How To Paraphrase And Cite Academic Success Programs At The ✓ Solved

How to Paraphrase & Cite Academic Success Programs at The Na

How to Paraphrase & Cite Academic Success Programs at The National Cent

You will learn: What paraphrasing and citing is; Why paraphrase; How to paraphrase; How to decide whether to paraphrase or quote; How to support your ideas with paraphrased material or quotes; When to cite; How to cite; How to organize your writing process. The goal: TO WRITE A PAPER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF APA STYLE (APA Publication Manual, 6th ed., 2010).

Paper For Above Instructions

Overview

This paper explains paraphrasing and citation practices tailored to academic success programs, particularly within centers that support dissertation and academic writing. It covers definitions, reasons to paraphrase, a stepwise paraphrasing method, guidance for choosing between paraphrase and direct quotation, strategies to integrate paraphrased material to support your claims, and APA 6th-edition citation and organizational practices for composing compliant papers (American Psychological Association, 2010; National Center for Academic and Dissertation Excellence, n.d.).

What Paraphrasing and Citing Mean

Paraphrasing is restating another author’s ideas in your own words and structure while preserving the original meaning (Purdue Online Writing Lab, n.d.; Pecorari, 2008). Citing is the practice of acknowledging the original source so readers can locate the evidence and evaluate claims for themselves (APA, 2010). Both are essential: paraphrase demonstrates comprehension and synthesis, and citation attributes intellectual property and supports academic integrity.

Why Paraphrase?

Paraphrasing promotes synthesis and flow. By integrating multiple sources in original wording, writers avoid heavy direct quotation, reveal understanding of the literature, and create smoother narrative transitions (Graff & Birkenstein, 2014; Lipson, 2008). Paraphrase also helps adapt evidence to the argument’s focus and avoid over-reliance on any single voice (Pecorari, 2008).

Step-by-Step How to Paraphrase

Use the following practical sequence to paraphrase reliably:

  • Read actively: Read the source attentively and highlight the main idea(s) and supporting points (Oshima & Hogue, 2006).
  • Take notes away from the source: Jot down the key concept in plain language without copying phrases; this reduces accidental copying (Council of Writing Program Administrators, 2003).
  • Remove the source: Put the original away and draft the idea in your own words, speaking it aloud if helpful (Lipson, 2008).
  • Compare and revise: Reopen the source to ensure you preserved the meaning without using its structure or distinctive phrasing; adjust as needed (Roig, 2015).
  • Formalize language: Convert your casual rewording into academic prose and add transitional context to connect with your thesis (Graff & Birkenstein, 2014).
  • Cite: Add an in-text citation immediately after the paraphrase (APA, 2010).

When to Paraphrase vs. When to Quote

Paraphrase by default. Use direct quotations sparingly—only when an author’s phrasing is unique, legally significant, or when the exact wording is itself evidence (e.g., definitions, rhetorical emphasis) (APA, 2010; Pecorari, 2008). When you quote, introduce the quotation, present it verbatim, and supply page numbers in parenthetical citations (APA, 2010).

Supporting Your Ideas with Paraphrased Material

To use paraphrase effectively in an academic success program context, follow this pattern:

  1. Frame the evidence: Start with a sentence that links the source to your claim (e.g., “Research on student writing centers indicates…”).
  2. Paraphrase and cite: Insert the paraphrase with an author-date citation (e.g., National Center for Academic and Dissertation Excellence, n.d.; Lipson, 2008).
  3. Interpret and synthesize: Immediately explain how the paraphrased evidence supports your argument, and, when appropriate, synthesize multiple sources in the same sentence (APA, 2010; Graff & Birkenstein, 2014).

Example: Recent guidance argues that paraphrase, when paired with clear attribution, strengthens student writing by demonstrating comprehension and facilitating synthesis of multiple studies (Pecorari, 2008; Lipson, 2008).

When and How to Cite (APA 6th Edition)

Citation is required whenever ideas, data, or language are not your original thought. For paraphrase, APA 6th edition requires author and year in-text; page numbers are optional but recommended for clarity (APA, 2010). Two common formats are:

  • Parenthetical: (Author, year).
  • Narrative: According to Author (year), ...

For direct quotes include page numbers: (Author, year, p. X) or Author (year) stated, “…” (p. X). Ensure every in-text citation has a corresponding reference list entry following APA 6th formatting rules (APA, 2010).

Organizing the Writing Process

The writing process recommended by academic success centers includes seven steps: understand the assignment, research, begin writing (either outline-first or draft-first), revise, edit, create the reference list, and proofread (National Center for Academic and Dissertation Excellence, n.d.). Practical tips: keep source-page details with notes; use a three-column note system (source, quotation, comment); and mark which notes are paraphrase drafts versus direct quotes to avoid confusion (Council of Writing Program Administrators, 2003; Lipson, 2008).

Plagiarism Risks and Best Practices

Avoid verbatim structure preservation and synonomous-substitution (word-switching), both of which can be flagged as plagiarism even when a citation is present (Roig, 2015; Pecorari, 2008). When in doubt, paraphrase more substantially or quote and cite explicitly. Use plagiarism-detection tools as formative checks and always keep careful records of sources (Carroll, 2002).

Conclusion

Effective paraphrasing and precise citation are core competencies for scholars and for the work of academic success programs. By following an active reading and rewording process, favoring paraphrase over excessive quotation, and adhering to APA 6th-edition citation conventions, writers can create clear, original, and properly attributed academic papers that reflect both their voice and the scholarly conversation (APA, 2010; Graff & Birkenstein, 2014).

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
  • Carroll, J. (2002). A handbook for deterring plagiarism in higher education. Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development.
  • Council of Writing Program Administrators. (2003). Defining and avoiding plagiarism: A guide for students. Retrieved from https://wpacouncil.org/
  • Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2014). They say / I say: The moves that matter in academic writing (3rd ed.). W.W. Norton.
  • Lipson, C. (2008). Doing honest work in college: How to prepare citations, avoid plagiarism, and achieve real academic success. University of Chicago Press.
  • National Center for Academic and Dissertation Excellence. (n.d.). Paraphrasing and citing. Retrieved from https://www.ncadex.org/
  • Pecorari, D. (2008). Academic writing and plagiarism: A linguistic analysis. Routledge.
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Paraphrase: Write it in your own words. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/
  • Roig, M. (2015). Avoiding plagiarism, self‑plagiarism, and other questionable writing practices: A guide for students. Science and Engineering Ethics, 21(1), 1–7.
  • Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2006). Writing academic English (4th ed.). Pearson Longman.

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