Why do you need to paraphrase?
Whenever you use information from other sources, you need to use your own words, that is, paraphrase – unless you have a strong reason for quoting. But why is it considered so important to use one’s own words? Copying the text would be faster after all, and you would not risk misinterpreting the material. There are, however, several reasons that you should paraphrase – and learning about these will make paraphrasing seem much more worthwhile.
There are several reasons that you should paraphrase. Firstly, paraphrasing the text actually helps you process the material and understand it on a deeper level. Secondly, and related to the previous reason, paraphrased information signals to your reader that you have processed the information and understood the material – which is of course especially important when your reader is also your teacher. Thirdly, paraphrasing helps you ensure that you use sources to communicate something important to your readers. If you focus too much on the original text, by contrast, you risk losing track of what you would like to say. Fourthly, you actually need to paraphrase – otherwise, you will not be able to pass your course work.
Paraphrasing does take time, but keep in mind that it helps you both learn and write clearer texts, in that word getting more credit for your hard work.
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