Lecture Notes by Christopher Lay

Los Angeles Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, and Sociology

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Notes on Paraphrasing in Essays

 

 

 

 

When it comes to writing essays, at least for writing essays turned in to me, paraphrasing is in general better than quoting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a good, general guide for when to paraphrase instead of quoting if you can convey the same information in your own words without loss of meaning, then a paraphrase is usually better. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readers of your essays tend to understand you better than they understand philosophical writing.  (Have you read Descartes lately?) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incidentally, when grading your papers, graders need to see that you understand what it is that you are representing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can properly paraphrase passages, then it shows your grader that you understand the material better than someone who can only find the correct passage and quote it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When paraphrasing use a dictionary and thesaurus with purpose.  (Make sure that you are using words for accuracy, and not just because they sound good, smart, or nice.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, if a paraphrase won't do, whenever you quote, you should also explain the quote to the reader, to help them understand it (and to show your grader that you yourself understand the quote).