published sources. Paraphrasing has gained significant importance in content writing for various reasons. In this post, we will discuss the key reasons why you should consider incorporating paraphrasing into your writing.

The importance of paraphrasing 

Paraphrasing holds significant importance for a variety of reasons. In this regard, the following five factors are widely recognized as the most crucial ones.

• Improving Idea Expression

As mentioned earlier, paraphrasing involves presenting ideas rather than the exact words of another writer. To effectively present ideas, thorough research and ideation are necessary. During the research phase, it is advisable to take note of key points that aid in understanding the core message of the content. These main points and ideas should be carefully considered when writing your own version.

Avoiding plagiarism 

The most crucial reason why paraphrasing is important is that it helps you avoid plagiarism . When you are using the same ideas and words of another writer in your content then you are simply committing plagiarism. But if you paraphrase content then you can keep yourself away from the accusation of plagiarism. It’s a way to present information using your unique expression, protecting you from unintentional or intentional plagiarism.

Reducing the Need for Extensive Research

Creating a new content can be time-consuming and research extensive research. However, there is an alternative approach that can help streamline the research phase. By opting to rewrite or paraphrase existing content, you can significantly reduce the need for extensive research. To ensure originality, it is advised to gather ideas and information from various sources and then paraphrase them to craft a fresh and unique post.

• Refining Your Writing Style

Practicing is crucial. It not only helps you enhance your writing skills but also allows you to avoid errors and improve the quality of your content. Another important aspect of paraphrasing is its ability to simplify complex information. By utilizing this technique, you can easily refine your writing and make it more accessible to readers.

Maximizing Time and Energy

Paraphrasing offers a valuable way to save time and energy in content creation. By investing time in outlining and planning your content can help organize your thoughts and streamline the writing process. Additionally, utilizing online paraphrasing tools further facilitates quick content generation. Embracing paraphrasing techniques, coupled with effective planning, allows you to save significant time and energy while creating engaging and original content.

Enhancing Paraphrasing Accuracy and Reliability with Online Tools

Paraphrasing accurately and with complete reliability can be challenging, as there is always a risk of plagiarism. However, you can use online paraphrasing tools to help you create and present new content with precision. These tools are user-friendly and, best of all, free to use.

To utilize an online paraphrasing tool , simply copy the content from your reference sources and paste it into the tool’s input box. After inserting the text or document files, click on the ‘Paraphrase Text’ button. Within seconds, the tool will generate a fresh version of the content. By employing artificial intelligence and ENL (Emulated Natural Language) technology, an essay rewriter produces human-like content easily and quickly.

By incorporating these tools into your writing process, you can confidently rewrite content while maintaining accuracy and reliability.

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7 Reasons Why Paraphrasing is Important in Writing

Last Updated July 26, 2023 By Subhash D Leave a Comment

Inside the article

Paraphrasing is a technique that many writers use in order to make sure they are accurately representing what the original author was trying to say. But why is it important? There are 7 reasons why paraphrasing is important in writing, and we will go over each one of them today.

1 Paraphrasing Helps you Avoid Plagiarism

The most obvious reason why paraphrasing is important in writing is that it keeps you from accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work while still being able to get your point across. It also prevents any legal issues if someone decides to sue for copyright infringement.

2 Paraphrasing Lets you focus on Ideas Instead of Words

When you’re paraphrasing someone else’s work, you’re not just copying and pasting it word for word. You’re taking the main points and putting them into your own words, which helps you to better understand the original author’s ideas. This also makes your writing sound more natural as if it came from you instead of someone else. Of course, paraphrasing can be hard to get good at first. If there are any problems after paraphrasing the content and the result doesn’t meet your needs, you can always contact paperwriter and get a 100% perfect essay done for you.”

3 Paraphrasing allows you to clarify your ideas.

When you paraphrase, you are forced to reword the original passage in your own words. This can help you to better understand the point that was made and improve your own writing. In addition, clarifying your ideas can help your readers follow along more easily.

Paraphrasing is an important tool for writers of all levels. Whether you are a student writing a paper or a professional author, paraphrasing can help you to produce clear, concise, and accurate writing. By following these tips, you can learn how to paraphrase effectively and use this skill to improve your writing skills.

4 Paraphrasing is a Way to Avoid Plagiarism without Extensive Research

In order to paraphrase, you have to use your own words and ideas. That means that the reader will only be getting information from one person’s perspective instead of several sources’ opinions. In an academic setting, this helps prevent plagiarism since there are completely different ways in which a text can be plagiarized.

The most common way to plagiarize is to take passages from other sources and insert them into your own paper without giving credit to the original author. This type of plagiarism is easily avoided by paraphrasing because you are putting the information in your own words, which means that it’s not a direct copy.

5 It Makes Your Writing Better

Paraphrasing your sentences in the correct way will make you a better writer. You can avoid errors that are very common when it comes to paraphrased content. When doing this, be sure to find reliable sources for everything you claim in your article because readers want the truth! Don’t forget about people who are learning English; they will appreciate your well-written content. Writing an admission essay can be a challenge and if you are not confident to write it yourself, you must look for an admission essay writing service online.

If you paraphrase correctly, you also make sure that the original message is communicated as intended. This is very important, especially if you are writing for a specific audience or client.

