How to write a good essay: Paraphrasing the question

Hi, there. My name is Emma, and in today's video I'm going to teach you something very

大家好，我的名字是Emma。在今天的视频中我将会教给你们一些非常

important for if you're taking any type of test that has a writing component. So, if

重要技巧帮助你应试写作。

you are taking the IELTS, the TOEFL, the CELPIP, even just a university test, it can be any

如果你正在准备雅思，托福，celpip，大学考试，或者随便一场考试

type of test, but if you're asked to write something like an essay or a paragraph, this

被要求写出一篇essay或者是段落，这段视频就是为你量身定做的。

video is for you. Okay? So I'm going to teach you a very important skill that will help

我将会教给你们一下非常重要的技巧

improve your marks when it comes to writing on tests. So, let's get started.

这些技巧将会帮助你在考试中提高成绩。好了让我们开始吧。

So, I have here an essay question. This question is actually... I've seen it on the IELTS.

在这里有有一道essay问题。这道题曾出现在雅思考试中。

You know, you have similar types of questions on the TOEFL, sometimes in university. The

在托福和大学考试中也会遇到相似类型的问题

question is this: "Education is the single most important factor in the development of

问题是：教育是城市发展的唯一且最重要的构成因素。

a country. Do you agree or disagree?" Or maybe: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

你同意还是不同意？或者 在什么程度上你同意这个论述

So, this is an example of a question you might be asked.

这是一个你可能被问到的例子

Now, a problem a lot of students have is in their answer to this question. They see this,

很多学生在回答中都会有这样一个问题。他们看到问题后

and they think: "Okay, education is the most important factor in the development of a country,

，想到：“嗯，教育是一个国家发展的最重要因素，

yes, I agree." So then they... Or: "I disagree", and they start writing. And what do they write?

是的，我同意。”因此他们......或者是：“我不同意”，然后他们就开始写作。那么他们写了什么呢？

Usually the very first thing students will write is this:

通常学生写的第一件事是：“

"I agree that education is the single most important factor in the development of a country because..." So, what is the problem

我同意教育是一个国家发展中最重要的因素，因为......”那么，这有什么问题呢？

with this? Is there any problem to start off your essay with something like this, or to

用这样的回答开始你的论述是否有任何问题呢？

start off your answer? There's a big problem. So I want you to take a moment and think:

这其实是一个很大的问题。所以我想让你花一点时间思考：“

"What could be the problem with starting your essay off with this sentence?"

用这句话开始你的论述会有什么问题？”

Okay, well, if you noticed, you have here the word: "education, education, is, is, the single most important,

好吧，如果你注意到，你在这里有一个词：“教育，教育，是，是，最重要，最重要的因素”

most important factor". If you notice, these are the same. They're the exact same, except

。如果你注意到，这些都是一样的。它们完全相同，除了：“

for: "I agree that" and "because". The student, here, has used the exact same wording that

我同意”和“因为”。这里的学生使用了与问题完全相同的措辞。

is in the question. So, if you do this on the IELTS-and many students do this, same

所以，如果你在雅思考试中这样做，当然很多学生都这样做，

with on the TOEFL-you actually will lose marks, and same with in university, because you're

或者在托福考试中这样做 - 你只会失去分数，因为你

not showing your abilities; you're just copying what somebody else has said or what the essay

因为你并没有表现出自己的能力; 你只是在复制别人的话语或者复制论文的

question is.

问题

So, in this video, I'm going to show you first off... First off, I'm going to tell you: Don't

所以，在这个视频中，我将首先向你展示......首先，我要告诉你：

do this, don't copy. And I'm going to teach you ways in order to improve yourself and

不要这样做，不要复制话语。而且我会教你如何通过转换措辞来改善自己和你的答案。

your answer by changing this wording. How can you change your introduction so it's different

你怎么改变你的介绍才能使它与问题不同？

than what the question is? Okay? So, let's look at how to make these changes.

那么就让我们来看看如何进行这些改善。

Okay, so what we are going to do in order to change the question into a proper answer

那么，我们为了将问题转变为一个不仅仅是复制问题的正确答案，

that doesn't just copy the question, is we are going to paraphrase. So, the word here

一个不仅仅是复制问题的正确答案，将会进行释义。

is: "paraphrase". This might be a new word for you. What does it mean to paraphrase something?

所以，这里的关键是：“释义”。这可能对你来说是个新词。释义是什么意思？

Well, when we paraphrase, it means we take a sentence that, you know... We take somebody

当我们释义时，这意味着我们采用他人的话

else's sentence and we change it into our own words. Okay? So, we change the words of

并将其改为我们自己的话。所以，我们改变一个句子的单词，

a sentence, we also change maybe the sentence structure, but we keep all the same meaning.

