Paraphrasing

(TESOL Worksheets--Speaking, Writing, English for Academic Purposes)
Google Drive Folder HERE
Slideshow: slides, pub
Worksheet: docs, pub
[Notes: This lesson makes use of the Youtube video: How To Paraphrase.  I also make use of the content from the video British Council IELTS tips #6: Top five paraphrasing techniques, but I don't play that video in the class because the music is loud and annoying.  Instead I've just taken some of the example sentences form that video, and integrated it into the lesson. Some of the other examples in the lesson come from Q: Skills for Success 5 pages 194-195.  The slideshow accompanying this lesson is mostly for my own reference, and I didn't actually use it in class when I taught the lesson.
Procedure: Hand out the questions from the first page of the worksheet.  Play the video "How to Paraphrase".  Students answer the questions.  Class feedback.
Hand out worksheet page 2.  In pairs, students analyze the worksheet, and talk together about how the sentences are paraphrased.
Hand out worksheet page 3.  Students match the description of paraphrasing to the sample sentences on worksheet 2.  
Next, hand out worksheet page 4.  (This is a paragraph taken from the Wikipedia page on Vietnam.  I used this because I was teaching in Vietnam, and the content was familiar to my students.  Teachers in different countries may want to change the subject.)
In pairs, students work to complete the table and paraphrase each sentence.  (Note: in my morning class I gave them the table.  In the afternoon class, they had no table.  The afternoon class did more paraphrasing by combining ideas from sentences because they did not have the sentence-by-sentence table.  So it's possible the table may hurt students more than help them.)  Then, I give my sample answers (worksheet page 5).  Students compare my sample answers to their answers.
Next, students are put into 4 groups.  Each group is given another paragraph from the Wikipedia page on Vietnam.  In groups, students must paraphrase the paragraph. After they prepare in groups, we then switch the groups. students are put into new groups with new partners, and have to present their paraphrase to the new groups.
The final activity makes use of pages 8-11 of the worksheet, which contain famous quotes.  These famous quotes are taken from this website here.  Each student is given a strip of paper with a famous quote on it.  Then there's a mingle activity, where they have to find a partner, and paraphrase that quote to their partner.  (Without showing their partner the original quote.)  The partner then gives them a paraphrase of their own quote.  Then, they take the quote that their partner has said, and find a new partner to say their new quote to, but they must paraphrase what their partner has said. 
Each time they meet a new partner, they trade quotes, but each time, they must paraphrase what their partner has said.
At the end of the activity, in open class feedback students tell the paraphrased quote that they ended up with, and the class tries to find out who had the original quote it was based on.

Video Questions:

1. What does “paraphrasing” mean?

2. What do you start with?

3. What is a bad way to paraphrase?  Why?

4. What is an okay way to paraphrase?

5. What is the best way to paraphrase?

6. What are some phrases that you can use to make the author an active part of your sentence?

Video Questions:

1. What does “paraphrasing” mean?

2. What do you start with?

3. What is a bad way to paraphrase?  Why?

4. What is an okay way to paraphrase?

5. What is the best way to paraphrase?

6. What are some phrases that you can use to make the author an active part of your sentence?

What techniques are being used to paraphrase here?

A	The diagram below shows the process by which bricks are manufactured for the building industry.	The diagram below illustrates the way by which bricks are made for the building industry.
B	The line graph below shows the consumption of four kinds of meat in a European country from 1979 to 2004.	The line graph below shows how one European country consumed four kinds of meat from 1979 to 2004.
C	The real estate developers invested over 40 million USD into the development of a new senior living community.	40 million USD was invested in the development of a new senior living community.
D	The line graph below shows the consumption of four kinds of meat in a European country from 1979 to 2004.	The line graph below shows how four different kinds of meat were consumed over a 25-year period in one European country.
E	The discovery of the nomadic group surprised them.	The discovery of the nomads was not expected.
F	We were at least listened to.  I’m encouraged by this.	She said she felt encouraged because at least the government listened to them.
G	Mongolia’s geography, a boundless wilderness with soil that can’t sustain agriculture, forces people to embrace the nomadic life.	The narrator explains that Mongolia has vast lands, but it is impossible to grow food there.  As a result, a nomadic life is necessary.

Match the letter to the paraphrasing technique:

____ Change positive to negative forms

____  Break a long sentence into two sentences.

____ Use synonyms

____ change the word order

____ change from active to passive

____ Use a different word form

____ Combine sentences and ideas

Match the letter to the paraphrasing technique:

____ Change positive to negative forms

____  Break a long sentence into two sentences.

____ Use synonyms

____ change the word order

____ change from active to passive

____ Use a different word form

____ Combine sentences and ideas

source: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia. The long-form name of the country is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The neighboring countries of Vietnam are China, Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam is one of five remaining countries that believe in communism. The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. The biggest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). There are about 94,444,200 people living in Vietnam.

How could you paraphrase these sentences?

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia.
The long-form name of the country is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The neighboring countries of Vietnam are China, Laos and Cambodia.
Vietnam is one of five remaining countries that believe in communism.
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
The biggest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
There are about 94,444,200 people living in Vietnam.

What techniques are used to paraphrase these sentences?

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia.	One of the nations in Southeast Asia is called Vietnam.
The long-form name of the country is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.	Vietnam can also be called by a longer name, which is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The neighboring countries of Vietnam are China, Laos and Cambodia.	Vietnam is bordered by Cambodia, China and Laos.
Vietnam is one of five remaining countries that believe in communism.	There are only five countries left in the world that are still officially communist, and Vietnam is one of those five.
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.	The government of Vietnam is located in the city of Hanoi.
The biggest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).	Saigon (which is now known as Ho Chi Minh City) is the largest city in Vietnam.
There are about 94,444,200 people living in Vietnam.	Vietnam has approximately 94 million people.

How To Paraphrase

British Council IELTS tips #6: Top five paraphrasing techniques