6 It Prevents Plagiarism

What happens when you paraphrase something incorrectly? You run the risk of plagiarizing! Plagiarism is never okay, and it can even be taken very seriously in certain industries. For example, students who are found guilty of plagiarizing may suffer consequences such as suspension or expulsion from their college or university.

7 Speed and time

Paraphrasing is a very good way to write quickly. This means that you can use this skill when writing essays or papers in class, as well as reports for your job. You will be able to complete these types of tasks much faster if you know how to paraphrase effectively than if you don’t!

Why do You Need to Paraphrase?

There are many reasons why you want to paraphrase in writing. Paraphrasing helps improve the quality of your research paper and ensures that all sources used throughout your work can be cited accordingly. You also need to paraphrase when plagiarism is a concern, or if there is any risk involved for using quotes from another source without giving proper credit.

Writing is the most important skill to have in today’s world. It helps you with your job, education, and life! Paraphrasing lets others know what you are thinking without losing any of your original thoughts or ideas. If this sounds like something that may interest you, check out our blog post on how paraphrasing can help improve writing skills by click here for paragraph checker . This is a very useful tool for many people who want their opinions heard but don’t always feel comfortable speaking up about them.

About Subhash D

A tech-enthusiast, Subhash is a Graduate Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Founder of it4nextgen, he has spent more than 20 years in the IT industry.

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Reflecting and Paraphrasing

Part of the ‘art of listening’ is making sure that the client knows their story is being listened to.

This is achieved by the helper/counsellor repeating back to the client parts of their story. This known as paraphrasing .

Reflecting is showing the client that you have ‘heard’ not only what is being said, but also what feelings and emotions the client is experiencing when sharing their story with you .

This is sometimes known in counselling ‘speak ‘as the music behind the words .

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It is like holding up a mirror to the client; repeating what they have said shows the client they have your full attention. It also allows the client to make sure you fully understood them; if not, they can correct you.

Reflecting and paraphrasing should not only contain what is being said but what emotion or feeling the client is expressing.

Let’s look at an example:

Client (Mohammed): My ex-wife phoned me yesterday; she told me that our daughter Nafiza (who is only 9) is very ill after a car accident. I am feeling very scared for her. They live in France, so I am going to have to travel to see her, and now I have been made redundant, I don’t know how I can afford to go.

Counsellor: So, Mohammed, you have had some bad news about your little girl, who has been involved in an accident. You are frightened for her and also have worries over money now you have lost your job.

Client: Yes, yes ... that’s right.

Notice that the counsellor does not offer advice or start asking how long Mohammed and his wife have been separated, but reflects the emotion of what is said : ‘frightened' and 'worries'.

Reflecting and paraphrasing are the first skills we learn as helpers, and they remain the most useful.

To build a trusting relationship with a helper, the client needs not only to be ‘listened to' but also to be heard and valued as a person.

"Reflecting and paraphrasing should not only contain what is being said but what emotion or feeling the client is expressing."

Definition of Reflection in Counselling

Reflection in counselling is like holding up a mirror: repeating the client’s words back to them exactly as they said them.

You might reflect back the whole sentence, or you might select a few words – or even one single word – from what the client has brought.

I often refer to reflection as ‘the lost skill’ because when I watch counselling students doing simulated skill sessions, or listen to their recordings from placement (where clients have consented to this), I seldom see reflection being used as a skill. This is a pity, as reflection can be very powerful.

When we use the skill of reflection, we are looking to match the tone, the feeling of the words, and the client’s facial expression or body language as they spoke .

For example, they might have hunched their shoulders as they said, ‘I was so scared; I didn’t know what to do.’

We might reflect that back by hunching our own shoulders, mirroring their body language while also saying ‘I felt so scared; I didn’t know what to do.’

Using Reflection to Clarify Our Understanding

We can also use reflection to clarify our understanding, instead of using a question.

For example, suppose the client says:

‘My husband and my father are fighting. I’m really angry with him.’

For me to be in the client’s frame of reference, I need to know whether ‘him’ refers to the husband or the father. So I might reflect back the word ‘ him ’  with a quizzical look.

The client might then respond:

‘Yeah, my dad. He really gets to me when he is non-accepting.’

So you can get clarification in this way. You can adjust where you are to make sure that the empathic bond is strong and that you are truly within the client’s frame of reference.

"When we use the skill of reflection, we are looking to match the tone, the feeling of the words, and the client’s facial expression or body language as they spoke".

Definition of Paraphrasing in Counselling

Paraphrasing is repeating back your understanding of the material that has been brought by the client, using your own words.

A paraphrase reflects the essence of what has been said .

We all use paraphrasing in our everyday lives. If you look at your studies to become a counsellor or psychotherapist, you paraphrase in class.

Maybe your lecturer brings a body of work, and you listen and make notes: you’re paraphrasing as you distill this down to what you feel is important.

How Paraphrasing Builds Empathy

How does paraphrasing affect the client-counsellor relationship?

First of all, it helps the client to feel both heard and understood. The client brings their material, daring to share that with you.

And you show that you’re listening by giving them a little portion of that back – the part that feels the most important. You paraphrase it down.

And if you do that accurately and correctly, and it matches where the client is, the client is going to recognise that and to feel heard: ‘ Finally, somebody is there really listening, really understanding what it is that I am bringing.’

This keys right into empathy, because it’s about building that empathic relationship with the client. And empathy is not a one-way transaction .

