Paraphrasing Questions Discussion Assignment
INSTRUCTIONS
In the previous three modules, you found and evaluated your sources for the Final Project. Now, in Module 4, you will practice the skill of paraphrasing to learn how to use a source appropriately as evidence to support your argument, without using its language verbatim. Then, you will practice putting all of your sources into proper APA format for a reference list. APA is the citation style required in all courses at Excelsior College, so learning the details of APA formatting is important for your future academic success.
This assignment will be completed in two steps. Use the Milestone 4 Template Download Milestone 4 Templateto see an example of each step and to submit your own work. Paraphrasing Questions Discussion Assignment
Step 1: Paraphrasing Activity
First, read pages 4.11 through 4.13 of the webtext on paraphrasing and use the following resources to learn more:
- Start by reading more about paraphrasing (Links to an external site.) in the Excelsior OWL
- Then, try the OWL’s paraphrasing activity (Links to an external site.) to make sure you understand what you need to do.
- Read the APA In-Text Citations (Links to an external site.) resources in the Excelsior OWL
Next, pick a key passage from one of your Final Project sources. The passage should be relevant to your topic and thesis statement, something that you will be likely to use as evidence when you write your final paper. The passage you choose should also be at least 5 sentences long. Next, copy/paste this passage into the Template, place it inside quotation marks.
Then, below your quoted passage, paraphrase the material in your own words and then include an in-text citation of the source at the end of your paragraph. Your paraphrase should be at least 2-3 sentences.
Paraphrasing is more than just replacing individual words here and there. Be careful about relying on the thesaurus. The goal is to put the idea fully in your own words by changing the structure, voice, and significantly changing the wording in order to differentiate it from the original. If you find this difficult to do with the source in front of you, try reading the source and then putting it out of sight. Then reword it from memory and your understanding of the passage. Understanding correct paraphrasing is important because if you paraphrase incorrectly by only replacing words sporadically or keeping the original wording without putting it inside quotes, it is considered a form of academic dishonesty.