UNIT ONEREADING FOCUS ESSAYSCollection 1: Paraphrasing

Collection 2: Analyzing Style: Key Details

COLLECTION 1 READING FOCUS

Paraphrasing An efficient way of checking your own

understanding of what you are reading is to paraphrase, or put into your own words, what you’ve read.

PARAPHRASING

When you paraphrase what you’ve read, you keep the author’s intent but use language that’s your own.

Paraphrasing is probably a harder skill than memorizing a portion of the text. It requires complete comprehension of the text. It shows you can explain what the author means

in your own way.

PARAPHRASING

The author of an epic such as Beowulf uses poetic language to share ideas about events, characters, and beliefs.

Unlike modern readers, the original audiences of this epic poem would have been familiar with . . . the hero and his adventures the rhymes and rhythms of the language

PARAPHRASING

Although the style of Beowulf makes the poem beautiful, it can sometimes be difficult for a modern reader to understand.

Paraphrasing is a good way to capture the meaning of the poem’s details.

PARAPHRASING

To paraphrase a passage,

1. First look for words that represent nouns you recognize—

People, Places, ThingsWrite them in order on a Column Style Chart

NOUNS VERBS PHRASES

PARAPHRASING

2. Then, read again and identify the actions or verbs that seem to go with these nouns and write them in order, next to the nouns on your chart.

Also note any phrases that complement or are related to each group of nouns and verbs.

NOUNS VERBS PHRASES

PARAPHRASING3. Re-read each group of words in your chart; then

re-read the original passage.

Example passage: As skyward swept the night-black plumes of dragon breath, how every heart of man did pound to flee.

NOUNS VERBS PHRASES

Plumes

Heart

Swept

did pound

Of dragon breath

Skyward

Of man

To flee

PARAPHRASING Use the chart to rewrite the passage in your own

words:

Example: When smoke from dragons rose in the air, men wanted to run away.

NOUNS

VERBS PHRASES

Plumes

Heart

Swept

did pound

Of dragon breath

Skyward

Of man

To flee

PARAPHRASING

Your Turn

Read the lines from an early passage of Beowulf, “The Monster Grendel” (lines 5-14) in your textbook. Then, create a paraphrase by putting the text into your own words.

Share your version of the paraphrase with the class.

Notice that a paraphrase is shorter than the original and combines repetitions into a single statement.

PARAPHRASING

Share your version of the paraphrase with the class!