..."Empathy [is] the ability to ‘perceive the internal frame of reference of another with accuracy and with the emotional components and meanings which pertain thereto as if one were the person, but without ever losing the 'as if' conditions." Carl Rogers (1959, pp. 210–211)

In other words, we walk in somebody’s shoes as if their reality is our reality – but of course it’s not our reality, and that’s where the ‘as if’ comes in.

I’ve heard this rather aptly described as ‘walking in the client’s shoes, but keeping our socks on’!

Empathy is a two-way transaction – that is, it’s not enough for us to be 100% in the client’s frame of reference , understanding their true feelings; the client must also perceive that we understand .

When the client feels at some level that they have been understood, then the empathy circle is complete.

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Importance of paraphrasing and summarizing in research

A research paper is a piece of academic writing based on research-based data and gives a detailed study, appraisal, or conclusion of a particular topic. Conducting extensive research is necessary for writing in any form of content and for any audience.

After detailed research, you will have a complete idea about a topic. These different concepts or ideas broaden the minds of writers to write content by using two writing skills:

• Paraphrasing
• Summarizing

Paraphrasing is essential to show a solid understanding of the original piece of content because, in paraphrasing, you write content in your own words.

With the help of summarizing, students can learn to consider important topics and relevant data in a book or discard irrelevant concepts unrelated to those ideas. The objective of providing a summary of a theory or work is to offer context for your argument by concisely presenting the most important points of view.

You can paraphrase your content to make it unique in plagiarism-free content. You can also sum up your extensive data with the help of summarizing. These two methods help you in creating a unique piece of writing. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of summarizing and paraphrasing in writing a research paper.

Table of Contents

What Is Paraphrasing?

When you restate the meaning of sentences using your own words, It is called “paraphrasing .”When you paraphrase, you put anything that another person wrote into your own words to explain what they had written.

Writing it in your own words will help you make the message clear, more relevant to the audience, or give it more impact.

You can utilize already paraphrased content to create a more extensive research paper, but the content’s original meaning and length should be maintained. You can use paraphrasing tools to facilitate your writing process while writing a research paper. If you want to paraphrase well, and you have the ability to:

• Concentrate more on your studies.
• Simplify complex concepts and present them in language accessible to wide audiences.
• In your paper, prevent plagiarism (including self-plagiarism) and give your unique voice.

Importance of paraphrasing in research work

• Helps in Avoiding Plagiarism

When you rephrase anything in your own words instead of directly copying someone else’s words, you avoid the possibility of unintentionally copying someone else’s work while maintaining the ability to convey the meaning you want. Furthermore, it avoids any legal complications that may arise from someone for copyright infringement.

To paraphrase online effectively, you need to utilize your own words and come up with your concepts after researching a topic. This indicates that the reader will only get information from a single point of view, as opposed to the perspectives of several different sources.

The most prevalent kind of plagiarism is when students copy content from other works without giving credit to their original authors and then submit those passages as their work.

When you rephrase anything, you are writing content in your own words, which means that it is not an exact duplicate of the original content. This makes it much simpler to avoid committing this sort of plagiarism. So this helps in preventing plagiarism in research papers.

• Able to Concentrate More on different Ideas

When you paraphrase another person’s work, you are not just copying and pasting the original text into your own work as it is. Because you are taking the important points and concepts and then writing them into your own words, you are improving your understanding of the concepts presented by the original author.

Your writing will also come across as more natural as a result of this, giving the impression that it was written by you rather than by another individual.

• a better understanding of the topic

When paraphrasing, you must rewrite the source content using your own words instead of the original ones.

This may assist you in better understanding the point that was stated and enhance the quality of your own writing. In addition, by elaborating your thoughts, you can make it simpler for your audience to read and understand it.

Writers need to develop their paraphrasing skills. With the help of paraphrasing, you can write a research paper that is more understandable, precise, clear, and accurate.

• Enhance the Quality of Your Writing.

You will improve your writing skills as a writer if you take the time to paraphrase your phrases properly. When it comes to text that has been paraphrased, you have the ability to avoid making blunders that are quite typical.

Make sure you find authentic sources to back up anything you assert in your essay, as readers are eager to discover the truth.

When you successfully paraphrase online, you not only ensure that the central meaning of the original content is conveyed, but you also avoid any potential confusion. This is crucial to remember, particularly if you are writing for a specific audience.

Paraphrasing improves your punctuation and grammar and avoids spelling mistakes. And you can easily convey your concepts to your audience naturally.

• Help in proving arguments

A successful paraphrasing is an explanation or interpretation that you have given of the thoughts written by another person. In academic writing, paraphrasing is a valuable method for restating or clarifying the ideas presented by another author.

As a result, you need to make sure you use the right words to support your point. You can strongly prove your arguments when you use properly chosen phrases and paraphrase your content. So, you can strengthen your argument by using the paraphrasing strategy.

How do you paraphrase properly?

• Read and make notes

First, you should read the passage you want to paraphrase online carefully. Mark with a highlighter, underline or take notes on significant words and concepts that you need to keep in mind.

• Use synonyms

Find other words or phrases that mean the same thing as the ones you’ve selected so that you may use them instead. This is what we call a synonym . It will be helpful to use a dictionary or thesaurus or do an internet search for this purpose.

You have to choose synonyms carefully because it is important to maintain the original text’s sense, especially when working with technical or scientific words.

