Module 02

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Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is often defined as putting a passage from an author into your own words. If you
want to introduce information from another source (a book, a journal article, or website, for
example) into your paper, you could approach this by quoting the work directly or try to convey
the information from the original source in your paper by rephrasing it in your own words. This
latter approach is paraphrasing.

To make a clear distinction between the two:

Quoting: To quote is to include the identical wording from the original source in your paper.
Quoted material in your paper is distinguished from your own words by the use of " " or by
indenting the quoted text (if quoting a longer passage). In addition to quotation marks or
indenting, all quoted material should also be cited using footnotes, endnotes, or in-text citation.

Paraphrasing: To paraphrase is to include the ideas or information from an original source in

your paper by rephrasing those ideas or information in your own words. The key to successful
paraphrasing is to use as few words as possible from the original text--be mindful not to change
the meaning that you are trying to convey as you rephrase--and to cite your paraphrase. Without
proper citation, your paraphrase could be construed as plagiarism.

The information below provide an example by showing a passage as it appears in the source, two
paraphrases that follow the source too closely, and a legitimate paraphrase.

The Passage as It Appears in the Source

Critical care nurses function in a hierarchy of roles. In this open heart surgery unit, the
nurse manager hires and fires the nursing personnel. The nurse manager does not directly
care for patients but follows the progress of unusual or long-term patients. On each shift a
nurse assumes the role of resource nurse. This person oversees the hour-by-hour
functioning of the unit as a whole, such as considering expected admissions and discharges
of patients, ascertaining that beds are available for patients in the operating room, and
covering sick calls. Resource nurses also take a patient assignment. They are the most
experienced of all the staff nurses. The nurse clinician has a separate job description and

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provides for quality of care by orienting new staff, developing unit policies, and providing
direct support where needed, such as assisting in emergency situations. The clinical nurse
specialist in this unit is mostly involved with formal teaching in orienting new staff. The
nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist are the designated experts.
They do not take patient assignments. The resource nurse is seen as both a caregiver and a
resource to other caregivers. . . . Staff nurses have a hierarchy of seniority. . . . Staff nurses
are assigned to patients to provide all their nursing care. (Chase, 1995, p. 156)

Word-for-Word Plagiarism

Critical care nurses have a hierarchy of roles. The nurse manager hires and fires nurses. S/he
does not directly care for patients but does follow unusual or long-term cases. On each shift a
resource nurse attends to the functioning of the unit as a whole, such as making sure beds are
available in the operating room, and also has a patient assignment. The nurse clinician orients
new staff, develops policies, and provides support where needed. The clinical nurse specialist
also orients new staff, mostly by formal teaching. The nurse manager, nurse clinician, and
clinical nurse specialist, as the designated experts, do not take patient assignments. The resource
nurse is not only a caregiver but a resource to the other caregivers. Within the staff nurses there
is also a hierarchy of seniority. Their job is to give assigned patients all their nursing care.

Why this is plagiarism

Notice that the writer has not only “borrowed” Chase’s material (the results of her research) with
no acknowledgment, but has also largely maintained the author’s method of expression and
sentence structure. The phrases in red are directly copied from the source or changed only
slightly in form.

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A Patchwork Paraphrase

Chase (1995) describes how nurses in a critical care unit function in a hierarchy that places
designated experts at the top and the least senior staff nurses at the bottom. The experts — the
nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist — are not involved directly in
patient care. The staff nurses, in contrast, are assigned to patients and provide all their nursing
care. Within the staff nurses is a hierarchy of seniority in which the most senior can become
resource nurses: they are assigned a patient but also serve as a resource to other caregivers. The
experts have administrative and teaching tasks such as selecting and orienting new staff,
developing unit policies, and giving hands-on support where needed.

Why this is plagiarism

This paraphrase is a patchwork composed of pieces in the original author’s language (in red) and
pieces in the student-writer’s words, all rearranged into a new pattern, but with none of the
borrowed pieces in quotation marks. Thus, even though the writer acknowledges the source of
the material, the underlined phrases are falsely presented as the student’s own.

A Legitimate Paraphrase

In her study of the roles of nurses in a critical care unit, Chase (1995) also found a hierarchy that
distinguished the roles of experts and others. Just as the educational experts described above do
not directly teach students, the experts in this unit do not directly attend to patients. That is the
role of the staff nurses, who, like teachers, have their own “hierarchy of seniority” (p. 156). The
roles of the experts include employing unit nurses and overseeing the care of special patients
(nurse manager), teaching and otherwise integrating new personnel into the unit (clinical nurse
specialist and nurse clinician), and policy-making (nurse clinician). In an intermediate position in
the hierarchy is the resource nurse, a staff nurse with more experience than the others, who
assumes direct care of patients as the other staff nurses do, but also takes on tasks to ensure the
smooth operation of the entire facility.

