What does it take to paraphrase well?
1) Do your best to understand the source text, or at least actively guess the meaning. The better you understand the text, the better the chances that your paraphrase will be accurate.
2) Think. Don’t translate mechanically in your head, word for word. Rather, completely digest the ideas so you can “internalize” the meaning.
3) When you speak (or write) your paraphrase, express yourself in your own words. To do this, of course, you need to be able to say things in different ways. That means you need lots of tools for your toolbox. You will need to build your vocabulary to include numerous synonyms. And you will need to display “strategic competence”-- the ability to communicate your meaning, even when you lack a certain English word or grammatical pattern.
Now work in small groups or with a partner to orally paraphrase paragraph 4 of the reading passage above.
Note on pronunciation: The name of the photographer Eadweard Muybridge is pronounced ED-werd MY-bridj.
Muybridge's early studies were taken with wet plates; however with the development of gelatin plates, he was able to improve his technique greatly. In 1884–85, Muybridge produced 781 sequence photographs of many kinds of animals, as well as men and women. His subjects were often photographed in little or no clothing and were engaged in a variety of activities, from boxing, to walking down stairs and even small children walking to their mother. In this respect, Muybridge's work was a point of departure for the study of biomechanics and the mechanics of athletics. Moreover, his major work, “Animal Locomotion” (1887), remains to this day an instructive source for cartoonists and scientists alike.
Here are some key phrases and structures that may help you:
Source text: |
Parallel expression: |
however |
à but |
the development of gelatin plates |
à when gelatin plates were developed |
he was able to |
à he could |
men and women engaged in a wide variety of activities |
à people doing a lot of different things (informal spoken register) |
Muybridge’s work was a point of departure for the study of… |
à the study of… grew out of Muybridge’s work |
the work remains to this day an instructive source for cartoonists and scientists alike |
à Both people who make cartoons and scientists still find his work helpful |
