IELTS / WRITING / TASK 2 / Paraphrasing


Introduction


Paraphrasing is the skill of re-expressing in your own words information or ideas expressed by someone else.

It is a crucial skill to have in essay writing.
In IELTS Writing Task 2, for example, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to paraphrase right from the outset as the background statement in your introduction is essentially a rewording of the essay question.
However, the usefulness of paraphrasing extends well beyond the background statement. Indeed, as each essay is about one specific topic, you need to be able to explore this topic in some depth while avoiding unnecessary repetitions of certain words or sentence structures. Paraphrasing enables you to avoid cumbersome word-for-word repetitions.
Besides, it also contributes to the overall cohesion of your essay.
 


Paraphrasing an Essay Question
 

Read the essay question below. Then study two ways in which it has been paraphrased.

Essay question:

While studying abroad provides an opportunity to broaden one's experience, it also presents the danger of negative influences from the host culture.

Paraphrase 1:

Studying abroad is a potential source of both knowledge about life and risk of adverse foreign cultural influences.


Paraphrase 2:

Young people studying overseas can gain a lot of experience. However, they may also be negatively affected by certain aspects of the foreign culture.


Analysis

Although their wording is markedly different, both paraphrases reflect fairly accurately the meaning conveyed by the essay question and are therefore satisfactory.
Besides, both writers have used a number of similar paraphrasing techniques. Let's have a look at these.

A)    Changing the sentence structure:

The essay question is a complex sentence; (1) uses a simple sentence instead, while (2) uses two sentences linked by 'however' (which echoes the contrast expressed by 'while').
 

B)    Changing word forms:

(1) 'culture' —> 'cultural'; (2) 'negative' —» 'negatively'.
 

C)    Using synonyms:

(1) 'danger' —» 'risk', 'negative' —> 'adverse'; (2) 'abroad' —> 'overseas'.


These are examples of straightforward synonyms which we could find in a good dictionary. However, what skilled writers do very often is to paraphrase with synonymous phrases that they create themselves. In (1), for example, 'experience' becomes 'knowledge about life'.


Changing the word order:

In both (1) and (2), although the ideas are in the same order as in the essay question, there are inevitably several changes in the word order.


Further comments:
Note that in the essay question, the words 'opportunity' and 'danger' convey the idea of something that may or may not happen. To convey the same idea, (1) uses the word 'potential', while (2) uses the modals 'can' and 'may'.
All the above methods of paraphrasing are useful in enabling you to showcase your English language skills. While option C is based on your knowledge of vocabulary, options A, B and D show your skills in English grammar. When paraphrasing, it is common for people to rely solely on option C (vocabulary). However, you can gain as much advantage from using options A, B and D instead. Furthermore, it is good to show flexibility in the way you paraphrase.


Useful Tips for Writing a Good Paraphrase of the Essay Question
  •  
  • -    Make sure your paraphrase reflects accurately the meaning expressed in the essay question.
  • -    Do not add any ideas that are not in the essay question.
  • -    Not all words need to be changed. You can use some of the words given in the essay question, but try not to use more than three consecutive words from the question. This means that you should limit the number of words that are in the same order as given in the question.
    • -    Remember that not everything has to be or can be paraphrased. Over-paraphrasing is a common source of mistakes in IELTS essays.
      -    Do not rely exclusively on synonyms. Whenever possible, use several paraphrasing techniques in combination. This will also help boost your band score for grammar rather than focusing only on vocabulary.
      -    Avoid paraphrases that are much longer than the original.
      -    Remember that the main aim of the background statement is not to display sophisticated vocabulary and syntax, but rather to show that you understand the essay question.
      -    Always aim for meaning and accuracy rather than aiming to impress.

       


    • Using Synonyms and Other Paraphrasing Techniques in the Body of the Essay
    •  

    • Example 1:

      The government should increase social benefits to alleviate poverty.


We can guess that 'poverty' is probably a key word here, and as we know that it would not be easy to paraphrase, we may decide to keep it.
However, we could use 'raise' instead of'increase'. We could also use 'reduce' instead of 'alleviate'; 'eradicate' would not be acceptable as it would change the meaning (if you eradicate a social problem, you get rid of it completely, whereas if you alleviate it, you just make it less severe).

So we now have:

The government should raise social benefits to reduce poverty.

Further, since we know that it is the government that pays benefits, we could have:

Social benefits should be raised to reduce poverty.

'Social benefits' does not necessarily have to be paraphrased, but if it has already been used several times, 'welfare benefits' or 'welfare payments' could be a useful alternative:

Welfare payments should be raised to reduce poverty.


Finally, the word order could be changed:

In order to reduce poverty, welfare payments should be raised.


