1. Building Credibility and Supporting Claims:
* Paraphrasing: Rephrasing someone else's ideas in your own words demonstrates your understanding of the source material. It allows you to incorporate outside perspectives without directly quoting, which can be beneficial if the original text is overly verbose or technical.
* Summarizing: Concisely presenting the main points of a source strengthens your argument by showing you've thoroughly researched the topic and can effectively synthesize information.
2. Establishing Context and Providing Evidence:
* Paraphrasing/Summarizing: By presenting the relevant points of another author's work, you can establish the context for your own arguments. This helps readers understand your position in relation to existing scholarship.
3. Strengthening Your Argument:
* Paraphrasing/Summarizing: You can use paraphrases and summaries to support your claims. For example, if you're arguing that a certain policy is ineffective, you can present a summary of research that demonstrates its failures.
4. Avoiding Plagiarism:
* Paraphrasing/Summarizing: Properly paraphrasing and summarizing ensures that you are not plagiarizing the work of others.
In short, paraphrases and summaries function as building blocks for your essay's argument. They help you establish your credibility, provide evidence, and ultimately strengthen your position.
Here's how they directly support the main position argument:
* By presenting evidence: Paraphrases and summaries offer concrete support for your claims, demonstrating that your position is grounded in research and analysis.
* By building common ground: They allow you to acknowledge and engage with opposing perspectives, making your argument more persuasive and well-rounded.
* By demonstrating your understanding: Effective paraphrasing and summarizing showcase your comprehension of the topic and your ability to integrate diverse perspectives into your argument.
Remember to cite your sources correctly! Even when paraphrasing or summarizing, you must acknowledge the original author to avoid plagiarism.