Paraphrasing Without Losing Scholarly Integrity
Good paraphrasing is not just changing words; it is accurately representing a source through your own analytical frame.
Paraphrasing begins with understanding
A paraphrase should show that you understand the source, not that you can swap vocabulary. Read the passage, close it, and explain the idea as if you were teaching it to someone else.
Keep the citation visible
Even when the wording is yours, the idea may still belong to the source. Cite the source whenever the claim, evidence, framework, or data comes from someone else's work.
Add your analytical role
After a paraphrase, explain how the idea supports, complicates, or limits your argument. This step prevents source material from sitting in the paragraph without purpose.
Avoid over-polishing
A paraphrase that becomes too smooth can lose nuance. Preserve important distinctions, uncertainty, and context. Accurate academic writing is often more valuable than elegant simplification.