Healing circles: A gentler justice 137- “To bridge the gap between the legal system and the community, First Nations peoples
and local justice oicials in the Yukon Territory of Canada turned in the 1980s to the ancient
aboriginal tradition of healing circles.”
a. Healing circles were introduced to bring people together.
b. Healing circles were introduced to make up for a lack of understanding. - “... they embrace all ages, races, and walks of life... .”
a. They include every kind of job or profession.
b. They include every kind of experience. - “... each member feels safe to speak from the heart... .”
a. Everyone speaks without thinking.
b. Everyone says what he or she really feels or means. - “In the process, the talking piece acts like a shuttle that weaves the group together in
a fabric of truth.”
a. The talking piece unites and uniies everyone.
b. The talking piece is passed around the circle. - “Since there are neither winners nor losers and participants have a vested interest in the
outcome, everyone is more likely to work together to see a decision through.”
a. Participants ind the process interesting.
b. Participants have something to gain personally from the process. - “... healing circles and restorative justice are making their way from an ancient tradition
to a modern worldwide movement, ultimately ensuring that justice serves all.”
a. Everyone participates.
b. Everyone beneits.
Reading strategies
Paraphrasing: Eliminating the passive
In the previous chapter, you practiced converting the passive voice to the active voice.
Another way to paraphrase is to eliminate the passive altogether. You can do this by
- using the past participle as an adjective
- replacing the past participle with an adjective
- omitting the form of to be in the passive voice
- using a diferent subject, verb, or both in the active voice
In the following example, the past participle becomes an adjective and a diferent subject and
verb are used.
PASSIVE The screenplay was adapted from the best-selling novel and turned into
a motion picture.
PARAPHRASE The motion picture featured an adapted script.
The form of to be (for example, had been) can be eliminated, and the past participle used as an
adjective. In the following example, synonyms are used for bought, completely, and renovated.
PASSIVE We bought a house that had been completely renovated.
PARAPHRASE We purchased a totally upgraded (or remodeled) house.