How to write a good essay: Paraphrasing the question

English with Emma · engVid
12 Sept 201614:39
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging video, Emma teaches viewers the crucial skill of paraphrasing for improving their writing in various tests, including IELTS, TOEFL, and university exams. She emphasizes the importance of not simply copying the question's wording and instead suggests three key strategies: using synonyms to replace words while maintaining the original meaning, altering the sentence structure to present a different arrangement of ideas, and incorporating concessions to acknowledge alternate viewpoints before stating one's own opinion. Emma's tips are designed to showcase critical thinking and depth of understanding, which are highly valued in academic and standardized test settings. The video also encourages viewers to utilize resources like EngVid for further practice and to enhance their vocabulary and paraphrasing skills.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Start with an introduction that doesn't directly copy the question text to avoid losing marks in exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or university tests.
  • 🔍 Identify and avoid repeating the exact wording from the question to demonstrate your ability to understand and rephrase the question.
  • 🔑 Use paraphrasing to restate the question in your own words, which involves changing vocabulary and sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning.
  • 📚 Learn and use synonyms to replace words in the question with words that have the same meaning but are expressed differently.
  • ✍️ Change the sentence structure by reordering words, converting verbs to nouns (or vice versa), and using adjectives to vary your language.
  • 🤔 Add concessions to your writing to show that you've considered different perspectives and to demonstrate critical thinking.
  • 📈 Use concessions to start your essay by acknowledging the opposing view before presenting your opinion, which can enhance your argument.
  • 📈 Improve your vocabulary by practicing with synonyms and understanding the nuances of different words to ensure you use them correctly.
  • 🌐 Utilize online resources like www.engvid.com to find videos and quizzes that can help improve your paraphrasing and overall writing skills.
  • 📈 Enhance your writing by varying your sentence structure and word choice to avoid repetition and to show a deeper understanding of the topic.
  • 📈 Practice paraphrasing regularly to get better at it, which is a valuable skill for academic and standardized tests writing components.
Q & A

  • What is the main focus of Emma's video?

    -The main focus of Emma's video is to teach an important skill for improving writing marks on tests that have a writing component, such as essays or paragraphs.

  • Why is it a problem to start an essay with the exact wording from the question?

    -Starting an essay with the exact wording from the question is a problem because it shows a lack of originality and does not demonstrate the writer's ability to express their thoughts independently, which can lead to losing marks.

  • What is the term used to describe the process of rephrasing a sentence while retaining its original meaning?

    -The term used to describe this process is 'paraphrase'.

  • What are synonyms and how can they be used to improve an essay?

    -Synonyms are words that have the same meaning but are different in form. They can be used to improve an essay by providing variety in vocabulary and preventing repetition, which can help in maintaining the reader's interest and improving the overall quality of the writing.

  • How can changing the sentence structure help in paraphrasing?

    -Changing the sentence structure helps in paraphrasing by presenting the same idea in a different format, which can make the writing appear more original and less like a direct copy of the original text.

  • What is a concession and how does it contribute to an essay?

    -A concession is a statement that acknowledges the opposite opinion before presenting one's own viewpoint. It contributes to an essay by demonstrating critical thinking and a balanced consideration of different perspectives.

  • Why is it important to consider both sides of an argument in an essay?

    -Considering both sides of an argument is important because it shows that the writer has thought deeply about the issue, considered various viewpoints, and is capable of making a well-informed judgment.

  • How can students practice their paraphrasing skills?

    -Students can practice their paraphrasing skills by taking quizzes and utilizing resources available on websites like www.engvid.com, which offer exercises and videos on vocabulary improvement, sentence structure, and making concessions.

  • What is a common mistake students make when answering essay questions?

    -A common mistake is directly copying the question's wording into their answer, which does not showcase their ability to rephrase and think critically about the topic.

  • How can using different synonyms for words like 'education', 'important', and 'development' improve an essay?

    -Using different synonyms can improve an essay by providing lexical variety, which can prevent monotony and demonstrate the writer's command of the language, thus potentially enhancing the overall quality of the writing.

  • What is the significance of using concessions in the introduction of an essay?

    -Using concessions in the introduction allows the writer to acknowledge alternative viewpoints, which can make the subsequent presentation of their own argument more persuasive by showing an understanding of the broader context of the discussion.

  • Why is it beneficial to change the order of words in a sentence when paraphrasing?

    -Changing the order of words can help to disguise the original structure of the sentence, making the paraphrased version appear more distinct from the source material and showcasing the writer's ability to reorganize information.

Outlines
00:00
📝 Introduction to Test Writing Skills

Emma introduces the video's focus on improving writing skills for various tests, including the IELTS, TOEFL, and university exams. She emphasizes the importance of the writing component and hints at teaching a crucial skill to enhance test marks, specifically when writing essays or paragraphs. An essay question from the IELTS is presented as an example to discuss common student pitfalls in essay writing.

05:03
🚫 Avoiding Repetitive Phrases in Essays

The paragraph addresses a common mistake students make by directly copying the question's wording into their essays, which can lead to lost marks. Emma explains that merely agreeing or disagreeing with the question's statement and then using the same phrasing is not an effective approach. She encourages students to think critically about the issue and to avoid this mistake by using different wording and sentence structures.