In conclusion, we have here four effective paraphrases of the original sentence. Which one is best, however, will depend on how well it fits in with the sentence that comes before and/or the one that comes after.

 

Example 2:


Countries which rely exclusively on the tourist trade will be badly affected by a world economic downturn.


In this case, we can assume that the main topic is 'the tourist trade'. This could be replaced with 'tourism'.
A few more synonyms quickly come to mind, such as:
'countries' —» 'nations'
'rely (on)' —» 'depend (on)'
'exclusively' —» 'entirely', 'solely'
'badly' —> 'severely', 'seriously', 'adversely'
'world' (used as an adjective) —> 'global'
'economic downturn' —> 'recession'

So, using only synonyms we now have:

Nations which depend solely on tourism will be severely affected by a global recession.

Further, the passive could be changed into an active:

A global recession will severely affect nations which depend solely on tourism. (Conversely, it is often possible to change an active form into a passive.)


A few more options are available. For example, the modal 'will', expressing certainty, could be replaced with 'is bound to', and the adjective 'dependent' could be used instead of the verb 'depend':

A global recession is bound to severely affect nations which are solely dependent on tourism.

Finally, the relative pronoun and the auxiliary could be left out:

Nations solely dependent on tourism are bound to be severely affected by a global recession.


In conclusion, as was the case with Example 1, here too we have four effective paraphrases of the original sentence. And, similarly, which one is best will depend on how well it fits in with the preceding sentence and/or the following one.

 

Paraphrasing: Exercises

Exercise 1

Read the essay question and then complete Paraphrases A and B with the correct words from the box.

Essay question:

When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive.

                attempting    developments    disappear    futile    lifestyles    preserve    survive    worthwhile


Paraphrase A:

It is not  [attempting/developments/disappear/futile/lifestyles/preserve/survive/*worthwhile]  trying to  [attempting/developments/disappear/futile/lifestyles/*preserve/survive/worthwhile]  a country's traditional skills and ways of life as these  [attempting/developments/*disappear/futile/lifestyles/preserve/survive/worthwhile]  as a result of technological  [attempting/*developments/disappear/futile/lifestyles/preserve/survive/worthwhile].


Paraphrase B:

[*Attempting/Developments/Disappear/Futile/Lifestyles/Preserve/Survive/Worthwhile]  to maintain a nation's traditional skills and  [attempting/developments/disappear/futile/*lifestyles/preserve/survive/worthwhile]  is   [attempting/developments/disappear/*futile/lifestyles/preserve/survive/worthwhile]  since they do not  [attempting/developments/disappear/futile/lifestyles/preserve/*survive/worthwhile]  technological progress.

 

Exercise 2

Read the essay question and then choose the correct words from the box to complete Paraphrases A - D.

Essay question:

Modern communications mean that it is no longer necessary to write letters

consequently  devices  effec  teliminated  means  redundant  rendered  result  strengthened  up-to-date


Paraphrase A:

Letter writing has been made  [consequently/devices/effect/eliminated/means/*redundant/rendered/result/strengthened/up-to-date]  by new communications technology.

Paraphrase B:

As a  [consequently/devices/effect/eliminated/means/redundant/*result/rendered/strengthened/up-to-date]  of innovative communications systems, writing letters is now unnecessary.

Paraphrase C:

New  [consequently/devices/effect/eliminated/*means/redundant/result/rendered/strengthened/up-to-date]  of communication have  [consequently/devices/effect/eliminated/means/redundant/*rendered/result/strengthened/up-to-date]  letter writing superfluous.

Paraphrase D:

Modern forms of communication have  [consequently/devices/effect/*eliminated/means/redundant/rendered/result/strengthened/up-to-date]  the need to write letters.


Exercise 3

The paraphrase below is a poor example of how to paraphrase the essay question. Although it contains no grammar or vocabulary errors, it is not a good paraphrase. Why is that? Make a list of three reasons why it would not be considered a good paraphrase.


Essay question:

Modern communications mean that it is no longer necessary to write letters.


Paraphrase:

The mobile phone has reduced the need for written communications.

i        _______________________________________________________

ii       _______________________________________________________

iii      _______________________________________________________

 

 

ANSWERS

There are no spelling, vocabulary or grammar mistakes. Besides, most people would agree that the sentence expresses a truth.
However, this is a completely inaccurate paraphrase of the essay question:
i    'the mobile phone' cannot be used to paraphrase 'modern communications', which include many other means of communication;
ii    'reduced the need' cannot be used to paraphrase 'no longer necessary' as there is a big difference between less necessary and not necessary at all;
iii    'written communications' cannot be used to paraphrase 'letters' as letters are just one type of written communications, which also include e-mail and text messages, blogs, etc.