也可能改变句子结构，但我们仍然保持句子的含义是相同的。

Okay? So, the meaning from the sentence you copy, it stays the same, same meaning, but

所以，你复制的句子的含义要保持不变，但是

different words and different sentence structure. Okay? So it's in your words, but this other

却有不同的单词和不同的句子结构。这样子就转变为了你的话，但是是

person's meaning.

他人表达的含义。

So, we are going to paraphrase this example of a question into our own words. So, first

因此，我们将用自己的话来解释这个问题以作为例子。首先

we're going to look at how to do that using vocabulary and synonyms. So, we have here

我们要看看如何运用词汇和同义词来做到这一点。我们在这里有同样的问题：“教育是一个国家发展中最重

the same question: "Education is the single most important factor in the development of

同样的问题：“教育是一个国家发展中最重要的因素。”

a country." How can we put this into new words or our own words that keep the same meaning?

我们怎样才能把这个用新词或我们自己的话来保持相同的含义呢

Well, we can use synonyms. So, this might be a new word for you, too. A "synonym". "Synonyms"

？我们可以使用同义词。所以，这对你来说也许是一个新词。没错，“同义词”。 “同义词”

are words that have the same meaning, but are different words. So, for example: "big"

是具有相同含义但是不同单词的词组。例如，big

and "large", they have the same meaning, just like: "huge", "enormous", these are synonyms

和large ，他们有同样的含义， 再或者huge, enormous，它们都是互相的同义词

of each other; same meaning, but they're different words. So, you need to use different synonyms

都有一样的含义， 但是却是不同的单词。所以，你需要学会使用同义词

so you don't just copy these words. You use synonyms to have words that have the same

你不仅仅是复制单词，而是使用具有相同含义

meaning, but are different words.

但是不同拼写的词语

So, let's look at an example. Our first word, here, is: "education".

那让我们来看看这个例子。 我们的第一个词语，教育

What's another word we can use instead of...? Instead of "education"? Well, there's different words we can use.

我们能用什么词语替代呢。这有一些我们能使用的不同词语

Maybe one could be: "schooling". Okay? So, we could change this word to "schooling".

他可以是学业。 那么我们就可以把词语替换成学业

"Schooling is the single most important factor in the development of a country." What's another

学业是国家发展中唯一且重要的因素。我们还

word we can change? Well, maybe "most important". Instead of using the word "most important",

要换那些词呢？也许是“最重要" 相比较于使用最重要

maybe we could use: "most significant" or "most essential". Okay? So: "essential", "significant".

也许我们可以使用”影响最大“或者”最必要“。因此”必要的“'影响重大的”

There are many words you can use. But the point here is: Find a word that has the same

这有许多你可以使用的词语。但是关键在于：找一个有相同

meaning, but is a different word.

含义，但是不同写法的词语。

Okay, here's another word: "factor". Can you think of another word for "factor"? Well,

这又有一个词“因素” 你能想到替换她的词语吗

sometimes "factor", it can be an "aspect" or an "element". Okay? You can even say sometimes:

有时候，“因素”可以是“方面”或者“元素”。你有时候甚至可以说

"a significant role". Okay? Or: "a part". So, there's different words we can use that

“一个重要角色” 或者“一部分” 所以，确实有我们能使用的的不同

have similar meanings. In terms of the word "development", we can change the word "development"

但是有相同意义的词语。再从“发展”的角度看。我们可以把“发展”

to "advancement", "progression", "evolution". Okay? And in terms of the word "country",

变成“进步”“提升”“改变”。对于单词“国家”

another word for "country" is "nation". Okay?

另一个表示国家的词就是民族

So, these are all synonyms, and this is what you want to do. When you look at the question,

这些都是同义词，这就是你想要做的。当你看到问题是、时

think about some new words you can use that have the same meaning. This is also important

想想你能用什么同义的新词。这也是在作文中

throughout your essay, because one problem a lot of students have is they keep using

很重要的一点，因为很多学生有的问题就是他们不断使用

the same word again, and again, and again in every sentence. This does not help you

相同的词语，不断地在每一句重复。这不会帮助你提高

with your marks. It's better to use different words that have the same meaning. At the same

分数。使用不同的同义词语自然是更好。同时，

time, you have to be careful, here, because some students, they find a new word, they

你需要细心，因为一些学生，他们找到了新词

think it's a great word, but there is a little bit of a difference in meaning. So, you need

他们认为这是一个不错的词，但有一些意义上的不同。所以你需要

to be really comfortable with the word you choose, and you need to know what it actually

对于选择的词语的使用感到非常通顺。你也需要了解它真正的

means so it doesn't sound strange.

