Paraphrasing in MLA is a necessary skill for academic writing, since the majority of students has the need to refer to another source in their works. This guide will give you clear examples and steps to make sure you accurately and ethically incorporate source material into your own paper.
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What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing in MLA involves rewording someone else’s ideas or information in your unique style while keeping the original meaning and ideas. It’s different from summarizing, which only focuses on the main ideas, and is more detailed.
Importance of Paraphrasing:
- 🚫 Avoids Overquoting: It limits the use of direct quotes from unremarkable passages.
- 💡 Enhances Understanding: It involves a deep analysis of the source material.
- ✍️ Maintains Originality: It helps in presenting information in a new form, showing your understanding and interpretation.
Examples of Paraphrasing
| Original Text | Paraphrased Version |
|---|---|
| “Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result, they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper.” (Lester 46-47) | “In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level.” (Lester 46-47) |
| “Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby’s studies” (Hunt 65). | “Hunt discussed mother-infant attachment becoming a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby’s studies” (65). |
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6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing in MLA
Effective paraphrasing involves several key steps, if you want to be accurate in your work and also follow the necessary academic rules:
- 📖 Understand the Source: Read the original text thoroughly to grasp its meaning.
- ✏️ Rewrite Without Looking: Set the original text aside and write your version.
- 📝 Note Key Points: Jot down key phrases to guide your paraphrase.
- 🔍 Compare with Original: Ensure your paraphrase accurately reflects the source’s ideas.
- 📌 Use Quotation Marks for Direct Quotes: Identify any exact phrases from the source.
- 📑 Cite the Source: Include an in-text citation with the author and page number.
Paraphrasing Examples with MLA Citation
| Original Text | Paraphrased Version | Citation Style |
|---|---|---|
| “Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby’s studies” (Hunt 65). | “Developmental research saw a surge in interest in mother-infant attachment post Bowlby’s studies” (Hunt 65). | Paraphrasing from One Page |
| “Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby’s studies” (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71). | “Post Bowlby’s publication, research on mother-infant attachment gained significant momentum” (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71). | Paraphrasing from Multiple Pages |
See, it is practically a no-brainer if you know hor to do it. By following these tips and practicing with examples, you can integrate source materials into your work even better than before. This way, you will both keep your papers originality in check and respect the author you are referring to.
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