Source: http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

Paraphrasing is writing the ideas of another person in your own words. When paraphrasing, you need
to change the words and the structure but keep the meaning the same.

The following stages may be useful:

1.       find alternative words, or synonyms. Keep specialised vocabulary and common words.

Memory is the capacity for storing and retrieving information.
Memory is the facility for keeping and recovering data.

2.       Identify the meaning relationships in the text and express them in a different way.

Similarly, the muscles will not grow in length unless they are attached to tendons and bones so
that as the bones lengthen, they are stretched.
Likewise, if the muscles are not attached to tendons and bones so that as the bones lengthen, they
are stretched, they will not grow in length.

3.       Change the grammar of the text:

a)      change nouns to verbs

This rewriting of history was not so much a matter of a new start.
This rewriting of history was not so much a matter of starting again.

b)        change verbs to nouns


The Normans invaded in 1066.
The Norman invasion took place in 1066.

c)      change adverbs to adjectives


Politically, it was a bad decision.
From a political point of view, it was a bad decision.


d)     change active verbs to passive


We can relate a study of this kind to texts in other media too
A study of this kind can be related to texts in other media too.


e)      break up sentences

Given the extent to which deforestation increased markedly in the four southern states during 1987
and 1988, it is heartening news that during the early part of the 1989 dry season the burning
seemed to have been curtailed somewhat, due to a combination of policy changes, better controls on
burning, and most important of all an exceptionally wet "dry" season.
Deforestation increased markedly in the four southern states during 1987 and 1988. On account of
this, it is heartening news that during the early part of the 1989 dry season the burning seemed to
have been curtailed somewhat. The reason for this is a combination of policy changes, better
controls on burning, and most important of all an exceptionally wet "dry" season.