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In Writing and Composition
How do you paraphrase?
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln Bliss Copy Ever since Lincoln wrote it in 1864, this versionhas been the most often reproduced, notably on the walls of theLincoln …Memorial in Washington. It is named after Colonel AlexanderBliss, stepson of historian George Bancroft. Bancroft askedPresident Lincoln for a copy to use as a fundraiser for soldiers(see "Bancroft Copy" below). However, because Lincoln wrote on bothsides of the paper, the speech could not be reprinted, so Lincolnmade another copy at Bliss's request. It is the last known copywritten by Lincoln and the only one signed and dated by him. Todayit is on display at the Lincoln Room of the White House. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on thiscontinent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to theproposition that all men are created equal. Now we areengaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or anynation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are meton a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate aportion of that field, as a final resting place for those who heregave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogetherfitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a largersense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can nothallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, whostruggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power toadd or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember whatwe say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is forus the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished workwhich they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It israther for us to be here dedicated to the great task remainingbefore us -- that from these honored dead we take increaseddevotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure ofdevotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall nothave died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a newbirth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by thepeople, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863 Paraphrasing puts text into YOUR OWN words. So as an example, you want to include this IDEA, "But, in a largersense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can nothallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, whostruggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power toadd or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember whatwe say here, but it can never forget what they did here. " Paraphrased IDEA(S): In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln pointed outhow the living cannot "add or detract" to or from the acts of thebrave soldiers who fought on those grounds. They will long beremembered for what they did there. NOTE: Some people wrongly believe that paraphrasing makes textshorter. It often does not. Paraphrasing instead means capturing someone else's ideas andputting it into YOUR OWN WORDS. NOTE 2: Note how a paraphrase can include a short quoted piece("add or detract"). It should be sourced IF the source is notstated in your paraphrase, and in either case you would put thesource in the bibliography. ( Full Answer )