Paraphrasing to transform knowledge in advanced graduate student writing. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Ling; Fazel, Ismaeil; Kowkabi, Nasrin
• Is Part Of: English for specific purposes. Volume 51(2018)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Paraphrasing -- Citation practices -- Graduate students -- Use of source text -- Academic paper; English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers -- Periodicals; English language -- Business English -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Technical English -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Anglais (Langue) -- Étude et enseignement -- Allophones -- Périodiques; Enseignement professionnel -- Périodiques; Anglais (Langue) -- Anglais commercial -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Anglais (Langue) -- Anglais technique -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; English language -- Business English -- Study and teaching; English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers; English language -- Technical English -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 428.007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.esp.2018.03.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0889-4906

Abstract

Abstract: Based on one's comprehension and interpretation of the original text, paraphrasing goes beyond a faithful account of the source text. Differing from previous research which has mostly focused on students' re-use of the source text, this study explores whether and how students paraphrase to express their own views. We examined 192 paraphrases identified by 18 advanced graduate students in their academic papers across disciplines at a North American university. Analyses of students' writing, their sources, and their own accounts present an exposition of writers' thinking and processes of paraphrasing featuring various types of linguistic adaptations and content recontextualization. The study suggests that paraphrasing by these advanced graduate students is a process of smoothly integrating the source information into the new text by syntactically restructuring, interpreting and recounting only the source text with relevance to the new text. During the process, the writer sometimes paraphrases to incorporate information in the immediate source text with that gained from prior readings. Highlights: The study presents a window into writers' thinking and processes of paraphrasing. The study shows how graduates paraphrase to express their own views. The study shows linguistic adaptation & content re-contextualization in paraphrasing.