Reading Closely Lesson 2

A paraphrase is...

• your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
• one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
• a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

• it is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.
• it helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
• the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.

2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.

3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.

4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.

5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.

6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

The original passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.

A legitimate paraphrase:

In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An acceptable summary:

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

A plagiarized version:

Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

Standards:

• RI.9-10.1
• RI.9-10.2

Learning Target:

• I will be able to...
• Use guiding questions to look closely for details in a text.

What does it mean to read a text closely by attending to and analyzing textual details?

Masterful Reading

Independent Reading

Look at the questions listed under “Language” in the Questioning Texts row of the GQ Handout.

Look at the questions listed under “Topic, Information, and Ideas” in the Questioning Texts row of the GQ Handout.

Think about the question:

• “What words or phrases stand out to me as I read?”

As I read the passage aloud, think about the question:

• “What information or ideas does this text present?”

Record/share your responses to the question, making sure that you refer to the text to support your responses.

Reread the text independently, marking details you notice.

Homework Accountability

Share and compare your quick write captions/titles, noting the details that have led to what you have written.

Lesson Agenda

Class Review

• Homework Accountability
• Masterful Reading
• Independent Reading
• Class Review
• Paraphrasing
• Quick Write
• Closing

• Compare the details you have noticed and marked.
• What do the details suggest to you?
• Identify any new questions you have after examining and discussing the details.

Closing

Quick Write

Continue to read your Accountable Independent Reading text through the lens of a focus standard of your choice and prepare for a 3–5 minute discussion of your text based on that standard.

Respond briefly in writing to the following prompt:

• Draft a paraphrase of one of the details that stood out to you.

Paraphrase

Paraphrasing Example

(According to Purdue OWL)