Universidad del Valle Integrated Skills in English IV
Escuela de Ciencias del Lenguaje Johnny Escobar Salazar
Dpto. de Lenguas y Culturas Extranjeras 2022B
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is producing the original idea or meaning that another person said, using different structures
and words. If you consider that it is necessary to present information very closely to the original text, use a
direct quote. In both cases, the author(s) have to be acknowledged (otherwise, it would be considered to be
plagiarism). There are different ways to paraphrase and it is normally something we learn through practice.
There are two important options we can study, though; let’s take a look at them.
Option 1
1. Begin by asking questions and start answering them before you find out information.
Why are children interested in cooking? Children are interested in cooking because…
How does TV influence the children’s attitudes towards cooking? TV influences the
children’s attitudes toward cooking as…
2. Found out information and use it to complete your answers.
“There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Australian children taking an interest in
cooking in the last two years. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the rising popularity of
reality based television cooking shows aimed at a young audience. These shows often feature
children who are very skilled at preparing, cooking and presenting food. The shows present the idea
that the levels of skill such children possess in the kitchen can be reached by any child, as long as
they are determined and have family support.” (McGuinness, 2011)
3. Connect your answers in order to make a paragraph. Don’t forget to cite the author.
It is considered that Children in Australia are interested in cooking because there is an increasing
popularity of cooking programs on TV in recent years. Additionally, some of these programs
influence the children’s attitudes toward cooking, as they show that people may be successful if
they are willing and are helped by their families.
As McGuinness (2011) claims, it is considered that children in Australia are interested in cooking
because there is an increasing popularity of cooking programs on TV in recent years.
Additionally, this author adds that some of these programs influence the children’s attitudes
toward cooking, as they show that people may be successful if they are willing and are helped
by their families.
1
Option 2
1. Begin by carefully reading the following passage.
“There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Australian children taking an interest in
cooking in the last two years. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the rising popularity of
reality based television cooking shows aimed at a young audience. These shows often feature
children who are very skilled at preparing, cooking and presenting food. The shows present the idea
that the levels of skill such children possess in the kitchen can be reached by any child, as long as
they are determined and have family support.” (McGuinness, 2011)
2. Identify ideas and keywords.
“There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Australian children taking an interest in
cooking in the last two years. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the rising popularity of
reality based television cooking shows aimed at a young audience. These shows often feature
children who are very skilled at preparing, cooking and presenting food. The shows present the idea
that the levels of skill such children possess in the kitchen can be reached by any child, as long as
they are determined and have family support.” (McGuinness, 2011)
3. Identify the synonyms of the keywords.
Increase: growth
Researchers: investigators / scholars
Popularity: acceptance / reputation
Cooking shows: TV programs about cooking
Feature: show
Level of skill: performance
Reach: obtain
Determined: resolute
Support: encouragement / help / assistance
4. Look away from the text. Write your own version of what you just read, keeping in mind the
ideas of the text and using just the keywords as a guide.
There is a growing number of children in Australia who are taking some interest on TV programs
about cooking. Those programs, according to some scholars, may have a significant acceptance
as they show kids with high cooking performances, which is said to be obtained by those who
are resolute and encouraged by their families.
McGuinness (2011) claims that there is a growing number of children in Australia who are taking
some interest on TV programs about cooking. He adds that, according to some scholars, those
programs may have a significant acceptance as they show kids with high cooking performances,
which is said to be obtained by those who are resolute and encouraged by their families.
2
Exercise
Read the texts below and paraphrase them using option 1 or 2.
Text # 1
“Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year in the United States, three-fourths are caused by head
injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can
reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions
the head” (Roberts, 2018).
Text # 2
“Schools are venues not only for academic learning but also for social learning or socialization through
which adolescents learn attitudes, values, and behaviors of others. Schools are important contexts in which
adolescents interact with their friends and form adolescent cultures with specific perspectives and
preferences that are likely to affect behaviors” (Choi et al, 2015).