含义所以使用起来不会奇怪

Okay, so if we wanted to change this now, instead of saying:

所以如果我们现在想改变说

"Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country",

“教育是国家发展中唯一且最重要的因素”

our paraphrase... Our first step

释义，我们的第一步

in our paraphrase could be changing these words to:

在我们的段落里可以改变为

"Schooling is the single most significant element in the advancement of a nation."

“学业是民族进步中唯一且影响最大的元素'

Okay? So that's just one example. So, now, let's

懂了吗？那只是一个例子，现在，让我们

look at another thing you can do in order to paraphrase the question on a test or exam.

看看另一种你能用于在考试中释义问题的方法

Okay, another way we can paraphrase is by changing the structure of the sentence. So,

另一种就是改变句子结构，

for example, you might have a verb and, you know, which is an action, and you might change

例如，你可能用了一个动词，表示动作，也许你可以改变成

that into its noun form. So, for example, if your verb is "developing", you might change

名词形式。举个例子，如果你的东西是发展（动词），你可以改成

that into "development". You might change, similarly, a noun into a verb. Okay? So, for

发展（名词）。同样地，名词也可以改成动词。

example, we just said "development" is the noun, it can turn into: "develop" or "developing".

再比如，我们仅仅说”development“是名词，她可以改变成'develop'或”developing“

You can also change things into adjectives. So, if, for example, you're talking about

你也可以改成形容词。比如你在谈论

"technology", which is a noun, you can change this into the adjective form which is "technological".

科技（是一个名词），你可以改成它的形容词”technological“

So, changing the form of the word can help you with paraphrasing.

因此，改变词语形式也是能帮助你释义的

Also changing placement of the words can help you out. So, for example, in our original

也可以改变词语的位置。例如，在本来的

sentence or the question was:

句子或问题里

"Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country."

“教育是国家发展中唯一且最重要的因素”

So, I've now changed some of the wording, as well as the order. Okay? So,

所以，我已经改变了一些词语形式，同样也改变了语序

here: "Education" is at the beginning. In my sentence:

在这里，教育在句首。在我的句子

"The most essential element of a nation's development is education."

民族进步唯一且最重要的元素就是教育

I've changed the order of the sentence, so now

我已经改变了语序

"education" is at the end, instead of at the beginning. I've also started out with:

教育在句尾而不是句首。我以

"The most essential", as my beginning; whereas here, it was in the middle. You'll also notice

最必要的作为开端，但在这里它在剧中。你也会注意到

we have, here: "in the development of a country", I've changed this to: "nation's development".

国家的发展已经改成了民族的进步

I could also change this to: "country's development", instead of "the development of a country".

我也可以改成"country's development"而不是 "the development of a country".

So, changing the order of the sentence and changing some of the structures can really

所以改变语序和改变句子结构真的能帮助

help you in terms of paraphrasing. Now let's learn one other way in which we can improve

释义。现在来学习另一种通过释义提高

our marks by paraphrasing.

分数的方法

Okay, so the last tip I have about paraphrasing a question is using concessions. So, what

最后一个技巧就是让步

is a concession? Well, I want you to look at what the question actually says and my

什么是让步。我想让你看看问题真正说了什么和我的

new answer to it. The question, again, same question as before:

新回答。再次像之前一样看问题

"Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country."

“教育是国家发展中唯一且最重要的因素”

My answer... Okay, so I've changed some words and I've also changed the structure a bit, but there's one other thing I've added.

我的回答。。。也许我已经改变了一些俄词语也改变了结构，但是我还加入了另一个东西

"Although many would argue that the economy is the most important factor in nation-building,

尽管很多人会真论说经济才是民族发展中的最重要因素。

I think education has a far greater impact." So, what I've done here is I've added a concession.

我认为教育有更深远的影响。所以我在这里增加了让步

A concession is where you say what the opposite opinion is, and then you say what your opinion

让步就是你所说的相反的观点，然后再说出你的观点是什么

is. So, you're giving two opinions; you're giving your opinion and also what other people

所以，你给出了两种观点；在给出你自己观点的同时也给出他人可能的

might think. This is a great thing to do, especially in essays, and this is something

想法。这是一个尤其在作文中值得一试的东西，这也是

you can do at the beginning of your answer.

