RAPpin’ your way to reading comprehension

Paraphrasing in three, easy steps

What is paraphrasing?Your textbook describes it as:

Putting something into your own words.

Unlike a summary, a paraphrase is usually about the same length as the original

Why do you need to know?Paraphrasing is a tool that is used in two, important skills:1. Reading comprehension – it helps you to

decode, or figure out the meaning of, difficult or complicated text

2. Research – you want to try to limit quoted material in research papers to 10%...which means you need to know how to express others’ ideas in your own words. (YOU STILL, ALWAYS NEED TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE AUTHOR!)

How to paraphrase You need to learn how to RAP

Step 1:

Read a paragraph.

Read the paragraph silently. As you read, be sure to think what the words mean.

Step 2Ask yourself, "What were the main ideas and details of this paragraph?"

After reading the paragraph, ask yourself, "What were the main ideas and details?" This question helps you to think about what you just read. You can also look quickly back over the paragraph to help you find the main idea and the details related to the main idea.

Step 3Put the main idea and details in your own words.

Now put the main idea and details into your own words. This will help you remember the information. Try to give at least two details related to the main idea.

Extra cluesSome rules that help find the main idea are: Look for it in the first sentence of the

paragraph. Look for repetitions of the same word or

words in the whole paragraph.If you don’t know what a word means, try

to use context clues, then a dictionary. Don’t let that preclude your success. You are just looking for the gist of the text.

Read a paragraph.

Ask yourself, "What were the main ideas and details of this paragraph?“

Put the main idea and details in your own words.

Now, let’s RAP it out

Flip your note page over and let’s try out this reading strategy.

You may work with a neighbor on this practice activity.

PracticeTonight it's gon' be some changes

No acting sadity

So stop acting and get it clapping

'Cause I'm knowing you feeling me

Yeah you cute

But don't let that go to your head

From “Pop, Lock and Drop It” by Huey

Things will change tonight

Do not act conceited

Stop being so full of yourself and join along in the fun.

Because I can tell you are interested in me.

I admit, you are attractive

But I would prefer that you don’t act conceited

RecapParaphrasing is an important skill to know for

both reading comprehension and research

Three steps to paraphrase:

Read a paragraph. Ask yourself, "What were the main ideas and details of this paragraph?“

Put the main idea and details in your own words.

RAP it out!

Works CitedBos, C.S. & Vaughn, S. Strategies for Teaching

Students with Learning and Behavior Problems. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2002. Print.

Wilhelm, Jeffrey, et al., eds. Glencoe Literature, Course 4. Columbus, Ohio: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print.

Tina Baby. (2008, June 8). “Excuse me, stewardess? I speak Jive.” Reluctant Epiphanies. Shiftlessnaysayer.Blogspot. 8 June 2008. Web. 17 July 2011.

Create your own rap songIn groups, create a rap song of 4-8 lines.You will have only ten minutes, so work

diligently.Be prepared to share it with the class.The class will try to paraphrase it aloud.