• Change parts of speech .

When using the paraphrasing method, the original nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are changed into new parts of speech. This style of paraphrasing is highly useful for creating a unique piece of writing.

• Change sentence Structure

Changing the structure of the sentence is required for better paraphrasing, which might result in the creation of a passive voice from an active voice or vice versa. You can cut down lengthy sentences into short and short sentences into longer ones. These techniques will give a new look to your content.

What is summarizing?

Summarizing results in a summary is a concise outline of the whole content or argument. You can describe a whole discussion or research paper in a single paragraph, or you can use a series of bullet points to do so while utilizing your own words and approach. Moreover, if you are unable to do that on your own, a summarizer tool can help you in it.

When the original content is lengthy, or when people want only important facts or arguments, then you need to summarize. In summaries, details, and examples that may divert the reader’s attention from the most relevant information are removed. Moreover, complex arguments, syntax, and terminology are reduced to their most basic components using summarizing tools.

Summarizing tools help you generate a summary of your text. A summarizer tool reduces your text up to 20% approx. Concluding your whole content.

When used appropriately, summarizing and paraphrasing will save you time, raise your level of comprehension, and provide you with high-quality content.

Importance of summarizing in research paper

The summary is a piece of content in which you eliminate irrelevant or unimportant text. You need to be able to extract essential points and important arguments in order to make your content the most effective and relevant to your topic. Let’s look at the factors that make summarizing a critical writing skill.

• Extract importance points and arguments

In academia, it is common practice to write a summary of one’s argument and results to extract and express the most important concepts effectively.

You can effectively record your ideas by using summarization, which prevents you from being overwhelmed with the amount of content or losing essential aspects of what you want to say.

It is helpful for readers, especially those who don’t have enough time to read a complete paper. It offers a sufficient amount of information on the topic to enable one to get a more in-depth understanding of the topic.

• Improved credibility of your work

When you summarize your content, not only will it add interest, but it will also provide more credibility to your research paper.

It helps you stay on track while conveying the most important information in a simple and easy-to-read structure. The reader won’t lose interest and skim over or avoid what you’ve written.

• Gives a variety of perspectives on the topic

The skill to summarize offers many perspectives on a topic and is beneficial for a variety of other reasons as well. When you are writing a research paper, it will make managing time easier for you, and it will save you space by compressing ideas without reducing their value to the reader.

In addition, a summary makes it possible for others who aren’t already very knowledgeable about your study field to obtain the information. It broadens our understanding and provides us with fresh ideas.

• Gives access to relevant information

By summarizing, you will be able to present your readers with information that is both relevant and simple to understand. Your whole experience of learning a certain topic will improve as a result.

By summarizing, you are capable of effectively conveying your thoughts and concepts concisely. Readers can easily understand your point of view in a short time.

• Draws attention to the most important points

A book or article should have a summary written of it so that the most important facts and arguments are communicated engagingly. You will achieve this goal by recognizing and discussing significant ideas needed to understand what was said fully.

Summarizing enables readers to understand the important points of an article without having to read the whole text. Anyone may have a better understanding of the important points that are discussed in the text.

This is because the content is condensed into something that is simple for everyone to understand in a short time.

How do you summarize?

• Read content carefully

If you want to be sure that you understand a specific topic, you should read it more than once. Reading is broken up into three phases for maximum effectiveness:

• Skim the article fast to get an idea of its central theme and how it is generally structured.
• Carefully read the article, making sure to underline or highlight anything that’s particularly pertinent, and take notes as you go.
• Review the article once more to ensure that you understand the primary issues, and review any portions that you found especially significant or challenging.
• Separate content into several parts.

Separating the text into its many subsections will make it easier to comprehend its various points and more manageable overall.

Suppose the piece of writing is scientific research that belongs to a typical conceptual model. It has most likely already been structured into clearly recognized sections due to the nature of the research. These sections often consist of an introduction, methods, findings, and discussion.

• Determine the most important points of each section .

It is time to look over each part, identify relevant information, and remove irrelevant data. What information does your reader want in order to comprehend the general argument, as well as the conclusion, presented in the article?

Always remember that providing a summary does not need paraphrasing each paragraph of the original material. Your aim is to get the most important points from the text and write them in your own words.

• Summarize whole content

After fully understanding the most important points that the author wants to convey, the next step is for you to restate these ideas naturally using your own words.

It is crucial to correctly summarize the author’s thoughts in order to prevent plagiarism, and it will show that you have a deep understanding of the topic. You are not permitted to copy and paste any portion of the article, not even just one or two sentences, or to paraphrase the whole content word for word.

Putting aside the article and writing down what you think are the most important points about the topic is the best method to write a summary. You can summarize your ideas in a paragraph or make bullet points. Using bullet points or numbered lists is an appropriate way to write a summary.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are two very important writing skills when writing a research paper . Students must acquire the skills to accurately summarize and paraphrase to write content in their own words.

When you appropriately summarize and paraphrase your content, you can save time, raise your level of understanding, and provide your work with stronger credibility. Many online paraphrasing and summarizing tools will help you write a summary and paraphrase a paragraph while maintaining the original meaning of the content.

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Interview highlights

Blinken tells china it's in their interest to stop helping russia.

Steve Inskeep

Reena Advani

Taylor Haney

Majd Al-Waheidi

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Friday. Stefen Chow for NPR hide caption

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Friday.

