Hints on paraphrasing without plagiarising

One way to avoid plagiarising is to paraphrase an entire paragraph, rather than attempting sentence by sentence.

• Read the original information carefully, ensuring that you understand exactly what the author is saying
• Put the original aside and try to write the main ideas in your own words
• Check that you have kept the meaning of the original source
• Modify words or phrases that match the original too closely. If unique words or phrases are to be included in your text, ensure they are enclosed in quotation marks
• Include a citation to the source of information (this should also include the page numbers).
• Further hints on effective paraphrasing available via the Friend's University Writing Center.