Training in Paraphrasing

Question: How can teachers train their students in paraphrasing?

Answer: Students on an index card quote from the text. Next, they paraphrase the quote.

Comment: This training is necessary. Students should learn to paraphrase most of the ideas they cite. After writing the quote and understanding it on one side of the index card, the student turns the card over and tries to write the paraphrase. It’s too easy to quote the text and copying sometimes leads to lack of understanding. Students need to practice paraphrasing. They also need to learn to cite the paraphrase. RayS.

Title: “Using Paraphrasing Cards to Reduce Unintentional Plagiarism.” N Stahl and JR King. Journal of Reading (April 1991), 562-563.