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Lesson 3: Readings (1) |
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The Paraphrasing Strategy
abstracted from
Schumaker, J. B., Denton, P. H., & Deshler, D. D. (1984).
The Paraphrasing Strategy. Lawrence, KS: The University of Kansas.
The Paraphrasing Strategy has been designed to help students effectively deal with complex reading demands. Paraphrasing is a strategy used to increase the recall of a main idea and details of a given text. Paraphrasing involves having the students read short passages and then rephrase the information in their own words.
Step 1: Read a paragraph
Have your students read a paragraph silently, while having them think about what the words in the text mean.
Step 2: Ask yourself, "What were the main ideas and details of this paragraph?"
(1) Define the main idea.
(2) Define the details.
(3) Describe how to locate the main idea. Answer this statement, "This paragraph is about __________." After you answer that, ask yourself, "What does it tell me about __________?"
(4) Describe how to locate the details. The details are what's left in the paragraph after you've named the main idea.
Step 3: Put the main idea and details into your own words.
Have your students put the information in their own words. This will help the students to change the information so that it makes sense to them and is easier to remember.
Guidelines:
- Make sure it is a complete thought, that is, one that has a subjects and a verb.
- Make sure it contains accurate information.
- Make sure it contains new information, not merely a repetition of something else.
- Make sure it makes sense.
- Make sure it contains useful information.
- Make sure you've used your own words.
- Make sure you only use one general statement about the main idea per paragraph.
For information about the manuals and training, you may contact the Staff Development Coordinator at www.ku-crl.org. Training is available throughout the U.S. through a network of more than 1000 certified trainers.
