PARAPHRASING (Bailey 2015: 47-50)

Paraphrasing and summarising are normally used together in essay writing, but while summarising
aims to reduce the text to a suitable length, paraphrasing attempts to restate the relevant information:

There has been much debate about the reasons for the Industrial Revolution happening in eighteenth-
century Britain, rather than in France or Germany.
 Why the Industrial Revolution occurred in Britain in the eighteenth century, instead of on the
continent, has been the subject of considerable discussion.

Note that an effective paraphrase usually:

• has a different structure to the original
• has mainly different vocabulary
• retains the same meaning
• keeps some phrases from the original that are in common use (e.g. ‘Industrial Revolution’)

Task 1: Read the texts and decide whether A, B or C below is its best paraphrase.

THE CAUSES OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Allen (2009: 106) argues that the best explanation for the British location of the Industrial
Revolution is found by studying demand factors. By the early eighteenth century high wages and
cheap energy were both features of the British economy. Consequently, the mechanisation of
industry through such inventions as the steam engine and mechanical spinning was profitable
because employers were able to economise on labour by spending on coal. At that time, no other
country had this particular combination of expensive labour and abundant fuel.

(A) A focus on demand may help to explain the UK origin of the industrial revolution. At that time,
workers’ pay was high, but energy from coal was inexpensive. This encouraged the development of
mechanical inventions based on steam power, which enabled bosses to save money by mechanising
production (Allen, 2009: 106).

(B) The reason why Britain was the birthplace of the industrial revolution can be understood by
analysing demand in the early 1700s, according to Allen (2009: 106). He maintains that, uniquely,
Britain had the critical combination of cheap energy from coal and high labour costs. This encouraged
the adoption of steam power to mechanise production, thus saving on wages and increasing
profitability.

(C) Allen (2009: 106) claims that the clearest explanation for the UK location of the Industrial
Revolution is seen by examining demand factors. By the eighteenth century, cheap energy and high
wages were both aspects of the British economy. As a result, the mechanisation of industry through
inventions such as the steam engine and mechanical spinning was profitable because employers were
able to save money on employees by spending on coal. At that time, Britain was the only country with
significant deposits of coal.
Techniques for paraphrasing

(a) Changing vocabulary by using synonyms:

argues > claims eighteenth century > 1700s wages > labour costs economise > saving

(b) Changing word class:

explanation (N) > explain (V) mechanical (A) > mechanise (V) profitable (A) >profitability
(N)

(c) Changing word order:

The best explanation for the British location of the Industrial Revolution is found by studying demand
factors. > A focus on demand may help explain the UK origin of the Industrial Revolution.

Task 2: Read the text and give a title to the paragraphs. What is the main point of each?

BRAINS AND SEX

It is widely agreed that men and women think and act in different ways. Women appear to have
better memories, better social skills and are more competent at multitasking. Men, by contrast, seem
to focus better on issues and have superior motor and spatial skills, although clearly many people
are exceptions to these patterns.

These differences have been explained as behaviour adopted thousands of years ago, when the men
went hunting while the women stayed at home and cared for their children. But another approach is
to see the behaviour as a result of the way our brains function.

Recent research by Ragini Verma’s team at the University of Pennsylvania has used brain scans to
compare 428 men and 521 women. They tracked the pathways of water molecules around the brain
area, and found fascinating differences.

The top half of the brain is called the cerebrum, and it is divided into a left and a right half. The left
hemisphere is thought to be the home of logic and the right is the centre of intuition. Dr Verma
found that with women most of the pathways went between the two halves, while with men they
stayed inside the hemispheres. She believes that these results explain the gender differences in
ability, such as women’s social competence compared to men’s more intense focus.

a.) Find synonyms for the words underlined. Rewrite the paragraph using these.

It is widely agreed that men and women think and act in different ways. Women appear to have better
memories, better social skills and are more competent at multi-tasking. Men, by contrast, seem to
focus better on issues and have superior motor and spatial skills, although clearly many people are
exceptions to these patterns.

b.) Change the word class of the underlined words. Rewrite the paragraph using the changes.

These differences have been explained as behaviour adopted thousands of years ago, when the men
went hunting while the women stayed at home and cared for their children. But another approach is to
see the behaviour as a result of the way our brains function.

c.) Change the word order in each of the sentences, so that the meaning stays the same.

Recent research into brain functioning by Ragini Verma’s team at the University of Pennsylvania has
used brain scans to compare 428 men and 521 women. They tracked the pathways of water molecules
around the brain area, and found fascinating differences.

d.) Combine all three techniques to paraphrase the final paragraph.

Task 3. Match the common synonyms in academic writing (Bailey 2015: 198-199)

area authority behaviour belief benefit category component concept

controversy drawback growth framework goal hypothesis interpretation
issue method option quotation results statistics study trend output

1. advantage 7. dispute 13. increase 19. system

2. assumption 8. explanation 14. possibility 20. target
3. citation 9. field 15. production 21. tendency
4. conduct 10. figures 16. research 22. theory
5. disadvantage 11. findings 17. source 23. topic
6. element 12. idea 18. structure 24. Type

accelerate achieve alter assist attach challenge claim clarify

concentrate on constrain develop eliminate examine found hypothesise
predict prohibit quote raise reduce respond retain show
strengthen

1. ban 7. evolve 13. investigate 19. reach

2. change 8. explain 14. join 20. reinforce
3. cite 9. focus on 15. keep 21. remove
4. decrease 10. forecast 16. limit 22. reply
5. demonstrate 11. help 17. maintain 23. speculate
6. establish 12. increase 18. question 24. speed up

Task 3: Rewrite the sentences using synonyms for the words and phrases underlined.

(a) Professor Hicks questioned the findings of the research.

(b) The statistics show a steady increase in student numbers.
(c) The institute’s prediction has caused a major controversy.
(d) Cost seems to be the leading drawback to that system.
(e) They will concentrate on the first option.
(f) After the lecture, she tried to clarify her concept.
(g) Three issues need to be examined.
(h) The framework can be retained, but the goal needs to be altered.
(i) OPEC, the oil producers’ cartel, is to cut production to raise global prices.
(j) The trend to smaller families has speeded up in the last decade.