BEIJING — Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit to China with a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, urging more communication between the U.S. and China even as both men agreed both superpowers did not see eye to eye on a multitude of issues.

The secretary of state spoke with Morning Edition 's Steve Inskeep after meeting China's leader in Beijing.

The U.S. has alleged China is selling vital components to Russia's defense industry after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Blinken told Morning Edition that he warned Chinese counterparts helping Russia is against China's interests, because China wants better relations with European nations that see Russia as a threat.

"If China won't act, we will," Blinken said.

The top U.S. diplomat did not say how Chinese leaders replied in private. But in public, China's foreign ministry rejected the American's advice — saying that the U.S. is "hypocritical" to complain about China's trade with Russia while it aids Ukraine.

The exchange highlights the tense relations between the two nations — with their diplomats frequently being in the same room while not always on the same page.

The Secretary of State spoke with Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, April 26, 2024, in Beijing. Stefen Chow for NPR hide caption

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. To listen to the full interview between NPR's Steve Inskeep and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, use the audio player at the top of this page.

Steve Inskeep: I have followed China's public statements during this day of meetings that you've had. And the public statements are pretty pointed. China alleged the US has suppressed their economic development and said the U.S. attacked China's core interests, which is pretty harsh as diplomatic language goes. Was President Xi any different in private? Sec. Blinken : We had very direct, very candid, but also, in many ways, constructive conversations about two things. If you go back to the meeting between President Biden and President Xi at the end of last year, in San Francisco and Woodside, they agreed that it was very important, first of all, that we have these regular lines of communication. We had an obligation to manage this relationship responsibly, including dealing very directly with our differences, and also seeing if we could build areas of cooperation where it was in our mutual interest. Inskeep:

One thing you were focused on was trying to get China to stop giving aid to Russia's military as it invades Ukraine. And we can talk about China's attitude here because they've made a public statement. Their foreign ministry spokesman was asked today about ending aid to Russia and he said, look, we trade with Russia and you guys aid Ukraine. You're hypocrites. That sounds like a no, we're not stopping. Seemed to be what they were saying.

Sec. Blinken:

Here's the problem: What China's doing now is not providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, as, for example, North Korea and Iran are. But it is the number one supplier of the critical components for Russia to rebuild its defense industrial base-- machine tools, microelectronics, optics and other things that are going right into a massive production of munitions, of weaponry, of tanks, of armored vehicles, which in turn are going into Ukraine. This is not only a problem for us, it's not only a problem for Ukraine. It's a problem for virtually everyone in Europe because they see this as helping to perpetuate the Russian aggression in Ukraine. They also see it as creating a growing threat to Europe's security.

One of the things that I shared with our Chinese colleagues is that at the very same time that they're trying to develop better relations with Europe, they can't be doing that while at the same time helping to fuel what is the biggest threat to Europe's security since the end of the Cold War. Now, we've already taken steps ourselves. We're prepared to do more if China is not prepared to act to curb this activity.

Inskeep : So you're trying to tell them it's in their interest to stop aiding Russia. But you also told reporters just a short time ago, "if China does not address this problem, we will." What power do you have?

Sec. Blinken: Well, as I said, you've already seen us take action against more than 100 Chinese entities with with sanctions, applying export controls. There are other measures that we're fully prepared to take. And as I said before, if China won't act, we will.

In October, the United States issued new regulations that denied Chinese firms access to the most advanced semiconductors and chips. How much has that one step altered the competition between these two countries?

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China's leader, Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Stefen Chow for NPR hide caption

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China's leader, Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday.

One of the things that we're very focused on is making sure that when it comes to the highest end technology, we're not in the business of providing or selling things that could be turned against us to undermine our own security. And so what we've done, as we've said, is to work to build a very high fence around a very small yard, because this is not about decoupling our economies. It's not about cutting off trade and investment with China. And as I mentioned a little while ago, we remain the number one market for Chinese products around the world, and there remains significant American investment in China. But when it comes to sensitive technology, we're going to be very, very sure that the most sensitive technology does not wind up where it could turn around and hurt us.

So while we're here in Beijing, we've been talking with a lot of people. And we met a university professor who said America's reputation has declined here, in part because of U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Then there was a headline in a Chinese paper today, "Chinese satellites detailed destruction to Gaza from the war." And it's been widely reported that China is playing up this conflict in the global south in many nations to undermine the United States. How can you respond to that?

Look, I can't—you know—focus on what they may be saying or doing inside of China. But what I can focus on is two things. One, of course, is what we're doing in the Middle East, both to try to bring this conflict to an end as quickly as possible in a way that allows Israel to ensure that October 7th never happens again, but also to do everything we can to protect the men, women, and children who are caught in this crossfire of Hamas' making.

When it comes to China, one of the things we actually discussed was the Middle East. And I've had, I think, six conversations with my Chinese counterparts since October 7th. I actually believe that China could play a constructive role in trying to make sure that conflict doesn't spread, that we don't see escalation because it has relationships. It has influence with critical countries in the region, including, for example, Iran. So what I'm focused on is trying to encourage China to use that influence in a productive way.

