Teach ESL Writing: Paraphrase Writing Lesson Plan

by

PARAPHRASE BY CHANGING NOUNS TO VERBS

PART 1  NOMINALIZATION

Nominalization means changing a word into a noun. Nominalization usually involves changing verbs to nouns though adjectives (e.g. careless to carelessness) and adverbs (e.g. wordy to wordiness) can nominalized as well.

Nominalization is commonly used in academic textbooks, legal documents and professional or government reports. Its effect is to emphasize the action by adding punch to the end of the sentence (e.g. chemical fertilizers accelerate plant growth). It also creates a noun concept which can be operationalized and classified (e.g. fatal becomes fatalities).

Some critics don’t like nominalization because it creates wordy sentences. In other words, some writing critics harbor no fear regarding their expression of dislike of wordiness.

Here are some examples of nominalization:

  • The prosecutor’s office conducted an investigation regarding the scandal.
  • The prosecutor’s office investigated the scandal.
  • The school board held a discussion concerning forced early retirement.
  • The school board discussed forced early retirement.
  • You have to give us your decision by tomorrow.
  • You have to decide by tomorrow. 

PART 2  PRACTICE PARAPHRASING

Part A.  Paraphrase the sentences by changing the nouns into verbs.

  1. This essay gives an analysis of the problem of climate change and describes a potential solution.
  2. The Korean President did not give an explanation for the pardon of his business friend.
  3. Our class debate concerned the issue of nuclear weapons.
  4. We performed a review of the company’s annual reports.
  5. The school club of actors gave a performance of Romeo and Juliet on the second of June.
  6. There is a need for further study of this Master’s program.

Part B.  Paraphrase the sentences by changing key verbs into nouns.

  1. Political candidates need to perform well during a TV debate.
  2. Our city needs to assess the recycling system.
  3. I hope my students will use this material.
  4. The police investigated the robbery.
  5. The Japanese invaded Korea in 1592.
  6. This sentence illustrates the problems with nominalization.

PART 3  EVEN MORE PRACTICE: PARAPHRASE TEXT

Try to make your revised text clearer with different words and sentence structures. Give due consideration to nominalizations.

Casino gambling has been a topic of debate among people from various religious groups and law makers for a considerable length of time. Religious authorities generally express disapproval of casino gambling because of its perceived social costs. Most Islamic nations maintain a prohibition on gambling while other nations exercise some level of regulation.

There are people who participate in casino gambling and view it as a form of recreation or as a means to more income. For some, however, there is a gambling obsession which can take hold. If unchecked, it can result in psychological addiction and destructive behavior often involving the incurrence of repeated losses. Due to the negative connotations of gambling, there is a preference in the casino industry to use the word gaming to connote the recreational activities on offer.

PART 4  SYNTHESIS

In this task, the student will write a one or three paragraph opinion piece. The objectives are as follows:

  1. write an argument
  2. support your argument by paraphrasing two or three outside sources of information
  3. reference one or more outside arguments (again by paraphrasing) that refute your claim or premise
  4. address or defeat those negative arguments
  5. make a short conclusion

Stipulation 1: Use at least two nominalizations in your text.

Stipulation 2: The topic must be about the issue of banning gambling. Use this website to collect your source data: http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/culture/house-would-ban-gambling