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Why this is a good paraphrase

The writer has documented Chase’s material and specific language (by direct reference to the
author and by quotation marks around language taken directly from the source). Notice too that
the writer has modified Chase’s language and structure and has added material to fit the new
context and purpose — to present the distinctive functions of experts and non-experts in several
professions.

Activity: Paraphrase the following passages

01. An article published in April 2018 highlighted clear differences between

generations of children in the Netherlands, stating that 70% of the grandparents of the
current generation spent more time outside than at home, compared to 10% today. Since
2013, the percentage of children who play outside every day has decreased from 20% to
just 14%. There are several negative outcomes for children that have resulted from lack
of outdoor play, including increasing problems with short-sightedness due to a preference
for time on computers, shortages of Vitamin D, problems with weight, and limited
development of social skills (DutchNews.nl, 2018).

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 02. It is well known that exercise helps to alleviate stress. The National Heart, Lung and
Blood Association (NHLBA) endorse exercise as a way to reduce stress, and
recommends cardiovascular exercise that elevates the heart rate for 15 to 30 minutes--
three to four times a week. The American Psychology Association has conducted
numerous studies indicating the beneficial effects of exercise in dealing with stress.
Exercise releases endorphins into the blood stream. Endorphins are "feel good" hormones
and are the body's natural pain-killers. They also generate the sensory perception of
physical well-being, which in turn contributes to emotional and mental health.

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03. John Franzen’s The Corrections is an excellent example of the novel being used as an
effective expression of family drama, as well as a piece of social commentary. The
characters stand out as realistic, relatable, and all too human, but they also function as
expressions of the way that we as Americans have reacted to our culture. The way that
things like avarice, and ultimately perceptions of others and narcissism, have seeped into
our way of life and made it all that much more difficult.

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Listening : Listen to the audio clip and paraphrase it.

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CV Writing
Activity:

A good curriculum vitae or CV is vital when looking for work, especially when there are
numerous candidates for the same job. So what should it contain? Get into groups and
brainstorm the components of a CV.

There is no perfect template, and each sector may require a different emphasis on a different
aspect of the content. However, experts suggest there are some basic rules on how a CV should
be written and the information that should be included.

The basic format for a CV includes:

 Personal details, including name, address, phone number, email address and possibly any
professional social media presence. You no longer need to include your date of birth,
owing to age discrimination rules
 Career history, starting with your most recent job first. Include dates and temporary or
voluntary jobs if appropriate
 A personal profile which sells yourself and your qualities, tailored towards the job you
are applying for
 Achievements from previous jobs that are relevant
 Qualifications and training from previous jobs, with the most recent first
 Interests, if they are relevant and especially if the skills or teamwork concerned are
relevant for the job
 Any extra information, such as reasons for a career change or reasons for gaps in career
history, such as caring duties
 References, ideally two or more and including a recent employer

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Following are some commonly used samples of CVs

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Activity

Given below is a job advertisement published on the web. Prepare a suitable CV for the job you
require.

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Writing a Cover Letter
When applying for a job a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume. Your cover
letter should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience
to those noted in the job posting. Your cover letter is your first (and best) chance to make a good
impression.

Format Cover Letter

Your Contact Information

Name
Address
City, State
Date

Employer Contact Information (if you have it)

Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State

Salutation
Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name, (leave out if you don't have a contact or using Dear Hiring Manager
etc…)

Body of Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why
the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up.

First Paragraph
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention

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the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a
mutual contact, if you have one.

Middle Paragraph(s)
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer.
Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Remember, you
are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.

Final Paragraph
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position.
Include information on how you will follow-up.

Complimentary Close

Respectfully yours,

Signature

Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)

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Sample Cover Letter

John Doe
200 West First St.
Auburn, ME 04211

Phone: 207.555.0145
Email: jdoe@email.com

September 10, 2012

Sally Jenkins
ABC Company
123 Main St.
Auburn, ME 04211

Dear Ms. Jenkins,

I am writing to inquire about possible openings at ABC Company for a research assistant. I am
interested in a senior level position offering the opportunity for travel and advanced research
assignments.

As a professional administrative assistant with excellent research skills, I am eager to contribute

my abilities and experience to ABC Company. Given my extensive training and background, I
believe I can help ABC Company meet its goal of providing only the most accurate and timely
information to its clients.

Please find enclosed my resume and a list of my references. Feel free to call me at 207.555.0145,
to arrange a time to meet. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Enclosures

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