Importance of Therapeutic Communication in Nursing

This essay about therapeutic communication in nursing highlights its pivotal role in fostering trust, understanding, and healing between nurses and patients. It explores the significance of human connection through communication in healthcare settings, emphasizing active listening, empathy, and respect. The essay discusses how therapeutic communication builds trust, gathers crucial patient information, enhances satisfaction, and benefits both patients and nursing professionals. It underscores the importance of honing communication skills for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care in the evolving healthcare landscape.

How it works

Therapeutic communication stands as the secret sauce in the rich recipe of nursing care, infusing the clinical setting with warmth, understanding, and healing. In the hustle and bustle of healthcare, where technology often takes the spotlight, the human touch through communication emerges as the unsung hero, weaving bonds of trust and empathy between nurses and their patients. It’s a symphony of verbal and nonverbal gestures aimed not just at conveying information, but at creating a safe space where patients feel truly seen, heard, and valued.

At its essence, therapeutic communication embodies the art of active listening, empathy, and honoring the patient’s autonomy. It’s about more than just exchanging words—it’s about building bridges of understanding that traverse the chasm between illness and wellness. Nurses who excel in this dance of dialogue understand that each interaction is an opportunity to forge a connection, to reach beyond the clinical veneer and touch the human heart beneath.

One of the magical outcomes of therapeutic communication is its ability to sow the seeds of trust and camaraderie between nurse and patient. Trust is the cornerstone of healing, the bedrock upon which patients feel empowered to share their deepest fears, concerns, and hopes. By lending an empathetic ear and a caring presence, nurses cultivate a fertile ground where patients feel safe to be vulnerable, to express themselves without fear of judgment.

Moreover, therapeutic communication serves as a treasure trove of insights, a window into the inner world of the patient. Through attentive listening and skillful questioning, nurses unlock the mysteries that lie beyond the surface—a twinge of pain hidden behind a smile, a flicker of anxiety concealed beneath a brave facade. This holistic approach to communication enables nurses to tailor their care plans to fit the unique contours of each patient’s journey, ensuring that no voice goes unheard, no need goes unmet.

Beyond the tangible benefits for patients, therapeutic communication casts a radiant glow upon the nursing profession itself. Engaging in genuine, meaningful interactions with patients becomes a source of nourishment for the soul, a reminder of why nurses embarked on this noble calling in the first place. In the shared moments of laughter, tears, and everything in between, nurses find fulfillment, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging to a profession built on the pillars of compassion and humanity.

In the grand tapestry of healthcare, therapeutic communication emerges as a golden thread, weaving its way through the fabric of healing and transforming sterile clinical environments into havens of compassion and empathy. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, one thing remains constant—the profound impact of human connection, forged through the simple yet profound act of communication. In the words left unspoken, in the gestures of kindness, lies the transformative power to heal, to uplift, and to remind us all of our shared humanity

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Passing Thru Travel

Top 18 Family Travel Trends for 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Last updated: May 1, 2024

Embarking on a journey to navigate family dynamics requires evidence-based strategies supported by research to foster positive relationships and resolve conflicts effectively. Here are 18 research-backed tips, along with actionable steps to implement them, for cultivating constructive communication within your family:

1. Practice Mindful Communication

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Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your communication style, such as deep breathing and present-moment awareness, to promote calmness and clarity during conversations.

2. Utilize Reflective Listening

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Enhance communication effectiveness by practicing reflective listening, where you paraphrase and summarize what the speaker has said to demonstrate understanding and empathy.

3. Implement “Speaker-Listener” Technique

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Adopt the “speaker-listener” technique, a structured approach to communication where one person speaks while the other actively listens without interruption, to ensure each party feels heard and understood.

4. Employ Emotion Regulation Strategies

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Develop emotion regulation skills to manage intense emotions during family discussions, such as taking a brief break to cool down or practicing positive self-talk to reframe negative thoughts.

5. Use Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Apply the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), which emphasize empathy, honesty, and assertiveness, to express needs and resolve conflicts peacefully within your family.

6. Practice Conflict De-Escalation Techniques

Learn conflict de-escalation techniques, such as active listening, empathy validation, and finding common ground, to reduce tension and facilitate productive dialogue during disagreements.

7. Promote Psychological Safety

Create an environment of psychological safety within your family where all members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns without fear of judgment or reprisal.

8. Develop Family Rituals and Traditions

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Establish family rituals and traditions, such as weekly dinners or game nights, to strengthen bonds, foster connection, and provide opportunities for open communication and bonding.

9. Encourage Shared Decision-Making

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Involve all family members in the decision-making process to promote a sense of ownership, collaboration, and mutual respect within your family unit.

10. Facilitate Family Meetings

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Schedule regular family meetings to discuss important topics, resolve conflicts, and make decisions collectively, fostering transparency, accountability, and teamwork.

11. Practice Positive Affirmations

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Incorporate positive affirmations and expressions of gratitude into your family communication to reinforce love, appreciation, and affirmation among family members.

12. Model Healthy Conflict Resolution

Serve as a role model for healthy conflict resolution by demonstrating empathy, compromise, and effective communication skills in your interactions with family members.

13. Foster Emotional Intelligence

Cultivate emotional intelligence within your family by teaching children and adults alike to recognize and manage their emotions, empathize with others, and communicate assertively and respectfully.

14. Establish Family Values and Norms

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Define and uphold family values and norms that prioritize respect, kindness, honesty, and open communication as foundational principles guiding interactions within your family.

