Question

What did you include in your paraphrase? Check all that apply.

my own words
synonyms of unfamiliar words
contemporary language
the main ideas of the original
the important details of the original

Answer 1

Here’s a quick checklist with brief explanations:

- my own words — Yes. A paraphrase should be written in your own wording and sentence structure.
- synonyms of unfamiliar words — No (not by itself). You may use synonyms as part of rewording, but a true paraphrase is more than swapping individual words.
- contemporary language — Sometimes. Use modern/clear wording if it helps clarity or fits your purpose, but it’s not required for every paraphrase.
- the main ideas of the original — Yes. Paraphrases must preserve the original’s main ideas.
- the important details of the original — Yes (when they’re needed to preserve meaning). Include key/essential details, but you can omit minor or peripheral details.

If you want, paste your original and your paraphrase and I’ll mark exactly which elements are present.