The Coventry University Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style

PARAPHRASING

 

What is a paraphrase?

 

Paraphrasing is one way of integrating research sources into your writing. A paraphrase of a source is approximately the same length as the original passage. To paraphrase a source means to put it into your own words in an accurate way, so be careful not to distort the meaning as you rephrase the words. To paraphrase a source, take your own notes first and rephrase these, then check you have captured the meaning. Paraphrasing is an effective method of integrating research into your writing because it shows you have understood the argument in the source.

 

How to acknowledge paraphrased material in your writing

 

Every time you paraphrase a source you must include an in-text citation. At the same time, an entry in the List of References needs to be provided for each source paraphrased.

 

In-text citation

 

Provide a suitable citation for your type of source (in most cases, the author’s surname and the date) and the page number/s because you are referring to a specific place in your source. A reader may wish to find the information you have paraphrased to use it, or to check you have understood the source's argument fully.

 

Examples

Children’s literature is becoming more violent (Shaw 2006: 45).

According to Shaw (2006:45), children's literature is becoming more violent.

 

Reference

 

Format the corresponding entry in the List of References following the appropriate guidelines for each type of source paraphrased.