Final answer:
Paraphrasing is the act of restating text in your own words while preserving the original meaning, which can clarify and make complex ideas more accessible to the reader. It should maintain the length and perspective of the source, properly attribute the original author, and use quotations for any specific language directly taken from the source.
Step-by-step explanation:
A paraphrase is a way to restate the author's words into your own, aiming to preserve the original meaning while changing the form. The purpose of paraphrasing is often to simplify or clarify, making the original text more accessible and comprehensible to the reader. An effective paraphrase maintains the perspective of the source material but uses different wording and sentence structure to reflect the concept or information presented. It should be about the same length as the original text and must be attributed to the original author to avoid plagiarism.
Paraphrasing is useful in a variety of situations, such as when a quotation would disrupt the flow of a paper or when combined with your own analysis to communicate statistics and data. It can also be used to express an idea more succinctly or explain a complex passage in simpler terms. Remember, if you use the exact language from the source, it is a quotation, not a paraphrase. When technical terms are necessary, they should be placed within quotation marks if taken directly from the source.
In paraphrasing, you are invited to bring your own expression into play, yet it's vital to capture the essence of the original message. It allows your audience to understand and engage with the source material on more familiar terms while still giving proper credit to the original author.