Writing: Summarizing and Paraphrasing (B2) - Lesson 2: Effective Paraphrasing to Avoid Plagiarism

B2 Lesson 2: Effective Paraphrasing to Avoid Plagiarism

You have learned that summarizing requires you to use your own words. The skill of rewriting an idea using different vocabulary and sentence structure is called paraphrasing¹.

Effective paraphrasing is essential for using information from sources in your own essays. It shows you understand the material and helps you avoid plagiarism², which is a very serious academic offense.

Ineffective vs. Effective Paraphrasing

Simply changing a few words with synonyms³ is not a good paraphrase. You must also change the sentence structure⁴.

Original Sentence:

The rapid development of the tourism industry in coastal areas has created significant environmental challenges for local communities.

Ineffective Paraphrase ❌ (Still plagiarism):

The fast development of tourism in coastal regions has led to major environmental problems for local people.

(This is too similar. It only changes a few words but keeps the exact same sentence structure.)

Effective Paraphrase ✅ (Good):

Local communities in areas near the sea often face serious environmental issues when the tourism sector expands too quickly.

(This is excellent. It uses different vocabulary AND a completely different sentence structure, but keeps the original meaning.)

A 4-Step Method for Effective Paraphrasing

1. Read and Understand: Read the original sentence multiple times until you are certain you understand its meaning perfectly.
2. Cover the Original: Look away from the computer screen or cover the text with your hand. This is a critical step to prevent accidental copying.
3. Restate the Idea: Say the idea out loud in your own words. Then, write down your version.
4. Check and Cite: Compare your paraphrase to the original. Is the meaning the same? Are the words and structure different enough? Finally, make sure to add a citation that tells the reader where you got the idea.

✍️ B2 Paraphrasing Checklist

• ✔️ Does my paraphrase have the exact same meaning as the original?
• ✔️ Have I used my own vocabulary AND sentence structure?
• ✔️ Have I avoided copying more than three words in a row from the original text?
• ✔️ Have I included a citation⁵ to give credit to the original author?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Which is the Best Paraphrase?

Read the original sentence and choose the best paraphrase.

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Original Sentence: "The widespread availability of mobile internet has fundamentally transformed how people in rural Cambodian communities access information and services."

1. The common availability of mobile internet has completely changed how people in the countryside access information and services.
2. Access to information and services for people in Cambodia's rural areas has been completely changed by the spread of mobile internet.
3. Mobile internet is good for people in the countryside.

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Answer: B. This is the best paraphrase because it changes both the vocabulary and the sentence structure significantly while keeping the original meaning. Answer A is "patchwriting" (too similar). Answer C is a weak summary, not a paraphrase.

📝 Homework: Practice Your Paraphrasing Skills

Get your notebook and pen. Your task is to paraphrase the following two sentences using the 4-step method.

1. The construction of the new bridge is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city center by at least 30 percent.
2. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the island of Koh Rong still lacks some basic infrastructure, such as a stable electricity supply.

For each sentence, write a new version in your notebook that has the same meaning but uses your own words and sentence structure.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. To paraphrase: (Verb) - បកស្រាយ - To restate someone else's idea using your own words and sentence structure. ↩
2. Plagiarism: (Noun) - ការលួចចម្លង - The act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit. It is a serious academic offense. ↩
3. Synonym: (Noun) - សទិសសព្ទ - A word that has the same or a very similar meaning to another word. ↩
4. Sentence Structure: (Noun Phrase) - រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធប្រយោគ - The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence. ↩
5. Citation / To Cite: (Noun / Verb) - ការដកស្រង់ / ដកស្រង់ - A note in your text that shows where you got a piece of information from. ↩