94 practice makes perfect Advanced English Reading and Comprehension
Reading strategies
Paraphrasing: Using synonyms and deinitions
When you paraphrase a reading text, it is important to use your own words to demonstrate
that you understand the text. Copying directly from a text, especially if you claim the material
as your own without crediting the original author, is plagiarism. Not only is plagiarism theft
(and can land you in trouble), but it shows a lack of thought, efort, and originality.
The irst paraphrasing technique is to substitute one of the following for a key word
in the text:- A diferent form of the word (noun, adjective, or verb)
- A synonym
- A deinition
It is not enough to simply plug in other words; you also have to change the sentence structure.
When choosing words, avoid making the text longer and wordier. Of course, some words
cannot be changed, for example, proper nouns, scientiic terms, and words that simply do not
have an equivalent.
As an exercise, let’s paraphrase the irst topic sentence of the reading text.
Anyone who watches television shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will be familiar
with DNA ingerprinting’s importance in modern crime-solving.
First, identify the most important, or key, words.
Anyone who watches television shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will be familiar
with DNA ingerprinting’s importance in modern crime-solving.
Second, ind a suitable synonym or short deinition for the key words.
anyone: most people
familiar: to know about something
importance: essential, necessary
modern: today’s, contemporary
crime-solving: police work
Third, set the original topic sentence aside, think about its meaning, and rewrite the sentence
in your own words.
Most people who watch crime shows on television know how essential DNA
ingerprinting is in today’s police work.