你可以在回答文章开头做的事情。

So, we use here the key word: "Although". Okay? And you'll notice that this has two

我们在这里使用的关键词”尽管“ 然后你会注意这有两个

clauses. I don't want to get too technical with grammar on you today, but what I mean

从句。我今天并不想在你们身上输入太多的专业语法知识，但我的意思是

is: If you see, we have the red part: "Although many would argue that the economy is the most

如你所见，红色的部分”尽管很多人会争论说经济

important factor in nation-building," and then we have a second part. So, we have two

才是民族发展中的最重要因素“然后就有了第二部分，所以， 我们有两个

parts to this sentence. "...I think education has a far greater impact." So, the first part

部分在这个句子里。”我认为教育有更大更深远的影响“句子的

of the sentence is in red and it's the "Although" part, and the second part of the sentence

第一部分用红色标出，是尽管的部分，句子的第二部分

is in purple-okay?-and that's: "I think education has a far greater impact."

用紫色标出也就是 我认为教育有更大更深远的影响

And they're separated by a comma. So, a concession has two parts to it. You say what the other people think

他们被逗号分开。所以一个让步有两个部分。先说别人的想法

first, in this case: "Although many", "many" meaning people, we could also say: "many people".

在这种情况下，”尽管许多“”许多“意味着人群，我们也可以说许多人

"Although many would argue that the economy is the most important factor in nation-building,"

尽管很多人会真论说经济才是民族发展中的最重要因素。

okay? So, this is what some people would say. Now I'm going to say what I think.

这就是别人会说的。现在我要表达我的观点

"I think education has a far greater impact."

我认为教育有更大更深远的影响

So, why is this a good idea? Well, one reason is because when you write a concession, when

那么为什么这是一个好点子呢？一个原因是当你写让步状语从句时

you're showing what the opposite opinion of yours is, you're showing that you've thought

你展示了别人的与你对立的想法，你也展示了自己关于事件的思考

about the issue. Okay? You're looking at both sides. You're not just looking at your opinion.

你站在两个角度思考问题，不仅仅是站在你的角度

You're looking at both sides, and then you're making a judgment. So this shows that you're

你站在两个角度思考问题，并且做出自己的判断。这就展示了

thinking about the question, and you're really giving it some thought. And by representing

你对于问题的思考并且你真的有在动脑子。通过代表双方

both sides, you're really showing critical thinking. So this is a very good idea to do.

你真正展示了批判性思维。所以做这个是一个很好的电子

Okay, so the three things we've talked about today in terms of paraphrasing the question

为了释义问题，我们今天讨论了三种方法

is: Changing the words using synonyms, we've talked about changing the sentence structure,

使用同义词改变方法，也讨论过了改变句子结构

and we've also talked about adding the other perspective using concessions. Okay? So, these

也讨论了运用让步状语从句加入别人的观点

are three things you can do in order to change the question so you're not just copying what

这三种方法就是可以你可以为了改写问题去做的。而不仅仅是复制

is on your test paper. Again, great thing to do if you're writing a high school essay,

考题。再次强调，如果你在写高中论文

university essay, TOEFL, IELTS, CELPIP, all of these things - this skill will really come

大学论文，雅思，托福，CELPIP，所有的这些，这项技能都能

in handy for you.

很好的帮助你

Now, you might be wondering: "Okay, this is great, but I don't know any synonyms. Or I...

现在你可能回想”好吧，这很棒，但我不知道任何话同义词，或者。。。

You know, I don't know much about this." Well, what you can do is you can come check out

我就是不太了解这些“你能做的就是点击我的

our website at www.engvid.com. There, you can find a lot of other resources, including

网站@www.engvid.com. 在这里你可以找到很多其他的资源包括

improving your vocabulary, we even have a video on how to make concessions, you know,

提高词汇量，我们甚至有一个视频是关于怎么做出让步的

we have videos on sentence structure, too. So, there's a lot of videos you can check

我们也用关于句子结构的句子，有很多你能用上的资源

out and a lot of resources. You can also come visit our website where you will find a quiz,

你也可以访问我我们的网站参加测试

and by taking that quiz, you can actually practice your paraphrasing skills so you can

通过测试，你能真正联系释义的技能

see, you know: "Am I doing this right? Is this...? You know, is this the right way to

你能知道”我这么做对吗‘"这是做这个的正确方法吗

do this?" and get more practice.

并得到更多练习

So, I hope you've enjoyed this video.

希望大家喜欢这个视频

And until next time, take care.

下期再见。