When we do research, we will often find value in the work of others. By sharing this information or ideas with our audience we can immediately establish trust from them. We can achieve this by rewriting these thoughts in our own words. When we are paraphrasing in our work it is important to keep the original meaning and facts intact. In many cases the sheer volume of the original work is reduced in form when being paraphrased. In some cases, you will only need to paraphrase a sentence, in other situations an entire paragraph will be your target. Being able to paraphrase properly is a key research communication skill. It displays that we have a good command on our sources. This also serves as a potent substitute for a direct quote, which in certain situations can flow much better. Sourcing our arguments is helpful because it adds a level of validation to what we are saying. Otherwise it may come across as an opinion. It also displays that you have control over and a high level of understanding of the source because you were able to write it in your own words. When you are about to paraphrase something make certain you fully understand what is being said, if anything is unclear ask someone who is knowledge of it.
The best way to approach paraphrasing is to start by reading the work a few times. Now write an original thought based on what you have read. Make sure what you write keeps the nature and tone the author was originally trying to create. When you complete your paraphrase make sure to include a citation of where the original source is given credit. These worksheets will help you learn how to use paraphrasing in your work.