15. Set Clear Expectations and Boundaries

Clarify expectations and establish clear boundaries regarding communication, behavior, and responsibilities within your family to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

16. Encourage Active Participation

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Encourage active participation and engagement from all family members in discussions and decision-making processes to foster inclusivity, empowerment, and shared responsibility.

17. Provide Constructive Feedback

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Offer constructive feedback and praise to family members in a supportive and encouraging manner, focusing on specific behaviors and actions rather than personal characteristics.

18. Seek Professional Support When Necessary

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Recognize when family communication challenges require professional intervention and seek guidance from family therapists, counselors, or mediators trained in conflict resolution and communication skills.

Embark on Your Journey to Positive Family Communication

Commit to implementing these research-backed strategies to navigate family dynamics with compassion, understanding, and effectiveness. Embrace the opportunity to cultivate a harmonious and supportive family environment characterized by mutual respect, trust, and open communication.

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For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Blame South Sudan’s Civil War on Elites, Not “Ethnic Tensions”

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South Sudan’s post-independence instability is often blamed on ethnic tensions. But exploitation by international companies and zero-sum competition over resources between local elites are the real causes of ongoing violence in the country.

Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, attends the meeting of the National Liberation Council at the Freedom Hall in Juba on December 2, 2022. (Samir Bol / AFP via Getty Images)

In South Sudan, generals and politicians have siphoned off the country’s oil wealth ( 98 percent of state revenue in 2013 alone), bolstered by a “ gun class ” of government soldiers, community militias, cattle raiders, and private guards who then fight over cattle, mining, and timber industries. While public reporting and official narratives largely focus on the ethnic nature of South Sudan’s violence, an unrestricted race for wealth and power is what really undergirds this contest. South Sudan may be the world’s youngest country, but the ongoing conflict is a process decades in the making. Since the 1950s, foreign governments and corporations have consistently legitimized the most predatory actors in the region.

Elite Conflicts

After two civil wars spanning virtually all of independent Sudan’s history (1955–72, 1983–2005), South Sudan achieved independence by popular referendum in 2011. The conflicts were often framed as “Arab” Khartoum versus “African” South Sudanese tribes, but struggles for oil wealth and factional enrichment were far better explainers. Indeed, some of the most brutal fighting , including the massacre of two thousand people in Bor in 1991, was between South Sudanese factions.

Accordingly, only two years after independence, coalitions under President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar (architect of the Bor bloodbath) came to blows in the capital of Juba, initiating a civil war that engulfed much of the country. Parties to the conflict would employ systematic sexual and gender-based violence , hate speech and ethnic cleansing , and starvation as a weapon of war . Kiir’s centralization of access to state oil revenues was important to the war’s initiation, and the oil fields of Unity State and Upper Nile became key battlegrounds . Though the conflict technically ended with a peace deal in 2018 and a power-sharing government in 2020, the parties have merely decentralized their economic and political contests. Accordingly, violence against civilians and between proxy forces and militias persists.

But rather than a “two feuding generals” narrative (as we see again in discussion of Sudan today), violence in the country has always been tied to local realities. The many factions in South Sudan are hardly top-down or ideologically driven. Elites in Juba and provincial capitals can only fight over personal wealth by paying off militias and mobilizing patronage networks that took decades to build. Since the 1980s, Kiir, Machar, and others have been arming communities, promoting ethnicized violence, and cynically politicizing traditional beliefs and rituals that had once regulated murder and theft.

Rather than intrinsic hatred, ethnic/tribal identity became a tool to create networks of mutual protection and profit during the deprivations of civil war. In instances in which the supposed ethnic loyalties of factions have come into conflict with their material interests, the latter have often won out. For example, the Nuer White Army , diffuse bands of cattle raiders responsible for Bor and essential to the 2013 civil war, have often ignored or killed Nuer elites that opposed them.

The official peace of 2018, focused on formal institutions and power-sharing in Juba, could hardly resolve the zero-sum economic competition, instrumentalized identities, and coercive nature of such diffuse networks. South Sudan is now in its sixth year of “transition” with very little to show for it. The unified armed forces are starved of money and support, political offices are treated as personal coffers, and Kiir’s repression in the run-up to December elections is creating a powder keg for renewed violence.

The money for these essential patronage networks has had to come from somewhere. Despite war crimes and repression, international corporations have been active and essential in all phases of South Sudan’s violence. In the eleven years between the First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars, Chevron (with investment from Shell) discovered and began developing oil fields in the Greater Upper Nile region. In 1980, in contravention of the 1972 peace deal, Sudanese president Gaafar Nimeiry created “Unity” State to take the fields completely out of the hands of the South’s already marginalized regional government.

Nimeiry routed oil through a pipeline northward to Port Sudan rather than southward to Kenya, which has ensured Sudan takes a cut of South Sudanese oil to this day. This extraction was an important catalyst for the second war, as cited by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) when it declared itself in 1983.

After an attack on the oil fields by unaffiliated Nuer soldiers, Chevron halted operations. The SPLM/A, which still rules South Sudan, told Chevron not to restart work. Khartoum pressed for the opposite, and Chevron countered with a five-point plan to build locally inclusive oil infrastructure and invest in local health, water, and education. However, not only did this investment never materialize, but Chevron ignored the fact that Khartoum-armed Baggāra militias and Nuer proxy forces under Paulino Matiep were violently clearing the lands around the oil fields of Dinka and Nuer villagers. Furthermore, the oil conglomerate had reportedly been the party that asked Khartoum for these “oil protection” forces; both South Sudanese officials and a journalist with the Economist even accused Chevron of directly supporting the militias.