10:04
🔄 Paraphrasing for Unique and Effective Answers

Emma teaches the concept of paraphrasing as a method to restate the essay question in one's own words without changing its meaning. She introduces the use of synonyms to replace key terms in the question and suggests various alternatives for words like 'education', 'most important', 'factor', 'development', and 'country'. The paragraph also covers the importance of using different words throughout the essay to avoid repetition and the potential issues with using words that might have slightly different meanings.

🔀 Changing Sentence Structure for Paraphrasing

This section discusses another technique for paraphrasing by altering the sentence structure. Emma provides examples of how to change verbs to nouns, or vice versa, and how to rearrange the word order in a sentence. She demonstrates this with the essay question, showing how to move 'education' to the end of the sentence and rephrase it to 'The most essential element of a nation's development is education.'

🤔 Using Concessions to Show Critical Thinking

Emma concludes the video by explaining the use of concessions in essays, which involves acknowledging an opposing viewpoint before presenting one's own. She illustrates this with a modified version of the essay question, where she acknowledges the economy as another factor in nation-building before arguing for the greater impact of education. This technique is highlighted as a way to demonstrate critical thinking and a balanced consideration of the topic.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Writing Component
A 'writing component' refers to the part of a test or examination that requires candidates to demonstrate their writing skills. In the context of the video, it is a crucial aspect of tests like the IELTS, TOEFL, and university exams, where students may be asked to write essays or paragraphs. The video aims to improve viewers' performance in this area by teaching them how to paraphrase effectively.
💡IELTS
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is a globally recognized test that assesses the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. In the video, it is one of the tests mentioned where the skill of paraphrasing is essential for improving one's writing score, as the video discusses how to answer typical IELTS essay questions.
💡Paraphrase
To 'paraphrase' is to restate or reword a sentence, passage, or text while retaining the original meaning but using different phrasing. It is a key concept in the video, as it is presented as a method to avoid copying the question's wording and to demonstrate the ability to express the same idea in one's own words, which is a skill highly valued in writing sections of tests.
💡Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. In the video, the use of synonyms is emphasized as a technique to paraphrase effectively. By substituting words with their synonyms, students can avoid repetition and demonstrate a richer vocabulary in their writing, which can enhance their test scores.
💡Sentence Structure
Sentence structure refers to the arrangement of words and phrases within a sentence. The video suggests changing sentence structure as a method of paraphrasing. By altering the order of words or using different grammatical constructions, students can present the same idea in a new way, which can improve the originality and quality of their writing.
💡Concession
A 'concession' is a statement that acknowledges an opposing point of view before presenting one's own argument. In the video, Emma teaches that using a concession can show critical thinking and a balanced consideration of different perspectives. It is a rhetorical strategy that can improve the persuasiveness and depth of an essay.
💡Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information to form a judgment. The video emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in writing essays, as it involves considering multiple viewpoints and making an informed judgment. Demonstrating critical thinking through concessions can enhance the quality of a student's writing and their overall test score.
💡Vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to the words known to a person and the extent of their word knowledge. The video stresses the importance of having a rich vocabulary for paraphrasing and writing effectively. A diverse vocabulary allows for more precise expression of ideas and helps avoid repetition, which can lead to higher marks in writing assessments.
💡Test Performance
Test performance is the outcome or result of a student's efforts on an examination. The video's main theme is improving test performance, particularly in the writing section. By teaching paraphrasing techniques, the video aims to equip students with skills that can lead to better writing and, consequently, higher test scores.
💡Academic Writing
Academic writing is a formal writing style used in academic and educational settings. It is characterized by objectivity, evidence, and a clear structure. The video's focus on paraphrasing and the use of synonyms and sentence structure is directly applicable to improving academic writing skills, which are essential for success in various educational assessments.
💡Nation-Building
Nation-building refers to the process of establishing or consolidating economic, social, and political systems that allow a nation to function effectively. In the video, it is used as an example topic in an essay question, illustrating how students can approach writing about complex issues by paraphrasing the question and incorporating concessions to express their viewpoint.
Highlights

Emma teaches an important skill for improving writing marks on tests with a writing component.

Discusses the common mistake of copying the question's wording in essays, which can lead to losing marks.

Introduces the concept of paraphrasing to avoid copying and to demonstrate understanding.

Explains how to paraphrase using synonyms to keep the same meaning but with different words.

Provides examples of synonyms for words like 'education', 'most important', 'factor', 'development', and 'country'.

Advises on the importance of using different synonyms throughout the essay to avoid repetition.

Warns about the potential slight differences in meaning between synonyms and the need to be comfortable with word choice.

Demonstrates how to rephrase the question using synonyms to create a unique introduction.

Suggests changing the sentence structure as another method of paraphrasing.

Gives examples of converting verbs to nouns, nouns to verbs, and using adjectives for paraphrasing.

Shows how changing the word order in a sentence can help in paraphrasing.

Introduces the use of concessions to include the opposite opinion before stating one's own view.

Explains that using concessions demonstrates critical thinking and consideration of multiple perspectives.

Provides a detailed example of how to use a concession in an essay introduction.

Recommends checking out www.engvid.com for more resources on improving vocabulary and practicing paraphrasing.

Encourages taking a quiz on the website to practice paraphrasing skills.

Summarizes the three key techniques discussed for paraphrasing: using synonyms, changing sentence structure, and adding concessions.

Transcripts

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Writing SkillsIELTSTOEFLParaphrasingAcademic WritingTest PreparationEducational DevelopmentCritical ThinkingSynonymsSentence StructurePlagiarism Avoidance