DPGE1001 Chap.7 Paraphrasing and Synthesising Sources
Paraphrasing and Synthesising Sources
Paraphrasing preserves one source idea through new wording and structure; synthesis organises several source ideas around a relationship. This chapter uses meaning notes, source checks, Harvard citation and theme-based matrices to prevent patchwriting and source-by-source reporting. Model paragraphs keep agreement, qualification and implication visible.
The process begins with selection because a writer cannot paraphrase responsibly without deciding which idea the answer needs. After reading, the student records the claim, its degree of certainty and any condition in brief notes, then drafts without following the original syntax. Verification compares actors, direction, quantity, time and scope.
A changed verb can turn reported association into causation, while a removed qualifier can make a narrow result sound universal. Citation signals ownership but does not repair altered meaning. Synthesis adds a second level of organisation. Instead of giving each author a separate paragraph, a matrix places shared themes on rows and sources on columns.
Empty cells remain useful because they show that not every text addresses every issue. The writer names the relationship before drafting: sources may agree for different reasons, conflict within one boundary, or combine into a qualified conclusion. The worked example builds a paragraph about consultation by preserving a reported benefit while recognising unequal access.
Original practice identifies meaning drift and connects evidence about checklist completeness with a warning about rigidity. Each paragraph ends with the writer's interpretation of what the relationship means for the task. The chapter therefore joins ethical representation with stronger analysis: ideas stay traceable to their owners while the response is led by the question rather than by the order in which sources were read.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Meaning notes before drafting
- 02
Structure and vocabulary transformation
- 03
Integral and non-integral citation
- 04
Theme-based synthesis matrices
- 05
Agreement, qualification and conflict
Worked example · free
Write a qualified synthesis
- +1State the supported benefit.
- +1Represent uneven access as a qualification.
- +1Integrate both sources around one idea.
- +1Draw a bounded implication.
Key terms
- Paraphrase
- A source idea restated in genuinely new language and structure without meaning change.
- Integral citation
- A citation that places the author in the grammatical sentence.
- Synthesis
- The combination of sources around a shared relationship or controlling idea.
Paraphrasing and Synthesising Sources FAQ
Why should I write from a meaning note?
A short meaning note separates the idea from the source sentence, making structural transformation easier. It should preserve the relationship, scope and qualification. Draft from the note, then reopen the source to check accuracy and attach the citation to the correct idea.
What is the difference between integral and non-integral citation?
Integral citation foregrounds the author within the sentence, which is useful when the source's position or method matters. Non-integral citation places details in parentheses and foregrounds the claim. Choose according to emphasis, but explain the evidence in either form.
How can I tell whether a paragraph synthesises?
The paragraph should be organised by an idea that answers the task, not by separate source summaries. It should state how evidence agrees, extends, qualifies or conflicts. If removing author names destroys the structure, the draft probably remains source-led rather than idea-led.
Exam move
Practise paraphrasing with a five-step routine: select, note meaning, transform, verify and cite. Build matrices with themes on rows and sources on columns. Write one relationship sentence before drafting a paragraph, then finish with an implication tied to the task. Audit meaning strength and scope. Use short passages that contain qualifications, because they expose meaning drift more clearly than simple definitions.
Read a passage, close it and write a note containing the central claim, its degree of certainty and any boundary. Draft from that note rather than from the original sentence structure. Reopen the passage and compare actors, direction, quantity, time and certainty. A fluent rewrite fails if any of those dimensions changes. For synthesis, choose a theme before selecting quotations.
Fill each matrix cell with an idea and its role in the emerging answer, leaving cells blank when a source does not address that theme. Write one sentence that names the relationship between at least two sources, then add your interpretation of why the relationship matters. Vary the relationship across sessions: agreement with different reasons, a narrow contradiction, qualification by context, or evidence that fills a gap.
Review citations separately from prose so attribution is not lost during editing. Finish by underlining the paragraph's controlling idea. If the underline begins with an author's name or the paragraph could be split into independent summaries, reorganise it around the shared issue.
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