Protection Rackets

This “protection” effort intersected nicely with Khartoum’s operations against the civilian population. As seen in Darfur a decade later, gunships bought with oil money buzzed villages while well-armed and coordinated “protection forces” besieged and cleared communities (often robbing them and enslaving the women and children). Beyond oil profits that funded Khartoum’s indiscriminate war effort, the oil industry’s infrastructure — roads, airstrips, physical facilities — enhanced the mobility of the militias and government forces. These “oil protection” units then became key participants in the profiteering “South-South” violence of the 1990s (like the Bor massacre) and perpetrators of some of the worst atrocities of the South Sudanese Civil War (the Padang Dinka “Oil Protection Force” campaign against the Shilluk in 2017).

Loosely affiliated, opportunistic militias thus proliferated throughout the 1980s and 1990s to alternately protect or procure oil rents for the highest bidder. The new coup government of Omar al-Bashir eventually ran Chevron out of Unity in 1985 and all of Sudan in 1992. Khartoum partnered with a less risk-averse consortium comprising the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (the largest in China), Malaysian state-owned Petronas, and private Canadian firm Arakis (later bought up by a larger Canadian firm, Talisman). Chevron would not reap the full profits of an industry it had carved out amid Greater Upper Nile’s suffering. This was the beginning of Chinese, Malaysian, and later Indian and East African corporate domination of South Sudan’s resources.

The United States also offers a common thread in this period. Then US ambassador to the UN George Bush Sr reportedly facilitated Chevron’s contract with Nimeiry. Later, the United States pressured Chevron into exiting Sudan as it soured on al-Bashir’s coups, violence, and support for international Islamist fundamentalism. The United States became a leading driver of the southern “peace” process, pressuring Khartoum with sanctions while corralling the main South Sudanese actors to the table, culminating in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

But the main South Sudanese actors were often the same self-styled “oil protection forces” and various other predatory power players (SPLM/A factions included). The CPA largely excluded South Sudanese civil society and did more to get Khartoum and Juba to divide up oil rents than work toward actual equity and accountability after years of destructive war. It not only glossed over but exacerbated the violent economic contestation underneath much of the vicious South-South violence of the 1990s. Salva Kiir’s SPLM/A government ramped up violent “ disarmament ” campaigns against rivals while plundering the opaque, state-run oil conglomerate Nilepet (created in 2009).

From 2005 to 2013, international “peacebuilders” and “statebuilders” reveled in crafting the “new” South Sudan. The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway (the “Troika”) and various African governments (often with their own political and economic stakes) played the roles of mediators, bureaucrats, and humanitarians. Militia leaders, community elders, and militarized businessmen who had spent years appealing to ethnic hatred, religious prophecy, and pure force were expected to freely commit to formal institutions and winner-take-all elections. Though Khartoum and Juba reached a relatively stable working arrangement on the Port Sudan pipeline, it should hardly be surprising that frequent enemies of the 1990s (Kiir’s Dinka Titweng troops and Machar’s White Army allies) returned to violence in 2013.

After the interregnum of the civil war, South Sudan returned to similar processes. The oil fields began to dry up, but international commodity traders allowed the government to trade in prepayments for future oil sales, mortgaging South Sudan’s main income source tomorrow so leaders could buy mansions and luxury cars today. Massive cattle herds (built through violent raiding ), destructive logging , and exploitative mines are often overseen by soldiers, funded by foreign companies, and integrated into transnational supply chains. Juba is more stratified than ever, with new luxury hotels overlooking the Nile and waterfront bars catering to aid workers, diplomats, and government officials. The short distance from the international airport to the Vatican Embassy is covered with a pristine paved road, built solely for the Pope’s February 2023 visit.

But in this microcosm of South Sudan’s inequity, much of Juba remains a sea of uneven dirt roads, emaciated goats and cattle, tuk tuks and biker gangs, cash lenders and charcoal traders. Walls near the Presidential Palace are marked by bullet holes from the 2013 battles. Not-so-hidden machine guns ring the infamous Blue House , from which Kiir’s military and intelligence services torture and terrorize the population. Embassies, NGO compounds, and UN offices make up islands of barbed wire “tranquility” for foreigners. Campaigning season is underway, meaning media repression, arbitrary arrest and detention of rivals and activists, and extrajudicial killings .

In this context, narratives of ethnic hatred or purely localized violence are not only inaccurate but actively harmful to the cause of understanding the kinds of exploitation taking place in the country. State and national officials claim that despite their commitment to the peace process, they’re simply being undermined by “local” violence. And while they search for solutions through conferences and unfunded initiatives, they plead innocence as the patrons and profiteers of specific raids and industries. In this internationally financed status quo, they have no incentive to share power, lay down arms, or introduce regulation and oversight.

December elections may destroy the house of cards. To paraphrase one advocate: “There are 550 seats in the transitional legislature, but only 250 in the post-transition assembly. That means three hundred powerful people will lose parliamentary immunity to everything from corruption charges to The Hague.” It remains to be seen whether South Sudan will fragment violently or Kiir will become more powerful than ever. Either way, there is money to be made and lives to be lost.